United Way Helps Community Ministries Serve Needy

will use four community impact grants recently awarded by the United Way of the National Capital Area to support its support of the city’s uninsured, low-income, elderly and Latino communities.

United Way of the National Capital Area announced $277,498 in grants to 43 county nonprofit organizations on Feb. 28. The 53 grants will go to support United Way NCA focus areas of education, health and financial stability, according to a news release.

The grants to Community Ministries totaled $18,916. They will go to support:

1. A health clinic serving uninsured adults.
2. Emergency assistance, including financial aid to help homeowners avoid eviction or utility cutoffs.
3. Elderly ministries, including home care and home repairs.
4. Latino outreach, including English as a Second Language classes.

“It is a big help to receive these contributions from the donors to the United Way campaign,” said Community Ministries executive director Agnes Saenz. “I want to thank the donors for helping us to provide medical care to uninsured individuals in the community, for helping us to reach folks who need to learn English, for helping us to serve senior clients who need home care and for helping us to serve families in financial crisis.”

Employees from more than 1,000 corporations, educational institutions and municipalities gave more than $1.75 million to community impact funds across United Way NCA’s eight regions. The funds help United Way solve critical challenges no one person, nonprofit, or company can address alone.

“The contributions from the Montgomery County community demonstrate a commitment to joining together to ensure that programs in education, health and financial stability can continue their essential work,” Bill Hanbury, president and CEO of United Way NCA, said in the release. “Each of the Community Impact Fund grants will have an immediate and positive impact on each of these vital organizations.”

United Way member organizations in Montgomery County submitted 110 grant proposals totaling more than $1.9 million. A volunteer, citizen-led task force working in concert with area nonprofits, governments and business leaders chose the nonprofits to receive grants.

Community Ministries, whose annual budget is about $3 million, received $298,000 in support from the city in fiscal 2012. It is requesting an increase to $340,000 in aid from the city for fiscal 2013. The City Council will vote in May on the budget for fiscal 2013, which begins July 1.

Saenz said the increase in support from the city would support increased operating costs for Community Ministries, as well as a fifth mission of the nonprofit: providing housing.

The increase would cover operating costs for a new group home that the nonprofit is working towards finding within the city limits. The home would provide permanent housing for five individuals.

Community Ministries operates Jefferson House in Rockville. The nonprofit provides personal living quarters for individuals transitioning from homeless shelters. Housing services include case management and support services such as health care, substance abuse and mental health treatment, educational assistance and connections to volunteer projects and job referrals through Montgomery Works.