Batesville, IN — As of July 30, $35,280 has been donated to the One Batesville Community Response Fund through a combination of grants, corporate and small business donations, and individual donations since April, according to Angela Byers Weldishofer, board president of the One Batesville Task Force. Twenty-three grants totaling $20,524 have been awarded so far to help with rent, utility, and food expenses. Byers Weldishofer recalls, “The smallest was $250 and the highest, which is the max support, was $1,500.”
Byers Weldishofer said, “We are still here, actively accepting applications for those financially impacted due to COVID-19. We have experts taking phone calls that know what resources are available in the community if our help is not enough. This fund is not meant to replace lost income, but to provide financial relief to maintain basic living needs.”
To be eligible for grants, individuals or small businesses must be located within the Batesville Community School Corporation’s geographic boundaries and demonstrate a financial impact due to the novel coronavirus. All requests remain confidential.
Contributions to the Batesville Area Resource Center from area residents, businesses, and nonprofits also are welcomed. Byers Weldishofer explains, “While BARC is 100 percent volunteer-led, there are unplanned operational costs involved in maintaining the fund, like marketing, website development and ongoing maintenance, and printing. General donations to support BARC assist us in continuing to offer an affordable ‘home’ for our nonprofit partners.”
The Batesville Area Resource Center, 920 County Line Road, opened in 2016 and currently houses the Southeast Indiana Health Center, Batesville Area Ministerial Association Food Pantry, One Community One Family, WorkOne Southeast, Project T3 (Totes for Tots and Teens), Choices Coordinated Care Solutions, River Valley Resources, Southeastern Indiana Economic Opportunity Corporation Community Action Partnership, and LifeTime Resources.
Tax-deductible donations to the One Batesville Community Response Fund and BARC for its operational expenses may be made through the website or mailed to P.O. Box 55, Batesville, IN 47006. Please specify which fund the donor prefers.
More information for applicants and contributors is available at https://www.batesvilleresourcecenter.com or by calling 812-932-BARC and leaving a message.
