Eastern Iowa Farmer Fall 2020

Responding
During Crisis
Strengthening
Communities
In rural towns, community foundations are meeting
the needs of people most impacted by COVID-19. The
LincolnWay Community Foundation, for instance, has
stepped up to help feed children and families.
“In March, we supported lunches for students in
Calamus and gave $5,000 to the DeWitt Referral Center
for food,” says Pat Henricksen, executive director of the
Foundation.
The Referral Center assists people experiencing
financial hardship in the Central DeWitt Community School
District with resources for medical care, housing, utilities,
clothing, transportation and food. In a year, it provided
9,295 cartons of milk at school plus 242 summer lunch
boxes for kids.
“The Foundation sees the difference the Referral Center
has made,” says Henricksen. The Foundation also has
pledged $6,000 to the Center for a new space that will
meet its needs better than its current home, an aging
former fire station.
Through many years of grantmaking, the Foundation
has supported the Referral Center and other nonprofits,
many of which are on the front lines of the pandemic
response. You can help with a gift to the Forever
LincolnWay Endowment. Contact Pat Henricksen at 563-
659-5039.
The Jackson County Fairgrounds were quiet this
August during the pandemic, but the Community
Foundation of Jackson County is still supporting
the fair — and the county — through grantmaking.
Though the fair was cancelled, 4-H leaders
planned an exhibition to showcase clubs around the county.
The Foundation’s Disaster Recovery Fund granted $2,500
to purchase safety supplies for the youth and volunteers
involved.
This fall, the Foundation will award its final grant of
$25,000 to Together We Build for the new Jackson County
Fair & Extension Outreach Center, which will strengthen
families, empower youth and grow communities by
expanding educational programs in health, nutrition, STEM
and agriculture. It’s also expected to draw new programs
and events to the area.
The Foundation’s mission to nurture charitable giving,
enrich quality of life and promote a sense of community
allows donors many ways to support causes they care
about. Local generosity supports grantmaking that
strengthens Jackson County for everyone, today and
tomorrow.
To learn more, contact Mary Jo Gothard, executive
director, at 563-588-2700 or maryjo@dbqfoundation.org.
An Affiliate of the
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Dubuque strengthens communities
partners in surrounding counties.
dbqfoundation.org