NEW BEDFORD — The Community Foundation today announced that in June they have awarded over $1.5 Million to 41 nonprofits providing significant emergency support for essential front-line workers and vulnerable populations, including the homeless, immigrant families, people with disabilities and those facing food insecurity.
These grants contribute to the more than $2.68 Million that the Community Foundation has allocated over the past three months through its SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund. The Fund supports nonprofits that are on the frontlines serving those in our region most severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the grants made in June, $820,000 was distributed to organizations alleviating hunger and homelessness throughout the region. From Round the Bend Farm of South Dartmouth for their Manifest Love project to the Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless who is providing rental and utility assistance, and support for parents through their Baby Point program, these grants were wide-ranging and awarded to organizations that are making a big impact in the communities they serve.
Another significant portion of these grants was made to organizations providing direct supports to immigrant families in need. $410,000 was distribution to organizations including the Cambodian American Rescue Organization (CARO) and Centro Comunitario De Trabajadores (CCT) which will use grant funds to purchase gift cards, culturally specific food and sanitary supplies (PPE) for immigrant families. The Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts (CEDC) will utilize grant funds to support undocumented and mixed status immigrant taxpayer households who have fallen behind on rent, medical, utility and other bills, due to loss of employment as a result of the pandemic.
Other grants made through these two rounds will provide supports for essential/frontline workers, disabled individuals, and organizations providing mental health services.
These grants are 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 pandemic has reminded us of how fragile our lives are but also how truly resilient, innovative, and caring our community is”, said John Vasconcellos, President of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts.
To date, the Fund has raised more than $4.2 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.
Details of each grantee’s work can be found listed below. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 were distributed to the following organizations:
Grantees:
Early June:
- Attleboro Interfaith Area Collaborative
- Cambodian American Rescue Organization
- Catholic Social Services Diocese of Fall River, Inc.
- Citizens for Citizens, Inc.
- Coastal Foodshed, Inc.
- Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth, Inc.
- Hockomock Area YMCA, Inc.
- Northstar Learning Centers, Inc.
- People Acting In Community Endeavors (PACE) Community Housing Corporation
- Round the Bend Farm, Inc.
- Schwartz Center for Children
- United Interfaith Action of Southeastern Massachusetts
- United Way of Greater Fall River, Inc.
- Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless
Late June:
- Balanced Learning Center, Inc.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South
- Bristol Community College Foundation, Inc.
- Centro Comunitario De Trabajadores
- Citizens for Citizens, Inc.
- Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, Inc.
- HealthFirst Family Care Center, Inc.
- Hockomock Area YMCA, Inc.
- Immigrants’ Assistance Center
- Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford
- Kennedy-Donovan Center, Inc.
- M.O.L.I.F.E., Inc.
- My Brother’s Keeper, Inc.
- Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen Foundation -Taunton
- Our Daily Bread- Mansfield’s Food Pantry
- Plymouth Task Force to End Homelessness
- Seven Hills Behavioral Health, Inc.
- The Greater Fall River Community Food Pantry, Inc.
- The Literacy Center, Inc.
- The Salvation Army
- UMASS Dartmouth Foundation
- United Way of Fall River, Inc.
- United Way of Greater New Bedford, Inc.
- West Side Benevolent Circle, Inc.
- YMCA Southcoast, Inc.
- YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts
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 https://cfsema.securepayments.cardpointe.com/pay. For general questions and inquiries about the Fund, please direct your inquiry to emergencyfund@cfsema.org. For any questions regarding making a donation, please contact the Community Foundation’s Development Manager, Tricia Grime at pgrime@cfsema.org. Lastly, for media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Jasmyn Baird at jbaird@cfsema.org.
About the Community Foundation
Our Community. Your Foundation. Since 1995, area residents have been turning to the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. The Community Foundation is a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern – improving the quality of life in Southeastern Massachusetts. To date, the Community Foundation has distributed over $25 million from over 175 funds to humanitarian, educational and cultural organizations in the region. More information about the Foundation can be found at www.cfsema.org.