Latest Wellesley Coronavirus Grants Fund 'Mask Up' Program

WELLESLEY, MA — The latest round of Wellesley's COVID-19 relief grants was focused on providing residents with masks and offering safe, after school activities for kids in the community.

The money will fund a "Mask Up" community campaign for the Wellesley Police Department, supervised sports and recreation sessions for middle school students with high school student coaches, and a surprise holiday-themed mobile movie.

With the recent surge in coronavirus cases in Massachusetts and stricter state orders for all residents, the town said the new grants from the fund come at a critical time and meet key needs.

Wellesley police are using funds to buy packaged, disposable face masks to keep in cruisers and hand out to residents. The revised state order requires anyone over 5-years old to wear mask or face covering when in public, whether indoors or outdoors, regardless of social distancing.

“Our department is very grateful for the grant. If we come into contact with citizens who need a mask, we can provide one in a friendly manner rather than issuing a citation,” said Wellesley Police Chief Jack Pilecki.

The other programs receiving funding include:

PowerPlay Flag Football program: An after school program run by Community Investors, a local non-profit. It supports teen mental and physical wellness. More than 30 middle school students take part in weekly flag football sessions held outdoors or at the Boston Sports Institute during bad weather, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and are coached by high school students. A registration fee is usually required for the program to support coaching stipends; this fall it is offered for free to encourage participation. COVID-19 Relief Fund money will pay coaching stipends to support the program through a full run until the end of November.

SURPRISE Holiday Mobile Movie and Toy Drive on November 14: One final mobile movie night,
funded by the Wellesley COVID-19 Relief Fund, will take place in the Tailby lot on Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. Registration will be managed by the Recreation Department. A special announcement with movie details is expected later this week. The movie night will also kick-off a Town-wide holiday toy drive for our community that will run through Thanksgiving. Residents are encouraged to donate unwrapped toys that will be distributed to families in our community. Toys will be collected at the Tailby lot beginning on Nov. 14.