The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation is investing more than $600,000 in local nonprofits and grassroots organizations that work with low-income and vulnerable residents.
The Board of Directors approved the latest round of grants this week, bringing the total number awarded since January 1, 2021 to 42.

“Almost all of the grantees have gone through a turbulent time where regular services and revenue streams have been disrupted due to the pandemic,” says Meg Distler, St. Joe Foundation Executive Director. “Our staff, grants committee, and Board of Directors have spent a lot of time learning about the challenges facing our nonprofit partners; these funds should help the grantees navigate these difficult times so they can continue to serve our community’s most vulnerable residents.”

The majority of grants awarded since January 2021 were part of the spring grant cycle, which just concluded. Those grants totaled $462,738 and address needs in four impact areas: Refugees & Immigrants, Food Insecurity & Nutrition, Prenatal & Infant Care, and Access to Health & Wellness.

Another $46,253 was awarded to 12 nonprofit or grassroots agencies through a partnership with the Foellinger Foundation. The grants help provide access to COVID-19 vaccinations for vulnerable populations.

$92,342 for Food Insecurity and Nutrition infrastructure programming through HEAL, Double Up Indiana, and Healing Seeds programming was awarded to six organizations. Finally, $3,000 was distributed to prenatal and infant incentive stores from a donor-restricted fund.
The complete list of grants includes:

Spring 2021 grants

• Amani Family Services: $50,000 for programming in the Family Justice Center, assisting immigrant and refugee victims of crime in overcoming emotional, physical, and justice issues.
• Catholic Charities (2-Year Grant): $80,000 for support of the Hispanic Health Advocacy Program.
• Community Transportation Network (2-Year Grant): $70,00 for Medical Transportation Service serving seniors and people with disabilities.
• GiveHear: $15,000 to provide low-income residents hearing healthcare services.
• Headwaters Counseling: $50,000 to provide mental health services to low-income individuals.
• Hope Alive, Inc.: $15,000 for mental health counseling services for low-income and homeless individuals.
• Journey Birth and Wellness (19-Month Grant): $55,000 to provide community doula services on a sliding fee scale and funding for strategic planning.
• Lutheran Agency for Ministry to Burmese: $12,000 for medical advocacy and health education for Burmese individuals.
• Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic: $17,500 to expand legal services for immigrants and refugees.
• Northeast Indiana Positive Resource Connection, Inc.: $25,000 to provide free HIV and Hepatitis C testing, and access to care and case management to people living with HIV/AIDS.
• SCAN, Inc. (2-Year Grant): $20,000 for intervention services to help families heal from the trauma of abuse and neglect.
• Society of St. Vincent DePaul: $15,000 for food pantry programs at multiple locations.
• The Rescue Mission: $5,000 for emergency food and shelter.
• Wellspring Interfaith Social Services: $10,000 for Wellspring Food Bank and Wellspring on Wheels, a mobile food pantry.
• Youth for Christ: $10,000 for the City Life program, supporting leadership development for teens living in urban areas.
• Easter Seals: $1,788 to design and implement recreational therapy activities for individuals with significant intellectual/developmental disabilities.
• Fort Wayne Community Schools: $1,500 for inhalers for FWCS students for emergency use during COVID restrictions.
• Latinos Count: $4,950 to provide partial scholarships for students to file their DACA applications.
• Mad Anthonys Children’s Hope House: $2,500 for short-term housing for families whose babies receive critical care at Dupont Hospital’s NICU.
• Our Children Our Future: $1,000 for the Resource Fair and Family Fun Night, for items related to personal health, safety, and hygiene to be donated to families.
• Society of St. Andrew: $1,500 to cover the costs of gleaning & delivering fresh, nutritious food to food-insecure Hoosiers in Allen County.

Covid Vaccination Assistance Grants – In partnership with Foellinger Foundation

• Amani Family Services: $10,000
• Center for Nonviolence: $2,500
• Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority: $4,090
• Clinica Madre de Dios: $350
• Community Harvest Food Bank: $3,492
• Community Transportation Network: $5,000
• El Mexicano Newspaper: $5,700
• Greater Fort Wayne Hispanic Chamber: $2,000
• HealthVisions Midwest of Fort Wayne: $5,000
• Language Services Network / Brightpoint: $2,500
• Neighborhood Health Clinics: $5,000
• Tabernacle Baptist Church: $620

Food Insecurity & Nutrition:Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL):

• HealthVisions Midwest of Fort Wayne: $51,000 for the operation of the HEAL Farm Markets.

Double Up Indiana:

• Heartland Communities: $17,642 for the operation of a mobile farmers market.

HEALing Seeds (For rural East Allen County residents to learn to prepare healthy meals using fresh produce and other highly nutritious ingredients):

• Cornerstone Youth Center: $10,000
• New Haven, Adams Township Parks & Recreation: $5,500
• Phoenix Manor: $5,000
• Power House Youth Center: $3,200

Donor-Directed Rosenberger Fund

• A Hope Center: $1,000 for Earn While You Learn
• Associated Churches: $1,000 for A Baby’s Closet
• Christ Child Society: $1,000 for Crib Club at Women’s Care Center