GLCF awards $180K in additional COVID-19 Response Grants to address Youth Food Insecurity

  • UTEC’s Kasey Berzins, Cafe Program Manager, helps prepare a fresh salad for Madd Love Meals’ daily lunch delivery.
  • Merrimack Valley Food Bank’s executive director Amy Pessia with food donations. The Mill Market Pantry pilot to address youth food insecurity in schools is GLCF recently funded a collaboration between Merrimack Valley Food Bank (MVFB) and Catie’s Closet.

LOWELL – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced it deployed a new round of COVID-19 related grants, providing an additional $180,000 to 17 area nonprofits in Greater Lowell addressing youth food insecurity needs. These grants were part of the latest round of distributions from the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program and GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

GLCF connected with local nonprofits addressing barriers and needs related to youth food insecurity. In March of 2021, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation distributed a survey, via email, social media, and personalized GLCF team outreach, to organizations serving food to youths. 

“Youth food insecurity is not a new community problem, but COVID-19 has exacerbated it, and our area has the third-highest increase in the nation (Feeding America, The Impact of the Coronavirus on Food Insecurity in 2020, Oct. 2020),” said GLCF president & CEO Jay Linnehan. “We listened to the community experts that know what it needs to mitigate this growing issue.”

“From the Greater Lowell youth food insecurity survey data, we were able to determine community needs and provide grants to fund short-term needs,” said Jennifer Aradhya, vice president for marketing and programs at GLCF. “Additionally, GLCF committed to funding a new Mill Market Pantry pilot that could serve as a model to address youth food insecurity at a systemic level.” 

The Mill Market Pantry pilot to address youth food insecurity in schools is a GLCF funded collaboration between Merrimack Valley Food Bank (MVFB) and Catie’s Closet. “The support from Greater Lowell Community Foundation and collaboration with Catie’s Closet will help one of our visions come true,” said Amy Pessia, MVFB executive director. “The Merrimack Valley Food Bank staff and board of directors are honored to partner with Catie’s Closet and the schools where the Mill Market Pantry will expand to serve more students. We are grateful for the opportunity to increase access to food by our young neighbors where they learn so that they may succeed.”  

The 17 nonprofits receiving grants in the latest round of the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to address youth food insecurity are:

  • Aaron’s Presents – Food Support for Youth and Families – $12,000
  • Billerica Community Pantry Inc. – funding to increase nutritious kid-friendly foods -$10,000
  • Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell – Teen Night Dinners – $13,000
  • Catie’s Closet Inc. – Improving Food Security for Students in the Lowell Public Schools (LPS) – $10,000
  • Coalition for a Better Acre – CBA Walk-In Food Center – $10,000
  • Community Teamwork Inc. (CTI) – Fresh food grocery bags for delivery to our youth and Early Learning sites – $10,000
  • Dwelling House of Hope – Food for – $10,000
  • Gaining Ground Inc. – Healthy Meals and Produce for HeadStart Children and Families – $10,000
  • Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell – Girls Against Hunger food insecurity program – $13,000
  • Greater Lowell Family YMCA – USDA Healthy Food Distribution – $12,000
  • Merrimack Valley Food Bank Inc. – Operation Nourish – $10,000
  • Middlesex Community College – College Food Pantry supplies – $10,000
  • Mill City Grows – partner with LPS to distribute fresh, locally grown produce to low-income families – $10,000
  • People Helping People Inc. – Lunch Program for Kids and Youth Food Insecurity Needs Assessment – $10,000
  • Townsend Ecumenical Outreach – Youth Mobile Mart Food Distribution – $10,000
  • UTEC Inc. – UTEC Youth Food Security Work – $10,000
  • YWCA of Lowell – The Roaming Food Bus will deliver food to youth in high-risk neighborhoods – $10,000

“We continue to be so thankful for the Greater Lowell Community Foundation and their support of our youth food security work,” said Gregg Croteau, UTEC Inc. CEO. “Being able to continue our culinary workforce development program and connect it to food justice, while also providing free, nutritious meals to our young people and throughout the community, has greatly benefited from their partnership.” 

Since March 2020, through grants from its GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Massachusetts COVID Relief Fund, and Commonwealth COVID Grant Program, the foundation has supported 127 local nonprofit organizations with 301 grants totaling over $4.1 million.

Donations to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org or by mail to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852. 

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 390 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of more than $50 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 $25 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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Women Working Wonders Fund (WWWF) Seeks Request for Proposals

Women Working Wonders Fund (WWWF) is accepting grants for 2021. In 2020, WWWF awarded a  $10,000 grant to Lowell General Hospital’s Cancer Center’s to be used toward the purchase of breast boards. These devices are used to provide a comfortable prone position for women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer, which can also ensure a more accurate dose of targeted radiation.

