United Way Announces $1 Million in Emergency Food and Shelter Grants to Westchester and Putnam Nonprofits

White Plains, NY – June 16, 2020 – The United Way of Westchester and Putnam announces that $1 million in grants have been distributed among more than 50 local, nonprofit organizations responding to unprecedented needs driven by COVID-19.

“COVID-19 has created an economic crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen in 90 years,” said United Way President and CEO Tom Gabriel. “In response, the United Way is honored to be able to distribute $1 million in Emergency Food and Shelter funding to help our nonprofit partners address the basic human needs of families in our community. As a result, we estimate that more than 300,000 families will be helped through this funding.’’

The funds were made available through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) Boards in Westchester and Putnam counties. This program provides federal funding which helps to extend currently available services for the hungry or homeless or at risk of eviction. The United Way of Westchester and Putnam is the administrative agent of the Local EFSP Boards in Westchester and Putnam counties.

“The Bridge Fund of Westchester is extremely grateful for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funding,” said Grace Perry, director of The Bridge Fund. “We primarily service client households that are employed but sit right on top of the poverty line and often do not qualify for public benefits, such as food stamps. However, these clients struggle monthly to meet a barebones budget and any crisis can give way to a missed rent payment, food insecurity etc. The pandemic only exacerbates these circumstances. The EFSP grant funding allows organizations like The Bridge Fund to help not only meet these most basic needs for individuals and families, but also ease their worry and give a sense of hope”.

This is the second round of grants that has been awarded to nonprofits through the United Way of Westchester and Putnam. In May, 31 local nonprofit organizations were collectively awarded $120,000 in grants thanks to the United Way’s John M. Bendheim Community Disaster Response Fund and Bonwit Fund, as well as The PepsiCo Foundation.

Here is a list of organizations that received funding in the latest round.

United Way of Westchester and Putnam (UWWP) provides strategic resources and tools to residents in crisis or who are marginalized due to personal or life’s circumstances. These include the 2-1-1 helpline, early literacy programming for preschoolers, job skills training and financial empowerment for adults, as well as access to health services.

UWWP is located at 336 Central Park Ave., White Plains, NY 10606. Phone: 914-997-6700 Website: www.uwwp.org. Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedWayWP and Twitter @UnitedWayWP