During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan opened a Urgent Needs Fund to help the nine counties they serve to those impacted by economic fallout.
Five years later the foundation has reopened the fund. This time it's focused towards helping the counties effected by the late March ice storm. To make sure the fund had money available immediately, the foundation placed $25,000 in it to start.
The first round of grants from the fund have gone out to local groups and non-profits who have helped supply human needs such as heat, shelter, food and hygiene. Eventually, depending on fund availability, the grants will be opened up to households still struggling with the aftermath of the storm.
According to Executive Director Patrick Heraghty, they received over $200,000 in donations within the first 10 days of the fund reopening.
"As the money has come in, we've put it out and we'll continue to look to support and use the fund to support recovery in northeast Michigan as long as donations continue to come," Heraghty said. "Really, the way that neighbors have supported neighbors and the way people have supported northeast Michigan through some of their gifts and thoughts has been really powerful and energizing."
This week, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said around 700 miles of roads are still impassable a month after the storm.
According to Heraghty, the best ways for people to help the impacted area is by making donations to non-profits or by going up north sometime this year to support in person.
"Up north holds a special place in the hearts of so many families, generation after generation. And so now more than ever, we want to invite you to come visit this year because the support of local businesses, nonprofits and communities will make a real difference as we recover and and rebuild," Heraghty said. "Northern Michigan is strong. It's beautiful. And it's waiting to welcome visitors."
