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ALPENA — The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) has awarded the first round of grants from the recently reactivated Urgent Needs Fund. With the help of generous support from Northeast Michigan and beyond, a total of $66,800 was awarded through grants to nonprofits working to meet immediate, basic needs of individuals and families in Northeast Michigan most impacted by the recent catastrophic ice storm.

“We are so grateful to those who have come forward to support Northeast Michigan with donations, volunteer time, and even support for the linemen. It is a testament to the resiliency of the people here,” said CFNEM Executive Director Patrick Heraghty. “This first round of funding is a great start and will help local organizations to get food, warmth, hygiene items, safety supplies, gas, and other essentials to our neighbors who are in great need due to the storm’s aftermath.”

Heraghty added that while CFNEM looks forward to announcing the next round of grants soon, there is still much work to be done and charitable donations through trusted institutions will be important in the region’s recovery.

“The effects of this natural disaster will continue to impact our communities for weeks and months ahead,” said Heraghty. “We anticipate that once short-term needs have been met, we will see a continued need for support as we move toward long-term needs, recovery, and preparedness efforts for the future.”

Grants provided in the initial round of Urgent Needs Fund awards include:

— $12,000 to The Salvation Army for its disaster response efforts and basic human needs support throughout northeast Michigan.

— $10,000 to All Saints Parish to provide grocery vouchers to residents in need in Montmorency and Alpena counties.

— $8,000 to One Box to provide solar lanterns and emergency food boxes for shut-ins in Alpena, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, and Montmorency counties.

— $6,800 to AuSable Inclusion Center in Fairview for pop-up hygiene pantries in the counties included in the current state of emergency.

— $6,500 to United Way of Northeast Michigan to provide food, gas, and laundry cards to Alcona and Montmorency County residents, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

— $5,000 to Society of St. Vincent de Paul to support low-income families with gas, propane, meals, and rent.

— $5,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Alpena to support basic needs for low-income families.

— $5,000 to Hillman Community Schools for gas cards, food and water, blankets, and hygiene items for school families.

— $4,000 to Alpena Senior Citizens Council, Inc. to provide emergency safety kits and meals to homebound senior citizens.

— $2,500 to Cheboygan County Habitat for Humanity to provide basic necessities like diapers, wipes, formula, batteries, flashlights, and more to low-income households in need.

— $2,000 for Wilson School Parent Advisory Committee to provide care packages for school families in need, and to stock their emergency food pantry.

Donations to the Urgent Needs Fund at CFNEM will help the Community Foundation support nonprofits on the front lines of disaster and crisis response related to the ice storm and its aftermath for immediate and long-term needs. Gifts can be made online at cfnem.org.

The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan is a charitable organization committed to providing people who care about the future of our area with unique and effective ways of supporting their community now, and for generations to come. Led by a volunteer board of local citizens, the foundation oversees a group of permanently endowed funds from a wide range of donors. Gifts of all sizes from individuals, families, businesses, and agencies are invested in a balanced, well-managed portfolio to build endowments, enabling support for students and local community nonprofits.