The effects of the COVID-19 Virus on Rabun County are beginning to hit full force. Requests for assistance from laid-off and furloughed workers are flooding the various non-profits as rents and payments come due. Reverend Don Barber of Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church reports that the number of households requesting food assistance has doubled to over 400 families in March.

The North Georgia Community Foundation (NGCF) has generously offered to match the Lake Rabun Foundation (LRF) grant of $5,000 to help provide immediate relief to those needing assistance. In conjunction with the NGCF the LRF has chosen the Rabun County Family Connection (RCFC) to administer these grants which total $10,000.

The RCFC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit which acts as a go to source for emergency assistance such as rent, food, shelter, and utility bills. It serves as a clearing house for local churches and other non-profits. Leckie Stack and other Lake Rabun Association (LRA) members attend most of the monthly meetings and can attest to the effectiveness of this organization. All RCFC recipients are screened and approved based on need…we know these funds will be put to good use.

Thanks to the generosity of our membership the LRF is fully capable of making this matching donation. The foundation has already made grants to a number of front line charities and stands ready to do more. If you would like to provide additional support for this effort please send a check to NGCF-Lake Rabun Fund and indicate “COVID-19 Fund”.

Please mail to:

North Georgia Community Foundation

615 F Oak Street, Suite 1300

Gainesville, GA 30501

If you prefer to donate online, please go to https://www.ngcf.org/ and click on “Give Online” in the top right hand corner of the site. Go to “Donate to a Fund” and designate the Lake Rabun Foundation when you choose “Other Funds”. After determining your donation please type in “Lake Rabun COVID Relief Fund”. This is important as donations received will accrue against the $5000 grant from the LRF. 100% of funds received by check or online will go directly to Rabun County non-profits.

On behalf of the Lake Rabun Foundation we pray for the safety of our community in these challenging times and sincerely thank you for your contributions.