Main Street Community Foundation Awards $474,000 In Grants

By Brian M. Johnson, The Bristol Press

December 17, 2021

The Main Street Community Foundation has awarded $474,000 in grants to 13 local non-profit organizations through the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust.

Samantha Rajotte, scholarship and program officer with the Main Street Community Foundation, said the grants were awarded to help improve the health of Southington residents and address their healthcare needs.

“All grants benefit organizations in Southington or organizations that provide programs to Southington residents,” she said. “Specifically, they address three areas that were identified by a comprehensive community needs assessment – healthcare needs for an aging population, substance abuse and mental health and healthy initiatives and lifestyle.”

In total, the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust has awarded $857,213 in 2021.

The following are the grants that were awarded:

*The Arc of Southington - $5,900 to repair and rebuild the handicap accessible ramp and landing at the entrance to the main office building

*Bread For Life - $78,000 for the meal program for Southington’s food-insecure population, including support for rising food-related costs

*Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington - $27,500 to support health, safety and well-being educational programs for young children and their caregivers.

*Friends of Southington Community Services – $30,000 for food, fuel assistance and other basic needs for low-income residents

*LiveWell Alliance, Inc. - $55,000 to support the “Empowering Partnership Network” as well as the development of programs for people living with dementia through the Center for Resilient Living

*Prudence Crandall Center Inc. - $45,000 for covid-19 recovery relief and services for Southington victims of domestic violence and their children

*Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs - $100,000 to provide covid-19 recovery relief support of programs and operations

*Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs - $31,434 to support Community collaboration with the YMCA, Southington Public Schools and Southington Police Department to purchase and install “Stop the Bleed” kits in public locations

*Southington Community Cultural Arts - $50,000 to support the All Access program for adults with disabilities and those living with dementia

*Southington Education Foundation - $15,000 for materials, supplies and licenses to enhance the “RULER” initiative for social/emotional learning in the Southington public schools

*Southington Manna Fund, Inc. – $5,000 to support emergency housing for temporarily displaced Southington residents

*United Way of Southington - $28,424 to support the Senior Transportation Services program, which offers free rides to Southington seniors to medical appointments, pharmacy, banks and care facilities

In addition, $3,000 was provided to long-term care facilities, LiveWell Alliance and Southington Care Center, for patient assistance funds for financially disadvantaged residents.

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.