Our Initiatives
In March of 2020, the Community Foundation created the Neighbors for Neighbors Fund in response to the coronavirus epidemic.
As the COVID-19 crisis has heightened inequities in our communities and made life even more difficult for already-vulnerable populations, over 150 grants totaling $1,472,322 from the Neighbors for Neighbors Fund have helped people access the most basic human rights: food, housing, healthcare and education.
Following is a listing of the grantees from Round I, 2 and 3 of the Neighbors for Neighbors Fund. We anticipate future rounds of grantmaking through 2021 as the recovery phase unfolds.
Round 3 Grants: $483,050 (March 2021)
Regionwide
American Red Cross Connecticut Chapter | $1,500
Disaster Cycle Services during the Pandemic for Windham and New London Counties
Connecticut Cancer Foundation | $15,000
Cancer + COVID-19
Girl Scouts of Connecticut | $10,000
Girl Scouts of Connecticut: COVID-19 Relief for Camp Laurel
Operation Fuel | $15,000
Emergency Energy Support for Families Impacted by COVID-19
Thames Valley Council for Community Action | $10,000
Diaper Distribution to Low-Income Families Impacted by COVID-19
Northeast Region
First Congregational Church of Woodstock | $4,000
Refrigerator for Community Kitchen
Interfaith Human Services of Putnam | $10,000
Daily Bread Food Pantry
Town of Plainfield, CT | $5,000
Recreation and Senior Center Technology Upgrades and Programing
United Services | $15,000
General Operating
Norwich Region
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich | $8,000
Intensive Case Management/Emergency Basic Needs
Martin House | $8,000
COVID-19 Deep Cleaning
Norwich Youth & Family Services | $10,000
Training Recovery Assistance for Determined Employees (TRADE)
The Salvation Army of Norwich | $7,000
COVID-19 Response and Recovery
St. Vincent de Paul Place | $20,000
Served Meals and Food Pantry
Tele-Health Access for Seniors | $1,300
General Operating
Thames River Community Service | $10,000
General Operating/Resident Rent Support
United Community & Family Services | $6,000
Tele-health Support Equipment
Southeast Region
Always Home | $15,000
Early Eviction Prevention of Low-income Single Mothers with Minor Children
Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut | $10,000
Childcare General Operating
Children First Groton | $4,000
Community Meals and Flexible COVID-19 Family Emergency Relief Funds
The Cove Center for Grieving Children | $1,500
Family Program - Stonington Location
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center | $10,000
Neighbors & Nature Scholarships
East Lyme Giving Garden Association | $6,000
COVID-19 Response
Eastern Connecticut Community Garden Association | $5,000
Growing Fresh Vegetables for Donation to the Hungry
FRESH New London/TSNE | $14,000
Food to the People - Delivery Food Pantry in New London
Immigration Advocacy & Support Center | $10,000
General Operating
Ledyard C.H.A.I.N. | $2,000
Pet Food Assistance Program
LifeFAQs | $5,000
Goal Positioning System and the Distance Learning Center
New London Area Food Coalition | $20,000
Feeding the Food Insecure 2021
New London Community Meal Center | $5,000
General Operating
New London Homeless Hospitality | $20,000
Direct Financial Assistance
New London Youth Affairs | $6,000
NL Dominican Association COVID-19 support through Parent Leadership Courses
OutCT | $5,000
General Operating
Project Oceanology | $12,000
Healthy Campers 2021
Riverfront Children's Center | $10,000
Scholar Dollars - Childcare Tuition Funds for Low- to-Moderate Income Families
Safe Futures | $25,000
Providing Essential Services During COVID-19
Salvation Army of New London | $12,000
COVID-19 Response and Recovery
Shiloh Development Corporation | $3,500
Complex Pantry
S.W.E.E.T. Potato Society | $15,000
General Operating Helping Hands
Town of Groton Department of Human Services | $5,000
Rental Assistance for Eligible Groton Households
United Way of Southeastern Connecticut | $4,200
Food Pantry
Whalers Helping Whalers | $10,000
General Operating
Yellow Farmhouse Education Center | $2,000
Share the Bounty
Windham Region
Covenant Soup Kitchen | $25,000
General Operating - Emergency Food Pantry Expansion/Accessibility
First Baptist Church of Mansfield | $1,050
Little Free Pantry
GROW Windham | $9,000
Windham Community Growers Corps
Holy Family Home and Shelter | $3,000
COVID-19 Support
Horizons | $10,000
Keeping Connected to Keep Safe
Our Piece of the Pie | $5,000
Supporting Youth Through COVID-19 and Beyond
The Salvation Army of Willimantic | $12,000
COVID-19 Response and Recovery
Windham Region No Freeze Project | $25,000
Diversion and Housing Funding
Round 2 Grants: $502,755 (October 2020)
Regionwide
Connecticut Cancer Foundation | $7,000
General Operating: Cancer + COVID-19
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding | $5,000
Financial Aid Program
LEARN | $12,000
Connecting through Technology
Planned Parenthood of Southern New England | $15,000
PPE Stockpile Project
United Cerebral Palsy of Eastern Connecticut | $10,000
Critical services for persons with disabilities
Northeast Region
Community Kitchens of NE CT | $1,500
PPE equipment program & winterizing our program
EASTCONN | $10,000
Adult & Community Programs COVID-19 Technology
Norwich Region
City of Norwich - Recreation Dept. | $10,000
HYBRID School year program - P.R.E.P.