The Women Working Wonders Fund (WWWF), a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, requests proposals for this year’s grant cycle that opens on May 13. The Women Working Wonders Fund announced earlier this year that funding has been increased to award five grants at $10,000 each to program/projects that impact the lives of women and girls while advancing your organization’s mission.

“As we enter into our 17th year, we have been fortunate to continue to grow our endowment and increased grant support to our community,” said Susan West Levine, Women Working Wonders Fund board president. “COVID-19 has increased the needs of the community, the WWWF has responded by increasing the number of grants in 2021 to area nonprofits to help during this public health crisis.”

WWWF provides annual grants in three key areas: assist women in transition, provide leadership development as well as contribute to the beautification of the environment. Started in 2004 by a group of 72 women who each gave $500, the WWW Fund has now grown to $1.3 million. The fund has granted more than $240,000 to nonprofits supporting women and girls in the Greater Lowell area.

To apply for the 2021 Women Working Wonders Fund grant, visit www.glcfoundation.org. The deadline to submit an application is Thursday, June 17, 2021 at noon. For more information on the Women Working Wonders Fund, visit womenworkingwondersfund.com or contact womenworkingwondersfund@gmail.com.

GLCF Announces Fiscal Sponsorship of 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation announces the recent fiscal sponsorship of 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest, a group of philanthropic women dedicated to amplifying the awareness and support of deserving nonprofits in the region.

With a mission to strengthen communities west of Boston through the power of collective giving, 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest brings together women who care deeply about local causes and are committed to making an impact. The group meets four times a year to donate $100 each to a nonprofit organization serving local needs.

“As a young organization just starting our third year, partnering with the Greater Lowell Community Foundation provides a firm administrative footing to help us grow and expand our reach,” said Amy Gleason, founder of 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest.

“With our current membership of about 50 women each donating $400 annually, we will give at least $20,000 this year to worthy local nonprofits,” added Gleason. “Our combined donations are really making a difference. And, under the stewardship of the GLCF, we hope to continue adding new members and increasing the amount of our grant awards.”

“By supporting 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation embraces their vision of strengthening the local community through collective giving,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President & CEO. “We are proud to help these generous women continue to foster positive change.”

For more information about joining 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest, contact Amy Gleason at Agleason1221@gmail.com.

Donations to any fund at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, including 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest, can be made online or by mail to 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack St. Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

To learn more about the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, please visit www.glcfoundation.org.

GLCF awards more than $300K in additional COVID-19 Response Grants

Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) Lowell Office Manager and Immigrant Integration Caseworker Alessandra Fisher delivering emergency assistance to Lowell-area clients. MAPS received a recent grant from the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program through GLCF for COVID Rental & Utility Assistance Program in Lowell.

LOWELL – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation deployed a new round of COVID-19 related grants, providing an additional $306,287 to 18 area nonprofits through the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program and GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. 

“The Greater Lowell nonprofits funded in this latest phase of the COVID-19 Emergency Response grant cycle are dedicated to helping our community as so many continue to struggle during the pandemic,” said GLCF president & CEO Jay Linnehan. “We are grateful for their continued commitment to serving those in need.”

GLCF awarded $195,492 in grant funding in the latest round of the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program, made possible by the Baker-Polito Administration’s $10 million grant program for COVID-19 relief. The program is administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development through community foundations.

Among the 13 Commonwealth COVID Grants funded through GLCF, Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) received a grant for the MAPS COVID Rental & Utility Assistance Program in Lowell. “During this time of unprecedented challenges, we are so very thankful to be able to offer some much-needed financial relief to some of the most vulnerable individuals and families in Lowell,” said Paulo Pinto, MAPS Executive Director. “Thanks to the generosity of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, this grant will allow MAPS to support clients with rental and utility assistance, so they can focus on staying healthy and caring for their families.”

The 13 nonprofits receiving $195,492 in grant funding in the first round of the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program are:

  • Alternative House Inc.: Food and essential supplies
  • Central Food Ministry: Food, clothing, and essential supplies
  • Community Teamwork Inc.: Food and housing insecurity
  • Dignity Matters Inc.: Food and essential supplies in Lowell Schools
  • Health Law Advocates: Mental health advocacy program for kids in Lowell
  • Hope Dove Inc.: Essential Needs
  • Lowell Alliance: Food and essential infant supplies
  • Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers: Rental & Utility Assistance Program in Lowell
  • P.C.E.A. Neema Church: Basic/essential household needs
  • Project LEARN Inc.: STEAM enrichment kits for Lowell kids
  • St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen Inc.: Food project support
  • UTEC Inc.: Food program and food insecurity
  • Wish Project Inc.: Basic/essential household needs
The Incompass Human Services team at their Chelmsford location, Incompass received a GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund grant to fund PPE for COVID-facing direct support and nursing staff

