New Round Of Wellesley Coronavirus Grants Focus On Safe Summer

WELLESLEY, MA — The most recent grants from the Wellesley coronavirus Relief Fund are focused on safe, positive activities for families during this difficult time. The fund is awarding $16,000 in sixth round grants to multiple town departments who are working on two projects that will provide summer activities for families in public housing, and offer drive-in entertainment that can be enjoyed by all Wellesley families.

These grants bring the total amount of money awarded by the COVID-19 Relief Fund to nearly
$70,000 in only six weeks.

The Wellesley COVID-19 Relief Fund is a partnership between The Community Fund for Wellesley, an endowed fund of the Foundation for MetroWest, a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization, and the Wellesley Board of Selectmen, that addresses unmet needs in our community resulting from the coronavirus crisis. Grant proposals are reviewed by the members of the COVID-19 Relief Fund Committee which is comprised of community members, elected officials and staff from the Town of Wellesley, and are awarded to local non-profits and Town departments on a rapid and rolling basis.

Splash pads to beat the heat: The Wellesley Housing Authority is receiving a grant to purchase up to 40 splash pads/sprinkler mats. These will be distributed to Housing Authority families with children and to other families in need. Public housing regulations prohibit families from having any type of pool including “kiddie pools.” Since Morses Pond beach is closed this summer and many local camps are postponed, families have very limited summer recreation opportunities. The splash pads will provide children with the chance to cool down, get outdoor exercise, and have fun.

• Drive-in movie nights for Wellesley: This grant is in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of
Wellesley and is a collaboration between many Town departments including the Recreation
Department, Youth Commission, Wellesley Free Library, and Health Department with support from the Natural Resources Commission, Council on Aging, Municipal Light Plant, and Wellesley Police Department. The money will fund operating costs for free drive-in movies this summer in Town-owned parking lots like the Tailby Lot (Wellesley Square commuter rail lot). The Town plans to show up to ten family-friendly movies that residents can watch from the safety of their cars, listening to the sound on FM car radios powered by a Wellesley Municipal Light Plant generator. The project will also provide jobs for Wellesley youth who rely on summer employment for school income. They will be trained by professional drive-in movie technicians during the first few movies and will then be able to set-up and operate movies for the remaining summer season. Due to the current restrictions on gatherings, no food or restrooms will be available during the movies. Families may bring their own drinks, snacks, or take out to eat in their cars.

The movies are expected to begin in early July with registration managed by the Recreation
Department.

“This is a major public-private partnership for Wellesley and we’re grateful to be among the collaborators for this grant,” said Recreation Director Matt Chin. “The sole purpose is to provide a fun, happy experience and something everyone can do during these very uncertain times. We look forward to seeing you at the movies!”

The Kiwanis Club of Wellesley is providing a gift of $30,000 to underwrite the entire
purchase cost of the movie system hardware including the Blu-ray player, projector, sound mixer,
40-foot blow up screen and more. This equipment will be available to use for years to come.

“We are thrilled to support the Town initiative to offer this innovative recreational opportunity.
While all our lives are in tumult, we think this is the perfect way to serve Wellesley’s young and young at heart,” said Kiwanis Club president Janice Coduri. “This gift continues our proud and long-standing commitment to support our youth and families.”