Words by Smiley Team
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has launched a COVID-19 Community Response fund to immediately begin raising and distributing funds to hard-hit community based organisations directly serving older adults during the pandemic. Founded in 1950, the NCOA has worked with the same mission - to improve the lives of millions of older adults, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of supporting 40 million adults by 2030.
The new Fund, launched in light of the pandemic, will support qualified local non-profits meeting the needs of the older adults ensuring that they are safe, secure and well during the crisis. Grants will be provided to organisations working with underserved populations such as women, LGBTQ+ people, people of colour, low-income and rural people who are all at higher risk of being admitted into hospital or nursing homes or dying as a result of Covid-19.
“Community organisations that serve older adults are heroes on the front lines of today’s pandemic,” says Anna Maria Chávez, NCOA Interim President & CEO. “They have been historically underfunded and understaffed, but that has not stopped them from stepping up to meet the increasing needs of older adults in their communities during this crisis. Every day, they are delivering food, enrolling people into needed benefits programs, providing mental health services, and developing creative virtual programs to combat social isolation. They need our support, so they can continue supporting our older family members, friends, and neighbors.”
The NCOA are looking for leading corporations, foundations and philanthropic organisations to help support local nonprofits through the fund. The money will go directly to organisations who must be both non-political and not-for-profit and who work with older adults in some way, for example providing a senior centre or benefits counselling.
Renée Cunningham, Executive Director of Centre in the Park, an NCOA-accredited senior centre in Philadelphia says “We are facing multiple challenges, but we are committed to our mission,” said For home-delivered meals, both our staff and older adults are fearful of contact, even though this service is so vital to older adults’ health. Many of our staff must learn to work virtually, and some don’t have access to the internet to continue providing services. Funding is also a concern as we’ve had to close our centre.”
The Fund is also providing grants to organisations that are organising coalitions to address the crisis and who are being forced to shift resources and adapt to remote working, as well as those driving awareness and action campaigns.
“More than any other population, older adults have been significantly impacted by the coronavirus. If your organisation is looking for a way to make a difference for them, I encourage you to support NCOA’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund,” Chávez said. “If you are a local nonprofit serving older adults, NCOA is here for you.”
You can learn more about supporting the Fund at the NCOA website.
By Ellen Jones
