Basic Needs Fund Distributes $100,000
Nine organizations were selected for the Fund's inaugural round of grantmaking.
New Haven, Conn. (June 21, 2021) During a time of increased food insecurity, the newly established Basic Needs Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven has granted $100,000 for the distribution of meals, groceries and personal hygiene items to area residents in need. The committee-advised fund made the awards to nine organizations located in New Haven and surrounding towns.
For the Community Soup Kitchen, the grant helps support a significant expansion. The nonprofit has served 82,000 meals in the past five months from its primary location at New Haven's Christ Church and satellite at the Keefe Community Center in Hamden, according to Executive Director Joshua Lamarr Watkins.
"The guests we are serving are not necessarily homeless. Many have jobs. We serve everybody and everyone, and we’ve stepped forward to go beyond serving one meal. People can have as many meals as they want," said Watkins.
In addition to serving more meals, Watkins added, Community Soup Kitchen has also expanded its network of grocery store partners to donate fresh produce and meat.
The Basic Needs Fund was established in April 2020 to support the basic needs of all people in Greater New Haven and is governed by an advisory committee that works collaboratively to award grants on a responsive basis based on unfunded needs in the community.
The initial round of funding targeted food insecurity, and made awards to organizations that did not receive full funding from the Greater New Haven COVID-19 Community Fund.
Basic Needs Fund Grant Awards
Organization |
Description |
Amount |
Food delivery, diapers and healthy food/snacks for learning hub students. |
$10,000 |
|
Food and take-out supplies |
$15,000 |
|
Food provision |
$10,000 |
|
Guns Down Books Up |
Food distribution to New Haven residents in need |
$10,000 |
Food provision for Hamden residents |
$10,000 |
|
New Opportunities, Inc. |
Meals for homebound Cheshire residents who are on the Meals on Wheels waiting list |
$10,000 |
Food delivery to elderly and mobility impaired residents in Greater New Haven. |
$10,000 |
|
Distribution of food and hygiene products. |
$15,000 |
|
The Towers Foundation |
Meals for low-income elderly residents. |
$10,000 |
Note: an additional $60,000 was awarded to FISH of Greater New Haven after the grants listed above, bringing the initial distribution total from the Fund to $160,000.
