COVID-19 Grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
To help ease the ongoing needs of Illinoisans created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) has awarded The Salvation Army Heartland Division Youth Department a $20,000 grant as part of BCBSIL’s latest round of giving aimed at helping the helpers. The grant will help fund Summer Camp retreats at Eagle Crest Camp for children throughout Central Illinois.
According to Captain Jason Bigelow, Divisional Youth Secretary for The Salvation Army Heartland Division, “This is a game changer for us. While we are all struggling to adapt to the new “normal” in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, it has been especially hard for the children. So many things have changed. They have missed out on so much. We know kids continue to be resilient but it usually, eventually comes out and many times it’s in unhealthy ways. With funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois we can add into our curriculum ways our youth leaders can identify health concerns and needs as well as guide youth through the pandemic that is currently still happening all around them and the unknown after affects. Plus, we want to provide an opportunity to bring some fun and excitement back into their lives, even, if, just for a few days. And we fully believe that camp can help make a difference in their lives.”
BCBSIL selected 175 organizations across Illinois with missions focused on access to care, hunger, shelter and behavioral health care, and COVID-19 health education and vaccine access to receive $20,000 grants as part of its COVID-19 Community Collaboration Fund.
“A year into the pandemic and the health, economic and social impacts around Illinois are still great,” said Harmony Harrington, vice-president government and community relations for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. “We’re proud to be able to help so many organizations increase their capacity to help more people receive the help they need.”