Domestic Violence, Nutrition, and Assistance for Seniors Among Topics Addressed by New Grants from the Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin
The Prudence Crandall Center, The Friendship Service Center and Connecticut Community Care, Inc Among Nine Organizations Collectively Receiving over $77,000 of Grant Funds to Support Their Work in the New Britain and Berlin Communities.
New Britain, Conn. (June 10, 2010) – The Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin, Inc., has issued its first round of 2010 grants to local nonprofits. A supporting organization of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, the Community Chest funds programs and initiatives in the health and human service areas by providing program grants, general operating support and seed funding for new projects.
“We strongly believe that all of the grants we are awarding will do a great deal of good in both the New Britain and Berlin communities. It’s amazing what these non-profit organizations can do when supported with funds. They take on monumental problems like domestic violence, the health of the homeless or the needs of the elderly, and then show us creative program solutions that can effectively and positively address these issues within our communities,” explains Cindy Antonacci, Vice President at Farmington Bank and Chair of the Community Chest’s Board of Directors.
Connecticut Community Care Inc (CCCI) received a grant for $5,000 for supplemental funds for their clients in New Britain and Berlin. Each year, CCCI serves 12,000-15,000 senior citizens in Connecticut enrolled in the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) providing the services needed to keep these seniors living in the comfort of their homes. Over six hundred of these seniors reside in New Britain and Berlin. But supplemental funds are often needed to address simple, but serious problems like broken appliances, assistance with utility payments, mobility challenges and the like. CCCI estimates that for under $150 annually of supplemental funding per client they can address the issues of daily independent living which might otherwise result in an undesirable move to a nursing care facility. “This is CCCI’s first Community Chest Grant. We are so thrilled to receive these funds to assist our clients in New Britain and Berlin. All of our clients are low-income and have many needs, but they are independent and proud citizens who wish to live in their own homes for as long as possible. These last-resort, supplemental funds can truly make that happen,” says Patricia Morgan, Director of Development and Public Relations at CCCI.
The Friendship Service Center, will receive a Community Chest Grant for $7,600 to create the “Eat Fresh” program aimed at improving the nutritional value of the foods served at the Center’s soup kitchen and overall health of those served. The components of this program include the Center joining a local food co-op, establishing relationships with area farmers, training from dietitians, offering nutrition workshops and much more. The Friendship Service Center serves 225 meals per day to homeless people, or those at risk of homelessness
The Prudence Crandall Center (PCC) was awarded $20,000 to support the growing demand for PCC’s Community Education & Intervention and Domestic Violence programs. PCC’s numbers have increased dramatically during the last year due to the poor economy as well as recent media coverage of PCC events, and domestic violence issues in general, which raised awareness and resulted in an increase in requests for community education services. With this grant it is expected that over 3,000 New Britain and Berlin residents will be served through the Community Education and Intervention programs. Nearly 100 will be served through the Domestic Violence Education Program.
Other organizations receiving Community Chest grants include: Berlin-Kensington YMCA ($5,000), Klingberg Family Centers ($10,000), Lions Club of New Britain Community Eye Clinic ($5,000), Lions Low Vision Center ($5,000), Nutmeg Big Brothers/Big Sisters ($9,730) and The Wheeler Clinic ($10,000).