Foundation establishes emergency response fund

SANDUSKY — The Erie County Community Foundation announces the creation of an emergency response fund. The fund is created to support nonprofits facing the need to increase their capacity during this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. The foundation seeded the fund with $25,000 and is accepting contributions of any amount to help assist the nonprofit community. All contributions are tax-deductible, and the foundation will absorb all costs of administering the fund. Grant guidelines and information on contributing may be found at eriefoundation.org/emergencyfund. "Our staff and board of directors acted quickly to put this fund in place to support our hardworking nonprofits," the nonprofit's executive director Beth Maiden said. "It is our hope to get any dollars raised back out to these organizations in a responsive manner. They are doing the hard work of serving those most in need." The foundation notes that there are other efforts in the community to raise funds in this crisis. "The Erie County Community Foundation feels strongly that our role is to support our nonprofits at this time," according to an organizational statement. "There are churches and other organizations who are better at working directly with individuals. Knowing that charitable giving is very personal, please know that we will need everyone to play their parts in getting us through this crisis."