KEARNEY, Neb. – The Pay it Sideways Fund, at the Kearney Area Community Foundation has recently granted $24,000 for local nonprofits in the Kearney area.
The fund was established in April by Marge Lauer, the first executive director of the Kearney Area Community Foundation (KACF), and Sherry Morrow, a past board member.
“We wanted to provide an avenue for others to donate to local nonprofits who are addressing basic needs in our area communities,” said Morrow.
In June, a committee of community members granted funds to local nonprofit organizations who applied for assistance, as well as charities who have been providing for those in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following grants totaling $24,000 were made from the Pay It Sideways Fund: Crossroads Mission Avenue – $5,000; Dobytown Kiwanis: Backpack Program – $1,000; First United Methodist Church: East Lawn Mission Trailer – $4,000; HelpCare Clinic – $4,000; Kearney Jubilee Center – $3,000; and Kearney Housing Agency: Meals on Wheels – $7,000.
“It’s easy to write a check, but it’s what these volunteers and employees are doing within the organizations that is the real hard work,” said Lauer.
These local nonprofits have been providing, food, rent assistance, utility assistance, medicine, and school supplies to people living and/or working in the Kearney area suffering a hardship due to the COVID-19 outbreak.