The first round of grants has been awarded to local organizations in response to the tragedy of the Key Bridge Collapse on March 26, 2024.
The nonprofit Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) announced the distribution from their Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund, which was created within 48 hours of the bridge’s collapse. The fund grew out of an outpouring of support and community solidarity from national, regional, and local businesses and philanthropists. So far, it has raised $15.6 million.
“We’re honored to be distributing critical grant funds to local organizations supporting those impacted by the Key Bridge collapse,” said Shanaysha Sauls, Chief Executive Officer and President of BCF, in a statement. “These organizations are the heart of our region’s response, offering essential aid during this time of rebuilding. We hope this grant funding will empower these organizations to continue helping our community heal over the long haul and inspire others to do the same.”
Four organizations were chosen to receive the first round of grants. The awardees are:
Community Assistance Network – $366,000
The Community Assistance Network (CAN) is a nonprofit based in Dundalk that develops, operates, and supports programs that reduce vulnerability and empower personal growth among people in Baltimore County experiencing economic challenges. The grant money will be used to support the increase of its usual services, including food distribution, transportation services, and cash relief programs in response to anticipated demand following loss associated with the Key Bridge. With the grant money, CAN will produce 2,925 care packages, including food supplies covering three meals and snacks for seven days for a family of four.
Pro Bono Counseling – $178,500
Pro Bono Counseling (PBC) is a mental health service provider and reference agency based in Baltimore that serves the state of Maryland. The grant money will bolster PBC’s usual services, creating additional staff hours to facilitate increased intakes for connecting clients to permanent low- and no-cost suppliers and to operate their WARMLine emergency counseling service. Funding will also be used to add new temporary roles to conduct bilingual community outreach to support the 400% increase in Spanish-speaking WARMLine requests since this time last year. BCF’s contribution would fund first-line responders, MSW-credentialed case workers, WARMLine operators, and outreach associates.
Baltimore Museum of Industry – $25,000
The Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI) is a cultural museum based in Baltimore dedicated to interpreting the diverse and significant human stories behind labor and innovation in the city. The grant money will be used to organize an oral history memorialization effort around the loss of the Key Bridge and the efforts of first responders, road workers, and the disruption of everyday workers at the Port of Baltimore. The primary expense for the program is compensation for bilingual community engagement and oral historian contractors who will engage with the broad range of impacted communities respectfully and sensitively and collect their stories. BMI intends for the materials collected to serve as a basis for a future exhibit on the Key Bridge’s history and collapse, as well as a historical record that will be available for access by historians and other researchers in the future.
Leftover Love – $5,000
Leftover Love is a Baltimore-based logistics nonprofit that facilitates the distribution of leftover food by restaurants at the end of the business day to local human services providers in Southeast Baltimore City. The grant money will support additional volunteer mileage reimbursements through the end of the year as team members distribute more food to Southeast Baltimore City food pantries, churches, and human service providers seeing increased demand following the collapse of the Key Bridge.
Community-based organizations are invited to continue to apply for grants from the “Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund,” as applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The fund supports first responders and their families, along with port workers and their families. It also supports Key Bridge and Port-adjacent communities like Dundalk, Edgemere, Essex, and Key Bridge contiguous areas in northern Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City. Organizations need to show that their need is connected to the economic impact of the Key Bridge collapse. Click this link to apply for grants from the Fund.
Individuals who were employed at the Port of Baltimore and are now unable to work because of Port closures related to the bridge collapse can also apply for cash assistance from the Fund through the CASH Campaign of Maryland, which is a BCF partner. People invited to apply include union workers, independent contractors, solo owner-operators, and the self-employed who work at the Port’s public and private terminals. Click this link to apply for cash assistance.
The “Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund” is still accepting donations at BCF. Click this link to donate, or contact Vice President of Philanthropy Ashley Mancinelli by clicking this link.
