WALLA WALLA–The Blue Mountain Community Foundation has created a Covid-19 Response Fund and is organizing an advisory committee for so that charitable resources are available to nonprofit organizations and charities helping people affected by the Covid-19 virus pandemic in the Walla Walla Valley. Other local philanthropies are creating funds either on their own or in partnership with BMCF. The Sherwood Trust made a $10,000 grant and an anonymous donor gave $5000 to the Fund in addition to the $100,000 that the Community Foundation has set aside in the Fund. People wishing to help others cope with the damage and loss caused by the pandemic may give to the Covid-19 Response Fund at http://www.bluemountainfoundation.org.

Although the virus has not yet had the devastating effects locally that other areas have experienced, this Fund will help the community cope when it does. The COVID-19 Response Fund will provide flexible resources to organizations working with people who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak. The Fund is designed to complement the work of local, state and Federal resources and programs, and expand local capacity to address the outbreak as efficiently as possible.

A local Advisory Committee to the Covid-19 Response Fund is being organized and will be reaching out to nonprofit organizations and charities soon about current impacts and anticipated situations due to the pandemic in the near future.

Donations to the Fund are eligible for charitable income tax deductions. The Blue Mountain Community Foundation is registered to solicit gifts in both Washington and Oregon. People may make online donations at http://www.bluemountainfoundation.org or send checks made out to “BMCF – Covid19 Fund” and send to PO Box 603, Walla Walla, WA 99362.

For more information contact BMCF staff can be reached at 509-529-4371 or [email protected].