| By Big Radio News Staff |

Janesville’s ECHO dishes up more help for people still picking up the pieces from the June 22nd tornado in Janesville.

The nonprofit group has paired with Rock County and the city of Janesville on a grant program that would give people hit by the tornado last month up to $500 in recovery grants.

Director Jessica Locher says the funding could cover or offset cleanup, lost or destroyed personal property or insurance deductibles.

She says it’s more flexible than government funding because the money comes from private donations. All told, ECHO has raised nearly 40,000 in donations for the tornado victims.

Locher says the grants are geared for tornado victims who are elderly, disabled or have limited income. She says in addition to the grant funds, ECHO has been helping out about a half-dozen families stung by the tornado who need fresh groceries.

She says that aid comes as ECHO sees its greatest demand for food all year. Children are home from school and need to be fed.

Locher says people can drop off food donations or donations of cash or checks to ECHO at 65 South High Street, Janesville. To learn how to apply for ECHO’s tornado recovery grants, visit echojanesville.org.