NEW BEDFORD — The SouthCoast Community Foundation launched the SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund in March 2020 to support nonprofit organizations on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak. To date, the fund has raised over $5.5 million and granted over $4.7 million to 82 nonprofits providing emergency support for vulnerable populations, including the homeless, immigrant families, and those facing food insecurity in our region.
The Community Foundation selected 34 local nonprofit organizations to receive a total of $1.26 million for the final round of grants made possible through the Community Foundation’s partnership with the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund. The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund supports those across the state most impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis, focusing on essential frontline workers and vulnerable populations including the homeless, immigrant populations, people with disabilities and those facing food insecurity. The Fund works in concert with regional community foundations and non-profit leaders who partner with local leaders to understand the response and relief landscape, strategically filling in where gaps are pronounced. For more information, visit MACovid19ReliefFund.org.
“The challenges to the health and well-being of our community during this time has been ever shifting. Thanks to the generosity of so many in our community, we have been able to put food on people’s tables, keep people in their homes, protect our frontline workers, support those struggling with mental health issues, get kids into safe and engaging summer programs, and help our most vulnerable neighbors during this uncertain time.” said John Vasconcellos, President of the SouthCoast Community Foundation.
To date, the Fund has raised over $5.5 million from a wide range of corporate donors, foundations, and individuals, in response to the Community Foundation’s call to come together on behalf of our community. The SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund will continue to make grants to support the region’s nonprofits on the frontlines of the pandemic. Please consider making a donation on our website www.southcoastcf.org.
Details of each grantee’s work can be found listed below. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $79,000 were distributed to the following organizations:
Grantees:
Early July: ($600,000)
- Angels Anonymous Inc.
- Attleboro Interfaith Area Collaborative
- Catholic Social Services Diocese of Fall River, Inc.
- Citizens for Citizens, Inc.
- Coastal Foodshed, Inc.
- Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Mass
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth, Inc.
- Hockomock Area YMCA, Inc.
- M.O.L.I.F.E., Inc.
- People Acting In Community Endeavors (PACE) Community Housing Corporation
- Round the Bend Farm, Inc.
- Seven Hills Behavioral Health, Inc.
- South Shore Community Action Council, Inc.
- The Marion Institute Inc.
- The Women’s Center
- United Neighbors of Fall River
- United Way of Greater Fall River, Inc
Late July: ($660,000)
- Amego, Inc.
- Bristol Community College Foundation, Inc.
- Cambodian American Rescue Organization, Inc.
- Centro Comunitario De Trabajadores
- Citizens for Citizens, Inc.
- Community Action for Better Housing, Inc.
- Greater Fall River Community Food Pantry, Inc.
- Health Imperatives, Inc.
- Hebron Food Pantry, Inc.
- Hockomock Area YMCA, Inc.
- Immigrants’ Assistance Center
- Kennedy-Donovan Center, Inc.
- Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, Inc.
- My Brother’s Keeper, Inc.
- Plymouth Task Force to End Homelessness
- Saint Anne’s Food Pantry
- SouthCoast LGBTQ Network, Inc.
- Southeastern Massachusetts SER-Jobs for Progress, Inc.
- The Salvation Army
- United Neighbors of Fall River
- United Way of Greater Fall River, Inc.
How to give
You can help those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting our region’s nonprofits on the front lines. Donations to the SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund may be made online at on our website www.southcoastcf.org.
For general questions and inquiries about the Fund, please direct your inquiry to emergencyfund@southcoastcf.org. For any questions regarding making a donation, please contact the Community Foundation’s Development Manager, Tricia Grime at pgrime@southcoastcf.org. Lastly, for media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Jasmyn Baird at jbaird@southcoastcf.org.
The SouthCoast Community Foundation is a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common goal of improving the quality of life through philanthropy throughout the region. More information about the Foundation can be found at https://southcoastcf.org/