The Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) has approved a plan to provide emergency grants to qualifying organizations who are working to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in La Porte County communities. The HFL COVID-19 Emergency Grants Plan takes a multi-faceted approach as the impact of the pandemic continues to unfold. Phase 1 of the plan addresses immediate needs such as food for residents in need, the elderly and at-risk populations, supplies to support emergency response, and funds to not-for-profit organizations for business continuity. Phase 2 of the plan is designed to address some of the long-term affects the community will face and will include recovery efforts funding. This phase will be shared upon board approval and communicated to the community, as soon as the immediate crisis is over and long-term needs are identified. Organizations may request between $1,000 and $50,000 in funding. If needs exceed $50,000, email mfruth@hflaporte.org. Decisions regarding applications will occur within 48 hours. The deadline will be rolling. Applications will be considered any time through May 30, and that deadline also may be extended. More information and applications can be found at www.hflaporte.org.

Frontline health care workers and first responders are essential fighters in the battle against COVID-19. Lake Area United Way has partnered with Crossroads YMCA and several local child care providers to provide emergency back-up child care to health care workers and first responders beginning Monday. The Griffith YMCA location is opening 100-150 child care slots for health care workers and first responders. Additional child care providers include Faith Child Care in Gary, Life Changers Early Learning and Aftercare STEAM Academy in Gary, and Happy Days Child Care in Highland and Merrillville. All health care workers and first responders are encouraged to contact the Griffith YMCA at 219-750-1082 or www.crymca.org/emergencychildcare to enroll their children. In addition, Lake Area United Way is offering financial assistance for child care to eligible, low-income health care workers while funds are available. To qualify, health care employees must be residents of East Chicago, Gary, or Hammond and work for Methodist Hospitals, Franciscan Hospitals, or hospitals in the Community Healthcare System. Hospital employees can contact their HR Departments for information and instructions on how to apply for financial assistance for child care. Those essential service employers who would like to discuss emergency back-up child care for their employees can contact Lisa Daugherty at ldaugherty@lauw.org or 219-712-3601. Lake Area United Way has established the NWI COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund to support families struggling to make ends meet due to the effects of the pandemic. To contribute go to www.lauw.org.

The Indiana Department of Transportation will close two sections of S.R. 8 west of Kouts for work on structures at Cornell Ditch and Sandy Hook Ditch. The closure is scheduled to begin on or after Monday. S.R. 8 will be closed between C.R. S 200 W and C.R. S 250 W for bride deck replacement at Cornell Ditch. S.R. 8 will also be closed between C.R. S 50 W and C.R. S 150 W for deck patching and epoxy overlay at Sandy Hook Ditch. The work is expected to be complete by the end of June. During the closure, drivers are encouraged to take the detour route, which will follow U.S. 231, S.R. 10 and S.R. 49. Motorists in Northwest Indiana can monitor road closures, road conditions and traffic alerts any time via: Facebook at facebook.com/INDOTNorthwest; Twitter at @INDOTNorthwest; CARS 511 at indot.carsprogram.org; and Mobile App at the iTunes App Store and the Google Play store for Android.