Additionally, GLCF distributed a round of support from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Of the five recent grants from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Incompass Human Services received a grant for PPE for COVID-facing direct support and nursing staff. “The people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families who receive critical services and supports from Incompass Human Services rely on the dedication of our Care Champions, all of whom have been working tirelessly in our community throughout the pandemic,” said Jean Phelps, CEO, Incompass Human Services. “As a nonprofit, we largely rely on support from the community to help the people we serve live their best lives through day habilitation, family support, community services, and housing placement. And that’s why we are beyond grateful to receive a COVID Relief Grant from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, as it will help us continue to fund the testing, PPE, and all of our infection control procedures that we put in place during the pandemic.”

The five nonprofits receiving $110,795 in grants in the latest round of the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund are:

  • Discovery Museum Inc.: Sanitation and PPE
    • Incompass Human Services: PPE for direct support and nursing staff
    • Lowell Community Health Center: Enhanced communication for vaccinations and health equity
    • Roudenbush Community Center: Sanitation equipment and mental health support training
    • THRIVE Communities of Massachusetts: COVID-19 transportation support

Since March 2020, through grants from its GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Massachusetts COVID Relief Fund, and Commonwealth COVID Grant Program, the foundation has supported 125 local nonprofit organizations with 283 grants totaling over $3.9 million.

Donations to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org or by mail to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852. 

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 390 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of more than $50 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 $25 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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GLCF’s Annual Meeting to Highlight Community Strength in Times of Challenge

LOWELL – Open to all community members, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation is set to host its annual meeting virtually on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. The event will highlight the inspirational work and great strength exhibited by Greater Lowell nonprofit partners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our work this past year wouldn’t be possible without the collaborative relationships we have fostered in Greater Lowell, and we are so grateful,” said Jay Linnehan, “At this year’s Annual Meeting, we are honored to share stories of strength from four of our inspiring nonprofit partners.”

GLCF’s Annual Meeting will feature: Isa M. Woldeguiorguis, Executive Director of The Center for Hope and Healing in Lowell; Sheila Och, Lowell Community Health Center’s Chief Public Policy and Equity Officer;  Jean A. Goldsberry, CEO of Minute Man Arc in Concord and Tim Baker, president of The Westford Food Pantry.

Since March 2020, through grants from its GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Massachusetts COVID Relief Fund, and Commonwealth COVID Grant Program, the foundation has supported 125 local nonprofit organizations with 283 grants totaling over $3.9 million.

The event is free but registration is required.

To learn more about this event or to register, visit:

Annual Meeting 2021

GLCF Helps Get More Healthy Food to Those in Need

Mariah Notini of Lowell, MA, packs up two truckloads of squash harvested at the Mill City Grows Urban Farm in Lowell. 

LOWELL – As COVID-19 has exacerbated food insecurity all around the region, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) has made it a priority to help the hungry put more healthy food on the table. By providing recent grants to two local organizations — Mill City Grows in Lowell, and Gaining Ground in Concord — GLCF is improving community access to organic fruits and vegetables during the pandemic through its COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund grants.

“These incredible nonprofit partners aim to increase the quality and quantity of fresh produce available to emergency-food programs in Greater Lowell,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President & CEO. “The foundation recognizes the unprecedented need during this pandemic to address the food insecurity in our community and fund creative solutions to get healthy food options to residents.”

GLCF continues to target the lack of nutritious food, especially after its recent survey of Greater Lowell nonprofits revealed that one of their top three needs was improved food quality —specifically better-quality fresh produce, as well as culturally sensitive food options, explained Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s Vice President of Marketing & Progams.

“Access to healthy, local food is as much about social justice as it is about health,” said Aradhya.   “The two organizations that received these grants have a proven track record of providing nutritious options to under-served families who want a healthier lifestyle for their future.”

Feeding the hungry, as well as addressing the larger issues of unequal access to healthy food, are what drive Mill City Grows and Gaining Ground. Even though the pandemic has forced both organizations to modify operations, they are more committed than ever to growing and delivering organic fruits and vegetables to local food pantries, mobile markets, farm shares and individuals unable to leave their homes.

“Food pantries need sources of fresh produce,” explained Jennifer Johnson, Executive Director of Gaining Ground, a three-acre, nonprofit organic farm in Concord. “If you think about it, most of the food gathered in church and school food-drives consists of canned goods. Too often, the produce donated to food pantries is past peak or damaged.   

