Nine organizations have been awarded grants totaling $227,300 for programs that address health-related issues among residents of Berks and nearby counties.
The Home Health Care Foundation Fund of Berks County Community Foundation awarded the grants. This fund will again accept applications for another round of funding from January 1 until March 15, 2022.
The Home Health Care Foundation Fund provides grants to organizations and programs that do one or more of the following: Help residents recover from illness or disability at home. Support preventative healthcare for residents and overall community health. Provide health-related charity care to residents.
Grants are awarded to organizations and programs that serve Berks County and/or those counties that are contiguous to it. Preference is given to Berks County organizations. The maximum amount available per organization is $40,000.
To apply, visit bccf.org and click on “Apply for a grant” under “Scholarships + Grants” in the website menu or go to http://bccf.link/grants. You must create an account to access the application system.
The Home Health Care Foundation Fund has distributed more than $500,000 since it was established at the Community Foundation in 2020.
The grants for this round of funding:
$114,000 over three years to Berks Teens Matter, a program of Co-County Wellness Services. The funding will support social media work to spread messages intended to reduce teen pregnancy. Berks Teens Matter educates youth and the community about the accessibility of sexual health resources. The program also advocates a healthy approach to adolescent sexual health.
$27,600 to United Disabilities Services Foundation for residents in need to be given stairlifts at no cost. This will allow those residents to remain safely in their own homes.
$25,000 to Alvernia University to support pro bono, high-quality physical therapy care at its Physical Therapy Center at Oakbrook. Since 2016, the center has provided physical therapy to more than 300 patients during more than 1,000 appointments. Alvernia plans to use the funding to double the amount of services provided there within two years.
$20,000 to the American Red Cross to hold blood drives in Berks County and distribute platelets for use by patients fighting cancer.
$15,000 to Safe Berks to rapidly expand its prescription medication assistance program for victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
$10,000 to Planned Parenthood Keystone for its Rapid STI Testing & Treatment Program. The program combines testing, education, and treatment in the same visit. This approach increases STI treatment rates, reduces community spread, decreases long-term health consequences, and creates more access to care.
$9,100 to the YMCA of Reading & Berks County to provide mental health first-aid training to parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens to help adolescents who are experiencing a mental health crisis or addiction challenge.
$4,000 to Fleetwood Community Bus, a nonprofit 25-seat bus run by volunteers, to transport local seniors to the grocery store.
$2,600 to the John Paul II Center for Special Learning to purchase CPR “manikins,” AED practice devices, and updated CPR and first-aid teaching manuals. This will allow for in-house training to reduce ongoing CPR costs while allowing staff to practice their CPR skills more frequently.
