GLCF News: GLCF COVID-19 Response Updates

Give to the COVID-19 Fund

April 2020

A Message from the President and CEO

Greetings!

You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. That is true too often. We take so much for granted. Yet nothing in life is guaranteed and nothing is forever. And in the event we forget, a pandemic will surely remind us.

Like everyone else, I’m managing to do what I need to and so far so good. Although the way I look at things has changed. My perspective of what’s important and what’s not is different. I appreciate the little things in life much more. I miss the freedom to go where I want, when I want (although I totally support the need for social distancing - God forbid I adversely infect someone.) I miss the warm embrace of family and friends and the company of colleagues. But more than anything else, I’m saddened to see the grief and heartache that so many are suffering. So many lives and livelihoods lost to this pandemic.

Yet, notwithstanding this tragedy, the human spirit remains strong and is getting stronger every day. Around the globe and across this great nation, humanity shines bright. It is the silver lining in this otherwise dark cloud. The human spirit will not succumb to this war – it will defeat it.

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

Be smart, be safe & be well.

Regards,

GLCF COVID-19 Fund in the News

GLCF disperses emergency grants

(Lowell Sun, 4/28/20)

Surveys aim to ensure local arts and culture scene keeps its cool during coronavirus pandemic (Lowell Sun, 4/27/20)

Sunflowers light the way as Carlisle waits out pandemic (MSN, 4/22/20) ( Boston Globe , 4/20/20)

Investing Resources and Offering Flexibility (Barr Foundation, 4/2/20)

Cummings Foundation donates $500K to Mass. COVID-19 relief fund (Boston Business Journal, 4/15/20 )

Goods drive helps first responders (Billerica Minuteman, 4/16/20)

Grotto, Stations of the Cross, being restored in Lowell (Lowell Sun, 3/29/20)

Eastern Bank offering $10 million to support nonprofits, small businesses and families (MassLive, 3/25/20)

GLCF Events

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GLCF Annual Meeting

Thurs., Oct. 1

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GLCF News

GLCF Announces $75K in COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) recently provided phase one emergency response grants to Greater Lowell nonprofits serving vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Totaling $75,000, these 60 grants are the first to be distributed from the newly established GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, created to meet the need for nonprofit resources and services for the elderly, low-income, immigrants and homeless during these uncertain times. Categories of funding included: food insecure, essential/front line workers, homeless, immigrants, individuals with disabilities/elders, technology support/educational supplies and essential supplies.

Learn more

GLCF Receives $100,000 Grant As Part Of Cummings Foundation

Cummings Foundation announced $500,000 in grants to support COVID-19 relief efforts in Boston and the north suburbs.

Five emergency response funds will each receive $100,000 to support communities affected by the coronavirus, including Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

GLCF Receives $100,000 Grant from Barr Foundation

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced recently that it has received a $100,000 grant from the Barr Foundation to bolster its support of Greater Lowell nonprofits in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis through the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. The Barr Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in New England.

GLCF was one of six regional community foundations singled out by the Barr Foundation for a $100,000 grant. The Barr Foundation has collectively targeted $2.5 million in emergency relief grants for the COVID-19 crisis.

COVID-19 Emergency Response Community in Action

Hidden Battles , GLCF COVID-19 grant recipient, filled and delivered over 20 boxes of care packages for Fire, EMS departments as well as a local hospital.

GLCF COVID-19 grant recipient Mill City Grows Team Member Enrique Alejandro Vargas Rivera poses with almost 100 orders of seeds which will be distributed to MCG Community Gardeners at no cost.

End 68 Hours of Hunger - Dracut is a nonprofit organization working to end childhood hunger. They received a recent grant from GLCF to support lunch and breakfast for students in need.

Power of Flowers volunteers wrote personal messages to residents living in Care Communities. Over 600 notes were delivered. Pictured: Power of Flowers volunteer Kali Woodbridge

Please tag photos of your grant with #GLCFCOVID on social media to be featured in future GLCF communications -- we'd love to share your important work with the community.

COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants

Recent Grants*

Grant requests are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed regularly to ensure quick decisions and timely support.

House of Hope, Inc. - Installing an open and accessible sink
Lowell Alliance - Diaper needs of low income families in Greater Lowell
Lowell Association for the Blind - Remote recording equipment to support client services
Lowell House - Chromebooks for client support at the Recovery Cafe
Ironstone Farm Challenge Unlimited, Inc. - Emergency operational costs during the COVID-19 pandemic
Chelmsford Board of Health - Technology to improve remote services and thermometers
Lowell Community Charter Public School - Educational essentials for families of students in the lower grades (preK, K, and 1)
International Institute of New England - Personal and home cleaning supplies for 50 families as well as food and basic supply costs for 25 families
Coalition for a Better Acre - Supplement food deliveries with necessary items, including diapers, wipes, formula, etc.
LifeLinks, Inc. - Personal protective equipment for direct support and nursing staff who provide face to face contact to support individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities
Provision Ministry, Inc. - Food, hygiene products, clothing, footwear, and other critically needed items
Billerica Council on Aging - Basic food and essential supplies
Clear Path for Veterans New England - Food boxes containing non-perishable food items and other basic necessities to Military and Veteran families
Clarendon Early Education Services, Inc. - Support for Clarendon educators in the GLCF communities served who are providing emergency childcare to first responders by covering the cost of food and everyday supplies
Hidden Battles Foundation - Care packages and hot meals for Greater Lowell medical staff and 1st responders on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic
Carlisle Council on Aging - Purchasing meals for 80 seniors in Carlisle, who live in affordable senior housing, during the COVID-19 pandemic
Greater Lowell Family YMCA - additional costs associated with supporting Emergency Child Care for essential workers
Ashby Fire and EMS Association Inc. - Food staples to replenish the Ashby Library mini food pantry
Project Learn - Purchase 100 bags of home school supplies to support LPS students
Collegiate Charter School of Lowell - Support for unanticipated needs of Collegiate Charter School of Lowell families
Seven Hills Foundation - Support for assistive technology to allow residents to connect with their family and loved ones during this difficult time.
Power of Flowers - Purchase of stationery for handwritten messages from your volunteers to 20 care facilities
Northeast Arc - purchase of PPE for your Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program staff
Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Inc. - Purchase of food, essential supplies, as well as items of support for youths with sensory difficulties/Autism disorder
Feed The Fight Lowell - Feeding essential healthcare workers by using local restaurants
Care Dimensions - Purchase of PPE and support of emergency expansion of tele-health
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts - Purchase of scheduling software, making contactless pickup more efficient to increase donations
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell - face masks, hand sanitizer, plastic gloves, cleaning supplies & a wipe dispenser
The Paul Center for Learning and Recreation, Inc. - Equipping 28 locations with a hand sanitizing stations
The Nature Connection - Technology to assist the caregivers in providing nature-related games and experiences to elders
END 68 HOURS OF HUNGER – Dracut - purchase backpacks full of non-perishable food to children in danger of going with little to nothing to eat over the weekend
Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust – purchase of out-of-school virtual learning for Lowell Public Schools
PACH Outreach - purchase of a refrigerator, shelving as well as fresh vegetables, fruits and shelf stable food items
PCEA Neema Church Inc. - purchase basic supplies and other support needs for members who are essential workers who affected during the COVID-19 pandemic