RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Officials with the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) have announced a new wave of funds being given to local organizations as part of the Health Equity Fund. On Thurs. Nov. 7, RHHD partnered with Mayor Levar Stoney to hold a press conference to provide updates on the Health Equity Fund. The Health Equity Fund was established in October 2021 through an investment of $5 million from American Rescue Plan Act funds (ARPA) to support community-led projects across Richmond that address health disparities and racial injustice in the city’s communities. In 2022, RHHD announced the recipients of a $332,000 fund to address community health disparities. Since then, $3.2 million has been distributed to various groups across the city. Officials gave ARPA money to 13 organizations: Community 50/50 Empowering YOU for Positive Change Health Brigade Help Me Help You Foundation Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center Nationz Foundation REAL LIFE Richmond Food Justice Alliance Shalom Farms St. Luke Legacy Center The Hive Virginia Anti-Violence Project WHO Counseling Services Officials distributed $989,000 to 10 new community-based partners and $388,000 to three currently funded partners to further their work. (Photo: Jamal Williams, 8News)(Photo: Jamal Williams, 8News)(Photo: Jamal Williams, 8News)(Photo: Jamal Williams, 8News) Community 50/50 CEO Zenobia Bay said the money will help expand their third-Sunday feeding program into a full-service health fair. “We can bring in licensed clinical social workers, we can bring nutritionists, we can bring certified individuals and expertise in their area to come and actually provide the direct need and then follow up with weekly wellness checks,” Bay said. Founder and Director of REAL LIFE, Sarah Scarbrough said it will help transition many people looking for a place to live. “We get a lot of folks coming from re-entry that have absolutely nothing and so many programs cost to get in,” Scarbrough said. “That really limits folks's ability to access safe, stable recovery housing. So, these funds are very significant, allowing us to have everybody move in for free.” Omar Al-Qadaffi from Richmond Food Justice Alliance said this is a big win for grassroots organizations who have been trying to help their community for years. “People that care about their community and lived in Mosby Court and have cared about their community, wanted to do things for it, those people are now receiving the funding,” Al-Qadaffi said. “So, we are employing the people in the community.” Officials have $2.1 million left to give out and said the next round of funds for new organizations will be announced in 2025.