The Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) has launched a fundraising appeal for co-ops affected by Covid-19.
Donations can be made online and will be used to boost the Foundation’s Disaster Recovery Fund, which helps co-operatives and co-operators get back on their feet after disasters or other emergency hardship situations.
The pandemic is already affecting co-ops across the USA, where sector body the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA Clusa) warned of severe challenges such as declining sales, job lay-offs, daily childcare challenges and the need to restock masks and gloves to protect workers who serve vulnerable populations.
Co-ops struggling to cope with the pandemic can apply for grants from the Disaster Recovery Fund online, with each case evaluated by the Foundation. The grants can cover basic necessities, such as food, clothing, housing (including repairs), transport and medical assistance for employees of volunteers of co-ops or uninsured expenses needed to return the business to viability.
Through the fund, in 2019 CDF gave out $167,000 in grants to co-ops in need in the United States, Uganda and the Bahamas.
