The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has announced grants totaling more than $1.1 million to support the ongoing response to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Grants were awarded to seven nonprofit organizations working in Flint and Genesee County. Grantees include Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties, which was awarded a $300,000 grant in support of its soup kitchen operations, warming center, and transportation program, and a $500,000 grant for the renovation of its Center for Hope; the Family Service Agency of Mid-Michigan, which will receive $30,000 for technology upgrades designed to expedite services for older adults and families in Genesee County; and the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, which was awarded $85,000 to ramp up food distribution through two of its partner agencies and $20,000 for its diaper bank.

The foundation also awarded $100,000 to the Salvation Army of Genesee County in support of its Comprehensive Emergency Assistance Program; $50,000 to Shelter of Flint, Inc. in support of its housing resource center; $43,000 to the Valley Area Agency on Aging to provide water crisis-related outreach services to the city’s "hidden" senior population; and $42,000 to the Whaley Children's Center for upgrades to its residential and administrative facilities.

"The elderly, who are the primary focus of our work, often lack transportation or are dealing with serious health issues that make it difficult to access help," said Charles Tommasulo, executive director of the Family Service Agency of Mid-Michigan. "It’s not easy to install a filter if your eyesight is failing or pick up a thrity-five-pound case of water if you suffer from arthritis."

"These organizations are among the many helping Flint’s families deal with the water crisis," said Mott Foundation president Ridgway White. "The good news is that more and more residents are being connected with the services they need, but our nonprofit organizations are being stretched. We hope these grants will help those who do so much to help others."