Lee Memorial UM Church/Community Outreach Center | $12,000
General Operating
Madonna Place | $15,000
General Operating
St. Vincent de Paul Place | $15,000
Served Meals and Food Pantry
Southeast Region
Alliance for Living | $10,000
COVID-19 education, supplies and testing
Always Home | $15,000
Early Eviction Prevention of Low-income Families with Minor Children
Care and Share of East Lyme | $5,000
Emergency Assistance Program
Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut | $15,000
General Operating
Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern Connecticut | $12,000
General Operating and Programmatic (AYUDA) Support
Jewish Federation of Eastern CT | $7,000
Assist New London residents with food and providing emergency services
LEARN | $1,775
LEARN@Lunch
Martin House | $7,000
Basic Needs - Food Security
New London Community Meal Center | $5,000
General Operating
New London Homeless Hospitality | $20,000
Direct financial assistance to individuals impacted by the COVID-19 crisis who cannot access other sources of support
New London Recreation | $20,000
New London Hybrid School Support Program
New London Senior Center | $10,000
Emergency Funding for New London Residents (55+ yrs. of age)
Niantic Community Church Children's Center | $12,000
General Operating
Reliance Health | $4,800
Laptops for Interns to Expand Teletherapy Offerings
Riverfront Children's Center | $10,000
Tuition for High Quality School-Age Child Care for Low to Moderate Income Families of Southeastern Connecticut
Safe Futures | $18,000
Providing Essential Services During COVID-19
Shiloh Development Corporation | $5,000
Shiloh Complex Food Pantry
Southeast Connecticut Community Center of the Blind | $2,000
General Operating
The Southeast Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence | $15,000
Kitchen-Compliance Update
St. James Episcopal Church | $10,000
The Lord’s Pantry
Stand Up for Animals | $2,500
Neighbors Helping Furry Friends
S.T.E.P.S. | $3,000
Support for Girls at Risk
S.W.E.E.T. Potato Society | $12,000
General Operating
Thames River Community Service | $10,000
General Operating (Resident Rent Support)
Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) | $4,000
Food, PPE & Other Essentials for Clients Receiving COVID-19 Community Resource Coordination
Town of Groton Department of Human Services | $15,000
Rental Assistance for Eligible Groton Households
United Community & Family Services | $10,000
Tele-health Equipment
Whalers helping Whalers | $12,000
General Operating
Yellow Farmhouse Education Center | $4,680
Share the Bounty
Windham Region
CLiCK | $18,000
CLiCK Food Rescue Program
Horizons | $10,000
Reopening - General Operating
The Neighbor Fund | $12,000
Project Represent
Perception Programs | $7,500
Mental and Behavioral Health Care Services Support
Willimantic Public Library | $8,000
Increasing free access to the internet in Willimantic
Willington Human Services Department | $2,000
Emergency Assistance
Windham Area Interfaith Ministry (WAIM) | $15,000
General Operating
Windham Region No Freeze Project | $15,000
General Operating
Windham Regional Community Council | $25,000
General Operating
Round 1 Grants: $486,517 (May 2020)
Regionwide
The Arc Eastern Connecticut | $11,500
PE for staff and residents of 22 supported group homes for persons with IDD
Chrysalis Center | $2,745
Community Supportive Housing COVID Impact Fund
Connecticut Legal Services | $25,000
General Operating and Increase Technology Capacity
Connecticut Veterinary Medical Foundation | $2,500
Emergency Funding for Veterinary Care
Health Education Center | $5,000
Qualified Medical Interpreters and Assistance for Medically Underserved Residents
Nurse-Family Partnership | $2,000
Supporting First-Time Mothers and Public Health Nurses During COVID-19
Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters | $12,000
Virtual Mentoring Program
Northeast Region
Access Community Action Agency | $6,000
General Operating
Ashford Social Services | $5,000
COVID-19 relief fund
Interfaith Human Services of Putnam | $6,000
General Operating-Program Expenses
Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group, Inc (TEEG) | $8,000
Covid Relief Fund
United Services | $3,000
Client and Family Emergency COVID-19 Support
Norwich Region
CASTLE | $4,000
General Operating
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich | $4,000
Intensive Case Management / Emergency Basic Needs
Madonna Place | $15,000
Capital/equipment and PPE to improve Madonna Place Program Delivery and Safety
Martin House | $6,000
Basic Needs - Food Security Program
Norwich City Hall/Norwich Human Services | $3,000
COVID19 masks for camp, RCSC
Norwich Human Services | $25,000
Covid Relief Fund: Direct assistance for residents
The Salvation Army | $5,000
COVID-19 Crisis Response - Norwich Corps
St. Mary Food Pantry | $8,000
General Operating
St. Vincent de Paul Place | $15,000
Served Meals and Food Pantry
United Community & Family Services | $6,000
Rosalyn Allen Food Pantry Expansion
Southeast Region
Alliance for Living | $3,500
Essentials for Living Food Program
Always Home | $5,000
Homelessness Prevention/Shelter Diversion of Families Impacted by COVID-19
Bill Memorial Library | $1,992
Physical Distancing Modifications Necessary for Library Reopening
Community Speaks Out | $5,000
Sober House Living Support Program
Covenant Shelter of New London | $3,000
General Operating
Culture SECT Economic Recovery Fund | $20,000
Support for the Arts Recovery Fund
Eastern Connecticut Community Garden Association | $5,000
Feeding the Community
Fairview Odd Fellows Home of CT | $7,000
Technology to Manage Spread of Infection
FRESH New London/TSNE | $12,000
General Operating
Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern Connecticut | $7,000
STARFISH: COVID-19 Emergency Humanitarian Response
Immigration Advocacy & Support Center | $7,880
Client Support for USCIS Fees
Jewish Federation of Eastern CT | $7,000
General Operating
Ledyard Food Pantry | $5,300
Increase program capacity
The Lighthouse Voc-Ed Center | $3,000
iPads to Provide Program Delivery
New Life Christian Fellowship | $4,000
For the community increase and demands placed on our food pantry
New London Area Food Coalition | $9,000
General Operating
New London Homeless Hospitality | $15,000
Community Resource Center
Noank Community Support Services | $3,000
Young Adult Homeless Shelter
OIC of New London County | $5,000
Generating Operating
Project Oceanology | $10,000
Healthy Campers 2020
Riverfront Children's Center | $6,000
Tuition for High-Quality Child Care for Low to Moderate Income Families of Southeastern Connecticut
Safe Futures | $4,000
Providing Essential Services During COVID-19
The Salvation Army | $8,000
COVID-19 Crisis Response - New London Corps
Shiloh Development Corporation | $3,000
Shiloh New London Complex Temporary Food Pantry
Southeast Connecticut Community Center of the Blind | $2,000
General Operating
St. James Episcopal Church | $12,000
The Lord’s Pantry
S.W.E.E.T. Potato Society | $5,000
Helping Hands Food Service Pantry
Thames River Community Service | $5,000
Resident Rent Support
Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) | $7,000
Emergency Client Assistance Program Response to COVID-19 Crisis
Town of Groton Human Services Department | $12,000
Rental Assistance for Eligible Groton Households
Windham Region
Community Companion and Homemaking Services | $4,100
Personal Protective Equipment for Home Care Workers
Covenant Soup Kitchen | $10,000
General Operating
GROW Windham | $9,000
Cooperative Community Food Share
Holy Family Home and Shelter | $10,000
General Operating for periodic deep cleaning; elevator modernization
Horizons | $8,000
General Operating
MARC, Inc. of Manchester | $7,000
General Operating
Our Piece of the Pie | $7,000
Supporting Youth through COVID-19 and beyond
The Salvation Army | $8,000
COVID-19 Crisis Response - Willimantic Corps
Windham Area Interfaith Ministry | $21,000
General Operating
Windham Region No Freeze Project | $20,000
General Operating
Grantmaking from the Neighbors for Neighbors Fund was administered in collaboration with the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut & the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.