As COVID-19 continues to limit in-person and social interactions, Neighbors’ House of DeKalb County has come up with an exciting idea to better connect with the students they serve. The idea was to send each student a Summer COVID Care Package. The Care Packages would contain a variety of items to encourage reading, family time, creativity, and fitness. To assist with funding for this idea, Neighbors’ House applied for a DeKalb County COVID-19 Response Grant offered through the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

The request for funding was rewarded with a $1,000 grant in June 2020. The grant dollars were used to purchase and distribute 28 Summer COVID Care Packages to students in the community. The Care Packages were well received and the students made great use of the items inside.

Looking ahead, Neighbors’ House anticipates similar needs for students. Playgrounds, public swimming pools, entertainment venues, and many activities remain closed due to safety concerns. Many of the students they serve come from underprivileged families, so access to recreational and/or educational resources are limited at times.

Neighbors’ House is a faith-based nonprofit that partners with DeKalb County students and families to provide assistance with academic and relational success.

Thank you to the many donors whose gifts make grants like these possible! And thank you to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund for the multiple grants that boosted the amount we were able to give in response to local needs. 

Funding for this grant program is made possible by the DeKalb County COVID-19 Response Fund, a new component pass through Fund created in collaboration with various local funding partners. The Fund’s purpose is to be a depository for contributions intended to respond to the effects of COVID-19 in DeKalb County by distributing grants that address preparedness, response, recovery, and/or rebuilding efforts.