“At Gaining Ground, we donate 100 percent of our produce so we don’t have to make a distinction between what we sell and what we donate. And all the food we donate is top-quality, fresh and beautiful,” she said.

Schoolchildren volunteer to help Gaining Ground harvest carrots.

Founded more than 25 years ago, Gaining Ground normally uses volunteers to work its fields and hoop houses, explained Johnson. But last summer, no volunteers were allowed on site, due to COVID-19 health restrictions. Nevertheless, by hiring extra staff, the farm harvested and donated more than 127,000 pounds of fresh produce to organizations in Ayer, Bedford, Carlisle, Concord and Westford, as well as other outlets in greater Boston. “That’s the equivalent to 509,000 individual servings,” said Johnson.

Serving those who work and live in Lowell, Mill City Grows was founded 10 years ago following a city-wide food assessment, explained Executive Director Jessica Wilson.

“What we learned from that survey was that most people in Lowell know they should be eating five or more servings of fresh fruits and vegetables per day,” said Wilson. “But many don’t because they don’t live near stores that sell produce — or because prices for fresh fruits and vegetables are prohibitively high.

“Mill City Grows wants the community to have more access to fresh produce,” she said. “We want it to be affordable, and, when possible, we want to grow it in Lowell. We also want it to reflect the cultures our residents come from.”

With its four Lowell farms, plus 20 community and school gardens, Mill City Grows produced more than 40,000 pounds of fresh produce last year, despite mandated COVID-19 restrictions on volunteers. The group also distributes organic produce purchased from local farms and other growers around the state.

Through no-cost weekly farm shares, Mill City Grows offered fresh produce to 150 families last summer, and another 62 over the winter, Wilson explained. More than 5,000 pounds of produce were donated directly to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. The group also trains people to grow their own organic food in community plots, and offers cooking classes to teach families how to incorporate more fresh produce into meals.

“There is a very high rate of diabetes in Lowell — much higher than in surrounding towns — ac-cording to the Greater Lowell Health Alliance,” said Wilson. “When new immigrants come to the U.S., their diet often changes radically — and not always for the better.”

“It can be really challenging to see all sorts of unfamiliar produce in the store, while the fruits and vegetables you know from your home country are missing,” she said. “But, what if the produce you know IS available? And what if you have learned how to prepare these new varieties of fruits and vegetables? That changes everything!”

Mill City Grows varies what it grows every year. “Basically, we take recommendations from people in the community,” said Wilson. “One year, we grew five different varieties of eggplant, another year we grew a lot of daikon radish. In our hoop houses we grow ginger and turmeric, which are popular spices in Southeast Asian cuisine.”

“If it can be grown in this climate, we do our best to make it happen,” she said.

Graining Ground also alters what is planed based on community feedback, according to Johnson. “Coronavirus hasn’t changed what we grow, but we always ask our partners what people like,” she said.

“For example, our partners in Westford have requested radishes and cabbages, so we grow several different varieties of these vegetables and send those their way,” she said.

“Also, we don’t grow a lot of potatoes,” Johnson added. “Our partners have told us they can get good potatoes from other sources. What they want from us are our organic leafy greens.” 

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF), founded in 1997, is a philanthropic organization comprised of over 390 funds, now totaling over $50 million, dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. The Community Foundation annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. GLCF is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from its staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. Our donors’ generosity has enabled GLCF to award more than $25 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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GLCF awards more than $500K in additional COVID-19 Response Grants

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Billerica, a GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund grant recipient, received funding for COVID-19 Remote Learning and STEAM Enrichment. A Boys and Girls Club of Greater Billerica member explores how to create circuits through a STEAM Enrichment project.

LOWELL – After more than a year after the pandemic began, the Greater Lowell Community Foundationcontinues its work to support nonprofits providing relief to people affected by COVID-19.  The Foundation deployed a new round of COVID-19 related grants, providing an additional $550,142 to 32 area nonprofits through the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program and GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. 

“After a year of granting from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, through the generosity of our donors as well as the partnership of the Commonwealth, we are continuing to fund essential needs in Greater Lowell,” said GLCF president & CEO Jay Linnehan. “This round supports the nonprofits lifting our neighbors facing extreme challenges caused by the pandemic.”

GLCF awarded $414,992 in grant funding in the first round of the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program, made possible by the Baker-Polito Administration’s $10 million grant program for COVID-19 relief. The program is administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development through community foundations.

