The Barge Design Solutions, Inc. Community Fund has awarded a total of $35,000 in grants to organizations contributing to COVID-19 relief efforts.
"As our nation slowly opens following stay-at-home orders and other restrictions, many in our communities are left reeling from the effects of this pandemic," officials said. "Much of our population finds themselves in need of various forms of assistance."
Office leads, employees designated to manage daily operations in the firm’s 15 locations, nominated non-profits in each locale for these employee-funded grants.
The majority of selected organizations are food banks, religious institutions or farmers markets providing food to community members.
One organization sews and distributes non-medical grade masks, and another provides financial assistance to alleviate the stress of living expenses for those unable to make payments. The Chattanooga Area Foodbank received a $2,500 grant to support their hunger relief efforts.
Cendy Dodd, Barge CFO and chair of the Community Fund Committee, shares, “Never in any of our lifetimes have so many people been impacted than are currently being impacted by COVID-19. Barge wanted to assist relief efforts by supporting charitable organizations helping those in dire economic straits.”