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The Troup County Relief Fund has awarded its first round of grants.

In response to the COVID-19 virus and the ensuing economic consequences of this outbreak, according to UWWG President Patty Youngblood, the Troup County Emergency Relief Fund was established to provide flexible resources to organizations in Troup County working with vulnerable citizens.

“Our committee met late last week, and we looked over applications from five different entities,” said Callaway Foundation President Tripp Penn. “The first three grantees were Troup CARES, Circles of Troup County and God’s Bread Basket. The total grant was $10,000 between the three of them. We just felt like each of those three were really on the front line serving people who are either struggling with poverty, food insecurity or health care.”

Each awarded given will be based on the needs of the non-profit.

Penn said within the first few days of setting up the relief fund individuals and a few organizations had donated approximately $40,000.

“We are still wanting and needing more because the more money we have the more requests we can fulfill,” Youngblood said. “It is very exciting. We recently just got $9,500 in the mail from four different donors. We are also getting applications in daily. I think people are figuring out it’s there.”

The Callaway Foundation has committed to offering a $50,000 matching grant for this fund. Contributions will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000.

With the Callaway match, the relief fund will soon reach $100,000 raised.

“The Truist Financial Foundation also provided $2,600 that we opened the fund with,” Youngblood said. “They sent it to United Way to be used for COVID relief before the fund was even set up.”

Youngblood said she has seen the community really step up to help with this relief fund.

“They have donated in amounts from $25 to $10,000,” Youngblood said. “Every contribution helps.”

The United Way is managing the funds, and donations can be made at unitedwaywga.org/donation. If a business or company wants to join the coalition and provide a corporate gift, they can email patty@unitedwaywga.org.

Make checks payable to United Way of West Georgia, Inc. and indicate that your gift should be directed to the Troup County Emergency Relief Fund – TCERF. Mail checks to United Way of West Georgia, Inc., Attn: Troup County Emergency Relief Fund, P.O. Box 532, LaGrange, Georgia, 30241.

There is also a page for organizations to apply for the grant located on an online portal at unitedwaywga.org/donation/#grant-info.