Among the 24 Commonwealth COVID Grants funded through GLCF, the International Institute of New England in Lowell received a grant to support food supplies and rental assistance. “IINE is thrilled to have received meaningful support from the GLCF’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. It will provide immediate and tangible emergency relief to many of Lowell’s immigrant families,” said Jeffrey D. Thielman, President and CEO of International Institute of New England. “Through this grant, the International Institute of New England will help to stabilize housing, utilities, and internet access for 165 individuals and support the food security of 190 families in Lowell.”

The 24 nonprofits receiving $414,992 in grant funding in the first round of the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program are:

International Institute of New England (IINE in Lowell, a recipient of a Commonwealth COVID Grant Program through GLCF, to provide food supplies and rental assistance. An IINE Lowell family supported through grant funds.
  • Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell:  Educational Support 
  • Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association: CMAA Emergency Response Project 
  • Catie’s Closet, Inc.: Meeting the COVID-19 Needs of the Lowell Community 
  • Coalition for a Better Acre:  Pandemic Response 2021 
  • Community Teamwork, Inc. . COVID Relief Projects 
  • Dwelling House of Hope: Food Pantry 
  • Girls, Inc. of Greater Lowell: Remote Learning 
  • Greater Lowell Family YMCA: Remote Learning
  • House of Hope, Inc.: COVID Prevention Baskets 
  • International Institute of New England: Food Supplies and Rental Assistance
  • Life Connection Center, Inc.: COVID 19 Basic Needs Emergency Project
  • Lowell House, Inc.: Housing Stabilization
  • Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc.: Food Assistance in Lowell
  • Mill City Grows: Increasing Food Security in Lowell
  • NFI MA, Inc.: COVID 19 Essential Supplies Support for Lowell
  • Northeast Legal Aid, Inc.: – Supporting Lowell Tenants Facing Eviction
  • Project Home Again: New Items Program
  • Sankofa Support Services: Diaper Distribution Program
  • The Center for Hope and Healing, Inc.: Hopeful Futures, Supporting BIPOC and LGBQ/T Youth
  • The Megan House Foundation: COVID-19 Relief Support
  • Troubled Waters, Inc.: Bi-lingual Recovery Coach Program
  • VNA Care Network, Inc.: Equipping VNA Care Network’s Frontline Nurses
  • Wayside Youth & Family Support Network: Wayside | Lowell – PPE and Addressing Food Insecurities
  • YWCA of Lowell: Acre Youth Center Educational Enrichment Support Resources

Additionally, GLCF distributed a round of support from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Of the six recent grants from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Billerica received a grant to support COVID-19 Remote Learning and STEAM Enrichment. “Since reopening in September, we have successfully implemented remote learning and academic support for over 244 children across our six sites,” shared Roy Nagy, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Billerica. “Sustaining support for our Club families throughout the COVID crisis has been an arduous challenge, but it is one that we are confident we can continue to achieve thanks to our supporters like the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.”

The eight nonprofits receiving $135,150 in grants in the latest round of the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund are:

  • Aaron’s Presents: Keeping Our Teens Engaged and Creative during the Pandemic
  • Boys and Girls Club of Greater Billerica: COVID-19 Remote Learning and STEAM Enrichment
  • Greater Lowell Health Alliance – Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Community Education Roll-out
  • Lowell Community Health Center: Strengthening Health Equity – LCHC Patient Access Services
  • Minute Man Arc for Human Services, Inc. – Safeguarding children with disabilities during COVID-19 pandemic
  • Nashua River Watershed Association: Wednesday Walks with NRWA Naturalists
  • UTEC, Inc.: Madd Love Meals for Dracut + Tyngsboro Elders       
  • VNA Care Network, Inc.: COVID-19 Patient Isolation Kits

Since March 2020, through grants from its GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Massachusetts COVID Relief Fund, and Commonwealth COVID Grant Program, the foundation has supported 117 local nonprofit organizations with 263 grants totaling over $3.3 million.

Donations to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org or by mail to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852. 

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF), founded in 1997, is a philanthropic organization comprised of over 350 funds, now totaling over $50 million, dedicated to improving the quality of life in 20 neighboring cities and towns. The Community Foundation annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. GLCF is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from its staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. Our donors’ generosity has enabled GLCF to award more than $25 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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Local community foundations award more than $181,000 to advance Nashoba Valley health

Living Water Fellowship in Ayer received a $5,000 grant from the Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund for Stone Soup Kitchen. Stone Soup Kitchen team packing food before the pantry opens to clients.

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts recently awarded $181,211 in grants to 16 local nonprofits from the Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund to help improve residents’ health in area communities.  

Priority was given to proposals pertaining to prevention of health problems, access to healthcare, elder, youth, and adolescent health, mental health, and health care service provision. Recipients of the grants were selected by the Nashoba Valley Community Healthcare Fund Advisory Committee, comprised of local leaders in business, health care, and education.

