Greater Lowell Community Foundation Announces New Round of Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund Grants

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced an additional round of grant awards from the Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund to six Greater Lowell nonprofits. This round of $65,000 in grants supported a broad range of underfunded needs identified by Greater Lowell organizations, including food and essential supplies, housing support, staffing, and transportation.

“Through the continued, generous support of our donors, we were able to fund an additional round of grants,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s President and CEO. “The six nonprofits selected to receive these grants are filling the gaps needed to support newcomers in Greater Lowell.”

2024 GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund Grants:

  • Andover Islamic Center – The grant will supplement gaps in current benefits, including purchasing cleaning supplies and pest control items, as well as transportation gift cards for rides to doctors’ appointments and job interviews until they can obtain driver’s licenses.
  • Catie’s Closet, Inc. (Dracut) – Funding to provide newcomer families with access to emergency basic needs including clothing and toiletries.
  • Dignity In Asylum (Concord) – Funding to provide safe transitional housing and community support to people seeking asylum who are at risk of homelessness.
  • International Institute of New England (Lowell) – The International Institute of New England (IINE)’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program will connect 150 low-income refugee and immigrant newcomers in Lowell with adult English language education, an essential service for unlocking social, educational, and employment opportunities. Experienced instructors, supported by volunteer tutors, teach classes offered by proficiency level and integrate reading, writing, oral communication, and technical literacy.
  • Lowell Community Health Center – Funding for a bilingual-bicultural Patient Navigator (PN). This person will act as cultural liaison and advocate, linking newcomers to services they need while helping to eliminate racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health disparities. As cultural bridges, PNs build trust and play a crucial role in promoting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.
  • Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries (Ayer) – Funding to stock the shelves of the Ayer Migrant Communal Kitchen.  

In the fall of 2023, GLCF established the Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund to provide support to local nonprofits working with newcomers. The intention of the grants is to provide funding to help ensure those in need are welcomed and connected with resources to assist with housing, employment, transportation, food, acculturation, and other related support. 

Donations to the GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org or by mail to the GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

For more information about the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, visit www.glcfoundation.org.

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation –Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of nearly $65 million, GLCF annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. It is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from Foundation staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. The generosity of our donors has enabled the Community Foundation to award more than $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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CAPTION ONE:  Greater Lowell Community Foundation recently announced an additional round of GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund grants to six nonprofits. Catie’s Closet (Dracut) received a grant to provide newcomer families with access to emergency basic needs including clothing and toiletries. Pictured are Catie’s Closet Confidence Creators filling SOS Urgent Response orders for local children in need. Each package contains up to two weeks of clothing and essentials for children experiencing sudden crisis situations.

CAPTION TWO:  Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries in Ayer received a grant from GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund for their Migrant Communal Kitchen. A number of the items need to be purchased from local grocery stores, and this funding helps to support these costs. Pictured, a volunteer’s shopping cart used to stock Stone Soup Kitchen’s pantry shelves.