THOMASVILLE — Community Foundation of South Georgia, a Thomasville-based organization founded by a group of philanthropic individuals 24 years ago, has established the COVID-19 Relief Fund.

The fund will accept and disburse funds to nonprofit organizations on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis in South Georgia.

“Through this fund, the Community Foundation will provide flexible resources to organizations that have strong experience working to provide South Georgia’s most vulnerable residents with access to food, health care and other basic needs,” said Claire Bowen, donor services associate.

Funds will be distributed through grants to charitable organizations working to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in this area. Grants will not be made directly to individuals.

Bowen said local nonprofit organizations are facing hardships as they navigate the crisis.

“Many organizations have had to close their offices, suspend programming or cancel vital fundraising events, while others are experiencing an increase in demand for services that may be challenging to meet at this time,” she said.

When an organization experiences a decrease in revenue during this time, Bowen added, fewer services provided by the entity are available.

“We are encouraging individuals to continue giving to the nonprofits that are near and dear to their hearts,” she said.

While the Community Foundation encourages donations to nonprofits donors already support, donations to the COVID-19 Relief Fund May be made by going to https://cfsga.net/make-a-donation/.

Checks should be made to Community Foundation of South Georgia with COVID-19 Relief Fund in the memo line and mailed to P.O. Box  2654, Thomasville, Georgia 31799.

“It seems that nearly all nonprofit organizations across the Community Foundation of South Georgia’s service area have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it is through an increased demand for services, loss of revenue or suspension of programs,” Bowen said.

As the Community Foundation board makes decisions about funding from the relief fund, the most crucial, basic needs in food, health care, senior support, child care and economic recovery will be considered, Bowen said.

“As a community foundation, it’s our role to build and deploy resources to our nonprofit organizations to help our communities get through this uncertain time,” said David Carlton, Community Foundation executive director. “We know that our nonprofits are already well-positioned to help our communities and join other first responders. We will continue to work together to serve our area during this time of great need.”

The Community Foundation of South Georgia is a 501(c)3 charitable, nonprofit organization created to establish, manage and distribute funds to qualified organizations.

The organization manages more than 360 funds and endowments and has granted more than $100 million since inception in 2006 to charities across South Georgia and beyond.