The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan is located at 100 N. Ripley St. in Alpena.

ALPENA — Grant applications for the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan’s Urgent Needs Fund remain open to nonprofits that are continuing to actively support individuals and families in the aftermath of the March ice storm in northern Michigan.

To date, $177,746 has been granted to nonprofits serving the seven counties within the Community Foundation’s service area that are in the declared state of emergency: Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Montmorency, Presque Isle, and Oscoda. Nonprofits serving Mackinaw City and Bois Blanc Island are also eligible.

As local organizations continue to assist those most in need because of the ice storm, Urgent Needs Fund grants will continue to support those efforts.

Eligible projects include those that provide assistance in direct relation to the ice storm and its aftermath, including gas, groceries/food, utility assistance, transportation assistance, hotel stays due to unsafe living conditions created by the storm, tree removal and/or brush and debris removal that poses safety risks or prevents access to one’s home, property/equipment repairs or replacement, permit fees, electrical work, flooding damage, and other property/equipment needs.

“We know there are still many challenges people in our communities are facing due to damage or unexpected expenses because of the ice storm,” CFNEM Development and Marketing Director Christine Hitch said in a press release. “While the Community Foundation cannot support individuals directly, our grants do support the nonprofit organizations working to help people with needs that continue to arise because of the storm.”

Hitch added that if community members are aware of a neighbor, friend, or other resident with needs related to the ice storm, the Community Foundation encourages them to call or text 2-1-1, a service that can connect people with resources for food, housing, utilities, health, and other needs.

“We are also continuing to accept donations into the Urgent Needs Fund,” Hitch said in the press release. “There is no doubt that storm recovery will continue for quite some time, and we are so grateful to all the individuals and businesses that have donated. As long as the need exists and the funds are available, we will continue to utilize this fund to help us support our neighbors and our region.”

The most recent rounds of Urgent Needs Fund grants provided $32,917 to nonprofits throughout Michigan. Funded projects include:

– $8,000 to Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology to support farmers impacted by the ice storm.

– $5,000 to Tri Town Fire Department in Oscoda County to assist with costs associated with operating as a warming shelter and safety/wellness checks.

– $5,000 to Sunrise Mission to provide replacement of perishable items, restocking the food pantry, and assisting with unsafe tree removal.

– $5,000 to Alpena County to keep the debris and brush removal site open on weekends throughout the summer.

– $3,267 to Mio Baptist Church to reimburse expenses related to operating as a warming shelter.

– $2,500 to United Way of Northeast Michigan to provide gas and grocery cards to individuals who experienced income loss due to the ice storm.

– $2,400 to New Beginnings Ministries for the increased need for their food pantry.

– $1,750 to Long Rapids Township to reimburse costs associated with operating as a warming shelter.

For more information about the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, visit cfnem.org. Community Foundation offices are located at 100 N. Ripley St. in Alpena. Call the CFNEM office at 989-354-6881.