Nonprofits set up funds to offer fast help to those affected by coronavirus crisis in Lee, Collier

As Southwest Florida braces for the coming COVID-19 storm, area nonprofits are poised to start offering rapid-response grants.

The Southwest Florida Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Collier County have opened emergency relief funds: the SWFLCF's Emergency Relief Fund and Collier Comes Together for Coronavirus, respectively.

The foundations are working in partnership with the United Way serving each county as well. The idea is to fill the gaps created by the virus, whether with housing, health care or food, said Sarah Owen, president and CEO of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation based in Fort Myers, as it did with similar funds following Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the region’s red tide and blue-green algae crises in 2018.

"We see ourselves as kind of the support system for the support system," Owen said. "We want to have a trusted place for people who at times like this want to do something – people who want to take care of their own families, but they consider the whole community a family ...  people are looking for that place (where they) can say, 'Hey, I may only have a little to give, but I want to put it somewhere.' So we want people to know there's a trusted resource where they can make a contribution."

The Irma fund started from zero and eventually reached more than $1 million, said vice president Carolyn Rogers.

Designed to complement the work of local governments and public health officials, the foundation and United Way will get input from donors and community members on where the money should go. Because the crisis is ongoing, disbursement and fundraising will be as well, Owen said, helping the groups respond as needs evolve.

Both foundations are 501(c)(3) charitable organization, so donations are tax-deductible.

"We know our community is passionate about supporting our area in times of crisis. With our collaboration with the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, we can help support our nonprofits who will in turn provide aid to the community," said Eileen Connolly-Keesler, Community Foundation of Collier County President & CEO in a statement. "As the community's philanthropic first responder, we are committed to identifying and supporting the needs of our residents and providing aid where it is needed most."

To give to the funds:

For Collier County: https://bit.ly/2TY2mCV

For Southwest Florida: www.FloridaCommunity.com/SWFLRelief or text GIVESWFL to 444999.