Thanks to a donation from Bristol-Myers Squibb, the Lawrence Township Community Foundation (LTCF) announced four grants totaling $20,000 to HomeFront, Arm in Arm, Mercer Street Friends and Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, to support their efforts to help local families during the COVID-19 health crisis.
According to LTCF President Rachel Cantlay, board members decided to table proposals submitted for their spring grants and consider them in the fall grant cycle when it is hoped that programs can begin to be held as usual, according to the statement. Nonprofits that submitted grants for this spring will not need to take any action to have their proposals considered in the fall, she said.
To help address the problems caused by the novel coronavirus, the board unanimously decided to use grant funds earmarked for usual distribution in May for special emergency grants. These grants will be offered to nonprofits to help them meet needs of township residents created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Local nonprofits can access a special application form available at www.ltcfnj.org. Organizations submitting these urgent proposals must be registered nonprofits, and directly serve people living in Lawrence Township.
The grants will be awarded in early May.
The Lawrence Township Community Foundation has been providing grants to local nonprofits for more than 15 years. The group, in addition to Bristol-Myers Squibb, is supported by two other major sponsors, The Lawrenceville School and Educational Testing Service. In recent years, donations from township individuals have been providing additional funds to LTCF, adding to funds available for grants to local nonprofits. Anyone wishing to help LTCF with the COVID-19 special grants or its ongoing support to local nonprofits can donate by visiting www.ltcfnj.org. People can also like the LTCF Facebook page to get ongoing information.