“The Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund provides impactful grants,” said Jay Linnehan, president and CEO of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation. “We greatly appreciate the hard work and diligence of the volunteer advisory committee in prioritizing the health needs of residents in our local communities.”

“The Nashoba Valley Community Healthcare Fund plays an important role in the quality of life in our region,” said Stephen Adams, president of the CFNCM. “We were impressed by the caliber of the applicants and are pleased to be able to support their efforts across areas including food insecurity, healthcare access, shelter, mental health services, and more.”

Nashoba Valley Healthcare Grant Recipients

  • Able to Serve-New England, Inc (Lowell): Hope for Women with Children in Nashoba Valley – $1,500
  • Advocates (Framingham): Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Local Seniors – $20,000
  • Ashby Fire and EMS (Town of Ashby): Improvement of provider training and skill maintenance in rural EMS system – $6,313
  • Boys & Girls Club of Lunenburg (Lunenburg): BGCL After-school (Covid) Program – $10,000
  • Clear Path for Veterans New England (Devens): Brain Retrain Neural Mapping, an Integrated Health and Wellness Program for Veterans – $20,000
  • Doctor Franklin Perkins School (Lancaster): Perkins Behavioral Health Services in the Nashoba Valley – $15,000
  • Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts, Inc (Acton): Critical Home Repair Program Supporting Economically Distressed Families from Nashoba Valley – $20,000
  • Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell (Westford): Critical home repair program for seniors. – $10,000
  • Littleton Community Farm (Littleton): Growing for Expanded Hunger Relief – $9,598
  • Living Water Fellowship (Ayer): Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries – $5,000
  • North Star Family Services, Inc. (Leominster): North Star – Family and Children Wellness Initiative -$20,000
  • Our Father’s House (Fitchburg): Ensuring Health Wellness in Homeless Children – $16,000
  • Townsend Ecumenical Outreach (Townsend): Healthy Food For Vulnerable Populations – $7,800
  • United Methodist Action Reach out in Mission by Youth: Elder Services Home Repairs in Westford, Chelmsford and Groton – $5,000 
  • Virginia Thurston Healing Garden, Inc. (Harvard): Equitable Access to Psychosocial Therapeutic Services for Cancer Patients, Families & Caregivers – $10,000
  • VNA Care Network, Inc. (Lowell): Removing Barriers to Health: Nursing and Social Work Case Management – $5,000

The Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund provides annual distributions to nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and other agencies to advance the health of residents in 13 communities: Ashby, Ayer, Bolton, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, and Westford. 

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

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF), founded in 1997, is a philanthropic organization comprised of over 350 funds, currently totaling over $50MM, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life in 20 neighboring cities and towns. The Community Foundation 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 its staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. The generosity of our donors has enabled GLCF to award more than $25 million to the Greater Lowell community.

About Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts
The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts was created in 2001 to serve the charitable interests of donors in Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Barre, Bolton, Clinton, Devens, Erving, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leominster, Littleton, Lunenburg, New Salem, Orange, Pepperell, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Shirley, Sterling, Templeton, Townsend, Warwick, Wendell, Westminster and Winchendon. For more information, visit cfncm.org.

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Greater Lowell Community Foundation awards record $152,500 in community grants to 30 local nonprofits

Right to Left: Catie’s Closet, Inc. is a 2020 Discretionary Children’s Grant recipient to support their Lowell program. Catie’s Closet volunteers with special request bags packed with urgently needed items for children. OARS, Inc.’s volunteer citizen scientist collects water samples in Lowell stream. OARS, Inc. received a 2020 Discretionary Water Resources Initiative Grant $5,000 grant to improve environmental and public health.                       

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) awarded $152,500 in competitive grants to 30 local nonprofits within a framework of Children’s Services, Elder Services, Racial Equity and Inclusion, as well as Water Resources initiatives. The focus areas collectively work toward creating a better quality of life for Greater Lowell residents and supporting local nonprofits.

These grant awards are part of a competitive grant process in which nonprofit organizations apply for funds, and an independent committee reviews the proposals and selects awardees. The Discretionary Grants Program is one of several competitive grant programs offered through the Community Foundation each year. 

“The Foundation awarded a record number of discretionary grants in this cycle to support the important work of our local nonprofits,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “Through generous contributions from our community, GLCF can provide critical support that allows our community to thrive and grow.”

Catie’s Closet, of Dracut, received a Children’s Services Grant to assist supplying clothing and toiletries through their ‘stores’ for students in need.“Receiving this grant award means that we are able to provide our homeless students with the clothing and basic necessities they need,” said Mickey Cockrell, CEO & Co-founder of Catie’s Closet.

