Community Response Fund provides flood relief

COUNTY – In response to the historic flooding that devastated communities across our region this spring, the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region along with United Way Fox Cities activated the Community Response Fund for 2026 Flood Relief on April 17, 2026. The Fund received generous donations to help, and the two organizations continue to move resources responsibly to support the nonprofits and community organizations at the center of flood relief and recovery efforts.
The Community Response Fund is supporting nonprofit and other community organizations engaging in both short-term and long-term relief and recovery efforts in the Shiocton, Waupaca, and New London areas. All funds raised stay local, ensuring resources are directed where they are needed most to help with housing and safe shelter, food, health and well-being, and financial assistance.
As of August 4, 2026, $130,300 has been awarded in grants to area nonprofit organizations. Following is the list of grant recipients:
• CAP Services, Inc. - $25,000 to provide emergency aid and recovery support for flood-impacted families in Outagamie and Waupaca counties, including 11 Hispanic families in Shiocton. Assistance covers housing stability, utilities, essential appliances, furniture, and case management to address urgent health, safety, and recovery needs.
• Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity – $50,000 to address urgent utility system failures and emergency repairs that exceed the coverage of its current home repair fund and provide case management support and follow-up with residents who provided damage reports to 211.

• Multicultural Coalition, Inc. - $20,000 to provide housing and utility assistance, replace essential items lost to flooding, and support staff time, travel, and services that help families recover and address ongoing health, housing, and basic needs.
• People of Progression - $15,000 to provide flexible assistance for essential needs such as temporary housing support, utility assistance, food, cleaning and sanitation supplies, transportation, replacement of basic household items, and other recovery-related expenses identified by impacted families.
• Rawhide Inc. - $7,600 for the purpose of housing and safe shelter and operational costs for the flood efforts.
• The Salvation Army Central Territory, restrictions for use in Fox Valley - $1,200 to reimburse The Salvation Army Extension in Black Creek for costs incurred providing direct assistance to clients including food, water, blankets, clothing, personal care items, and gas cards.
• The Salvation Army Central Territory, restrictions for use in Fox Valley - $6,500 to provide direct assistance to flood-affected households, including gas cards, home improvement gift cards for replacing lost items, utility fill assistance, and case management support for area flood victims.
• Volunteer Fox Cities - $5,000 for flood volunteer coordination and Get Connected disaster response software.
“Through our partnership with United Way Fox Cities and in collaboration with the New London Chamber Foundation, we are able to distribute funds through local organizations to reach more households efficiently and ensure funds are directed by people with deep community knowledge and understanding of needs,” shared Lindsay Fenlon, Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Vice President of Community Engagement.
Community Response Fund grants are available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by a qualified 501(c)(3), or churches and other public entities eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. To learn more and apply for a grant, visit https://cffoxvalley.org/community-response-fund-flooding-2026. Aid to individuals will be channeled through nonprofit organizations with established processes for determining need.
“During times like this we are grateful for our nonprofit partners, donors, and community leaders who quickly come together to assess the situation and act to ensure community needs will be met,” shared Curt Detjen, Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region President & CEO. “I am continually amazed by the care and compassion we all have for the well-being of those affected when disaster strikes in the Fox Valley region.”