To respond to the challenges St. Louis’ Black families are facing with COVID-19, FLOURISH announced it would award grants of up to $5,000 each for efforts that fill critical gaps for families. So far, 18 organizations have received a total of nearly $88,000 to support COVID-19 relief efforts, and FLOURISH continues to accept applications for funding.
“The pandemic has affected us all, but it has been especially challenging for Black families who already experience health inequities, and now may be facing job loss, lack of supplies and lack of transportation to safely get to the store,” said Brian Washington, manager of planning and partnerships at Generate Health. “We appreciate how quickly these community groups are mobilizing to help meet families’ needs right now.”
Community groups have stepped in to deliver food and essential baby supplies, provide assistance with housing and utility bills, and provide technology to help families access virtual healthcare and educational services. The following organizations are carrying out COVID-19 projects with FLOURISH funding:
Food, Baby Supplies and Other Essential Items
- Arthur R. Johnson Community Outreach: Providing biweekly mobile food distribution in south St. Louis City.
- New Heights Community Resource Center: Providing frozen food and household cleaning supplies to Black moms and families in south St. Louis City and north St. Louis County.
- Fit and Food Connection: Providing healthy food staples to food insecure families through a pantry delivery service in North St. Louis.
- With Open Arms: Providing formula, baby supplies, female hygiene products, pack ‘n play cribs and wearable blankets to Black teenage moms.
- LifeWise STL: Providing food, household goods and baby supplies to parenting families who are food insecure and have had disruptions to their regular sources of income.
- Operation Food Search: Delivering healthy food boxes, household supplies and baby care items to Black pregnant and parenting families weekly.
- Cardinal Glennon Danis Pediatric Clinic: Screening families for food insecurity and other needs during pediatric visits, and providing food boxes, hygiene and baby care products.
- Bridge of Hope: Expanding brown-bag lunch program and family care kit distribution to families in the Greater Ville neighborhood by providing essential food, toiletry kits, infant supplies and prenatal vitamins.
- Family Forward: Providing direct client assistance to support basic needs (food, diapers, household items) of teen mothers under the age of 21 who are enrolled in case management, parent education, trauma-informed coaching and mentorship programs.
Housing and Utility Assistance
- Haven of Grace: Providing housing, rent, utility and food assistance, as well as training and supportive services to homeless pregnant women and their children.
- Bethany Christian Services: Providing rent, utilities support and household items for pregnant and postpartum women receiving case management services.
- Lutheran Family and Children’s Services: Providing rent, utility and material assistance to families receiving case management, supportive counseling and evidence-based parenting education program.
- John’s United Church of Christ: Providing food, rent and utility assistance to families in the Fairground Park neighborhood. St. John’s UCC also will canvass the neighborhood to identify community needs, including food delivery, census participation, lighting improvements for safety and overdose education.
- Southside Early Childhood Center: Providing direct cash assistance to families enrolled in the Early Head Start/Head Start programs who have been furloughed, laid off or had their work hours reduced and cannot afford to cover basic needs like rent, food or diapers/wipes.
- Great Circle: Providing assistance with rent and utility payments, as well as food and essentials, for families in the Healthy Families program.
Virtual Health Services
- Nurses for Newborns: Conducting telehealth visits with Black pregnant and parenting families and delivering formula, food, and diapers to participants’ homes.
- Infant Loss Resources: Providing virtual safe sleep training and distribution of portable cribs to families through porch drop-offs and designated drive-through sites.
- Parents as Teachers National Center: Purchasing tablets for distribution in five women’s shelters so that Black pregnant and parenting families can access virtual group programming.
The pandemic and its impacts are far from over, and FLOURISH intends to continue to help St. Louis’ Black families during this challenging time. A new application for COVID-19 relief projects will be available on our website beginning May 28, and the next deadline to apply for funding is June 3. Applications will continue to be accepted every Wednesday by noon until the funding runs out.