The Cambodian American Literary Arts Association (Lowell) received a programming grant to address racial equity and inclusion. “The leadership team at the Cambodian American Literary Arts Association is grateful for the opportunity to host our community dialogues and workshops addressing racial equity and inclusion. These are profound topics that affect our everyday lives,” said Lena Sarunn, Executive Director of Cambodian American Literary Arts Association.

OARS, Inc. (Concord) received a $5,000 grant to improve environmental and public health. “This grant from GLCF will make it possible to track down and work to eliminate the sources of bacteria in a polluted stream that runs through a Lowell community,” said Alison Field-Juma, Executive Director, OARS: For the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord Rivers. “Eliminating this pollution will allow the community to enjoy a healthy waterway with a clean green open space! Local volunteer citizen scientists learn about water quality while also helping to collect the valuable data.”

2020 Discretionary Grants

Children’s Services Grant:   

  • Catie’s Closet, Inc. (Dracut): Catie’s Closet Next Steps Meeting the Needs of the Lowell Community – $5,000 
  • Mission of Deeds (Reading): Beds for Kids – $5,000 
  • Raising A Reader Massachusetts (Boston): Raising A Reader Massachusetts (RAR-MA) Lowell – $2,500 
  • Reach Out and Read (Boston): Lowell Rx for Success – $2,500 
  • Rise Above Foundation, Inc. (Northbridge): Activities for Youth in Foster Care – $2,500           

Leclair Elder Services Grant: 

  • Clear Path for Veterans New England (Devens): A Happy and Healthy Path to Veteran Wellbeing – $5,500 
  • Gaining Ground, Inc. (Concord): Growing Fresh Food for Hunger Relief with Community Volunteers – $1,000 
  • Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell (Westford): Critical home repairs for elders – $5,000 
  • Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts, Inc (Acton): Aging in Place: Improving Health, Achieving Financial Stability, and Increased Socialization – $5,500 
  • Lowell Association for the Blind (Lowell): Adult Services Program – $1,000
  • Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) (Lowell): Lowell Immigrant & Elder Services Program – $2,000 
  • Open Pantry of Greater Lowell (Lowell): Food Pantry – $5,500 
  • Power of Flowers Project (Tewksbury): Power of Flowers Project – $1,500 
  • Project Citizenship (Boston): Citizenship Services for Older Residents in Greater Lowell – $1,500 
  • Lowell General Hospital (Lowell): Lowell General Hospital (LGH) Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) Program – $5,500 
  • Virginia Thurston Healing Garden, Inc. (Harvard): Language Services Supporting Psychosocial Care for Elderly Cancer Patients – $1,500 

Racial Equity and Inclusion:  

  • Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell (Lowell): Addressing Racial Inequities as a Trauma-Informed Community – $10,000 
  • Budget Buddies, Inc. (Chelmsford): Virtual Financial Empowerment Program for Women with Latinx Community Center for Empowerment – $7,500
  • Building Audacity (Lynn): Say Their Names (in Greater Lowell) – $10,000
  • Cambodian American Literary Arts Association (Lowell): Cambodian American Literary Arts Association Community Dialogue and Workshop Series – $13,000
  • Cultivate Care Farms (Bolton – serves Greater Lowell): Diversity Training and Consultation – $1,000
  • Free Soil Arts Collective (Lowell): Hidden in Plain Sight: Stories of Black Lowell – $15,000
  • Kids in Tech, Inc. (Lowell): Afterschool Tech Club Program – $10,000
  • Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership (Lowell): Project Genesis Home Buyer Training Program – $7,000 
  • Project LEARN, Inc. (Lowell): Elevating Stories, Changing Narratives – A Student-Led Antiracism Program – $10,000 
  • Tewksbury Public Library (Tewksbury): Public Library Libraries Working Towards Social Justice – $1,000

Water Resources Initiative Grant:   

  • Mass Audubon (Lincoln): Lowell Leaders in Stewardship TREES program – $2,500.00 
  • Merrimack River Watershed Council (Lawrence): Clean Water for residents of Greater Lowell- a Community-Based Approach – $5,000.00 
  • Nashua River Watershed Association (Pepperell): Water Quality Monitoring for Improved Recreation and Aquatic Weed Control – $2,500.00 
  • OARS, Inc. (Concord): Improving environmental and public health: Source tracking bacteria pollution in Lowell waters $5,000.00                 

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

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF), founded in 1997, is a philanthropic organization comprised of over 350 funds, currently totaling over $50MM, dedicated to improving the quality of life in 20 neighboring cities and towns. The Community Foundation annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. GLCF is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from its staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. Our donors’ generosity has enabled GLCF to award more than $25 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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GLCF tackles barriers to food in latest COVID-19 Response Grants

From left to right: The Cameron Senior Center in Westford received a GLCF COVID 19 grant to provide Westford’s most vulnerable residents with a mobile meal option; Tom Healy of Lowell has volunteered for Merrimack Valley Food Bank for a decade to deliver to homebound neighbors monthly; and Open Table’s Carol Straney and Carolyn McQueen prepare healthy curried vegetable stew – all ready to be frozen for clients to reheat and eat. 

