WILLISTON – The Northwest North Dakota Community Foundation has awarded $16,000 from the newly established Relief Fund to organizations responding to immediate needs in Williams, Divide, McKenzie, and Mountrail counties as a result of COVID-19 and energy industry pressures. This grant allocation, combined with last week’s allocation of $14,000, brings the total committed from the Relief Fund to $30,000.

The following individual grants were made:

– $5,000 to the Family Crisis Shelter to support its coordinated response to the pandemic, including supporting individuals and families to self-quarantine while ensuring they have access to food.

– $3,000 to Out in Faith Bakken Oil Ministry to support feeding people in need throughout the Williston area through their Saturday evening dinner program.

– $3,000 to the Divide County Food Pantry to support the food pantry to serve the expanded need and individuals from Divide, Williams, and Burke counties, while also enhancing access to dairy and meat products.

– $2,000 to Crosby Kids Daycare, which is responding to the pandemic by converting available space into learning areas for school-aged children to complete their class work. Funds will be utilized to purchase furniture and other items to ensure social distancing mandates are followed.

– $1,000 to Three Affiliated Tribes-North Segment to support sack lunches for youth in the New Town area.

– $1,000 to Three Affiliated Tribes-West Segment to support sack lunches for youth in the Mandaree area.

– $1,000 to Little Lambs Childcare to support the expanded childcare needs in Williston, including additional sanitizing and staffing expenses.

Individuals and businesses seeking to support the NWNDCF Relief Fund can donate online at NWNDCommunityFoundation.org or by sending a check to: NWNDCF, PO Box 371, Williston, ND 58802-0371. All gifts are tax deductible.