HANCOCK COUNTY — Two Hancock County nonprofits were among 58 agencies receiving $8.3 million in grants from the United Way of Central Indiana’s Basic Needs Fund this month.
Hancock County Senior Services received $60,000, while Meals on Wheels of Hancock County received $25,000.
The $8.3 million in unrestricted grants were part of the United Way’s first grant cycle of its 2020-21 fiscal year from the Basic Needs Fund, intended to support food, housing, transportation and health-care programs in central Indiana.
Funding ranged from $20,000 to $450,000 per grant.
Last fiscal year, United Way awarded a total of $5 million in Basic Needs funds to 57 organizations.
Four other agencies that were awarded funds this year also provide services in Hancock County but are located elsewhere, including: Alternatives Inc., Families First, Tangram and the Salvation Army of Indiana.
Jeannie Roberts, Hancock County’s community relations manager for United Way of Central Indiana, said both organizations help seniors remain in their homes for a longer period of time than might otherwise might be possible.
Senior Services provides assistance like transportation, housekeeping, information and referrals, while Meals on Wheels provides daily meals as well as supplemental food and daily check-ins by delivery volunteers.
Lynda Kosh, director of Meals on Wheels of Hancock County, said the funds will be put to good use. The agency also received a Basic Needs grant from the United Way last year.
“We are very fortunate to be a recipient a second time around for Basic Needs, because that is exactly what we’re providing,” said Kosh.
She’s hopeful the funding will not only support ongoing services but enable Meals on Wheels to identify new clients who qualify for assistance.
“We’ll be able to do more outreach to more of these folks who may not have needed us in the past, but who need us now,” she said.
According to the news release announcing the most recent grants, meeting the basic needs of children, individuals and families has been a foundation to United Way’s work and is especially critical as the community slowly emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
