OSDRI wins grant to help vets affected by COVID

A Johnston nonprofit is one of 17 organizations that will share $550,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation to help residents cope with the continuing effects of the pandemic.

Operation Stand Down received $25,000 to provide homeless and at-risk veterans with housing, utility and employment and training assistance. The organization expects to assist an additional 40 veteran households with this funding.

“The grant helps address shortfalls in fundraising that is normally dedicated to providing these types of temporary financial assistance and supportive services,” Executive Director Erik B. Wallin said. “A portion of funds will also be utilized for outreach to encourage veterans to seek our assistance in proactively addressing rent arrearages with landlords so as to help maintain long-term housing stability.”

With the latest grants from its COVID-19 Response Fund, the foundation has awarded $7.3 million in grants to 150 nonprofits across Rhode Island since launching the fund nearly one year ago. Here is the entire list of recipients.

“Even though the situation appears to be improving, we never stopped raising money and making grants to benefit Rhode Islanders hit hard by the crisis,” said Neil D. Steinberg, president and CEO of the foundation. “We will continue working with dedicated and generous donors from throughout the state and tireless nonprofits partners as Rhode Island moves from crisis relief to long-term recovery.”

Some of the other recipients include Project Undercover and the R.I. Parents Information Network in Warwick and the Samaritans in Pawtucket.

The Samaritans will use its grant to support ongoing staffing for its work serving people in emotional crisis through its Hotline/Listening Line at 401-272-4044.

“Our nonjudgmental befriending services are there for the hopeless, the isolated and alone, the suicidal and the grieving as well as to their family and friends who care about them. The operating and program support is crucial to maintaining our statewide, volunteer staffed services and program assistance as well as our community partnerships as we adapt to COVID-19's evolving impact on the Rhode Islanders we serve,” Executive Director Denise Panichas said.

Bradley Hospital, Crossroads Rhode Island, Dorcas International Institute, the Da Vinci Center, the Housing Network, the Interfaith Counseling Center, New Englanders Helping Our Veterans, Project Weber/RENEW, R.I. Legal Services, Sacred Heart Elderly Day Care, the WARM Shelter and Women’s Refugee Care also received grants.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the foundation raised $68 million and awarded a record $87 million in grants in 2020. Since its centennial five years ago, the foundation has awarded more than $284 million in grants and has raised more than $328 million. Through leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.