LOWELL – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced it deployed a new round of COVID-19 related grants, providing an additional $72,000 to seven area nonprofits in Greater Lowell addressing mobile pantry and food delivery needs. These grants were part of the latest round of distributions from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

GLCF connected with local nonprofits addressing barriers to food imposed by lack of mobility and transportation. This barrier to food is particularly prevalent among seniors, the disabled, quarantined, and low income. The organizations selected have continued to meet an unprecedented spike in demand for access to food amid the coronavirus crisis.

“Mobile food pantries and delivery programs remove location as a barrier to access for food,” said GLCF president & CEO Jay Linnehan. “GLCF recognizes the unprecedented need to address the food security implications and fund creative solutions to get food to residents.”

According to a recent report released by Feeding America in October 2020, Massachusetts has the highest projected rate percent change in food insecurity  between 2018 and 2020 at 59 percent. Greater Lowell nonprofits addressing food insecurity report a record increase in the number of people needing assistance, with an average increase of 55% more demand than before the pandemic. Feeding America has found that roughly 4 in 10 people visiting food banks had not received food assistance before the pandemic. 

Among the organizations funded was The Cameron Senior Center in Westford. “The Cameron Senior Center is fortunate to be awarded a grant from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation-COVID 19 funding round,” said Jennifer Claro, Westford Council on Aging Director. “These funds will provide our most vulnerable residents with a mobile meal option with food partnerships which include Open Table (Maynard) and UTEC’s MADD Love Meals (Lowell.) This effort will be coordinated with our Westford and Chelmsford Housing Authority Directors and the Westford Food Pantry. We are thrilled to bring this exciting collaborative mobile meal option to Westford.” 

Additionally, Open Table was awarded $15,000 to support Greater Lowell mobile outreach support. “Recently, Open Table received a generous grant from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. It will support getting 100s of prepared and healthy meals to families that have been hit hard by the financial hardships brought on by the pandemic,” said Open Table’s Executive Director Jeanine Calabria. “We are so pleased to have the funding to support our mobile meals coordinator position. It was the final piece needed to ensure the success of our expanded prepared meals delivery program.” 

The seven nonprofits receiving these grants serve more than 5,000 food insecure individuals who cannot access food due to mobility or access in 19 GLCF communities beyond Lowell. These grants were made possible by an anonymous donor grant that partnered with the GLCF to distribute funding to area nonprofits battling hunger in Greater Lowell.  

The seven nonprofits receiving grants in the latest round of the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to address food insecurity are:

  • Carlisle Council on Aging – Mobile Outreach/Delivery of Meals to Vulnerable Residents – $5,000
  • Catie’s Closet, Inc. – COVID mobile outreach/gift cards – $3,000
  • Gaining Ground, Inc. – COVID-Mobile Outreach/Delivery of Fresh Produce to Those in Need – $25,000
  • Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc. – COVID  mobile pantry support – $18,000
  • Open Table – Mobile Meals Coordinator – $15,000
  • People Helping People, Inc. – COVID  mobile outreach/delivery – $3,000
  • Westford Council on Aging/Cameron Senior Center – COVID mobile outreach/delivery – $3,000

The Merrimack Valley Food Bank received a grant for the Mobile Pantry to provide nutritional support to the elderly and/or disabled. “This grant will allow us to continue serving our neighbors beyond Lowell, in the cities and towns we serve through our Mobile Pantry,” said Amy Pessia, Merrimack Valley Food Bank’s Executive Director. “Additionally, we will be able to serve even more people who are referred by community agencies/partners, who are isolating/quarantining due to COVID.”

Since March, through grants from its GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and the Massachusetts COVID Relief Fund, the foundation has supported 115 local nonprofit organizations with 229 grants totaling over $2,825,756.

Donations to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org or by mail to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852. 

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF), founded in 1997, is a philanthropic organization comprised of over 350 funds, currently totaling over $50MM, dedicated to improving the quality of life in 20 neighboring cities and towns. The Community Foundation annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. GLCF is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from its staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. Our donors’ generosity has enabled GLCF to award more than $25 million to the Greater Lowell community.