Main Street Community Foundation

Groceries are an example of a grant supported
through the immediate response funds.

Small Grants Make Large Impact – Taking Care of Immediate Needs

Since 2000, over $40,000 in Immediate Response Fund grants have helped individuals and families support an immediate need that in many cases has been life changing. Due to the economic landscape in recent years, a greater number of requests are being considered each month. To date, six funds have been established by donors or donor groups who chose to make a difference in the lives of others.

The Werner Family Fund, established by the Werner Family in 2000, provides immediate assistance to families with children in Bristol who may be in need of food, school supplies, clothing items or something that would provide a child with an opportunity for participation and inclusion. Since the fund’s creation in 2000 it has met critical basic needs in the form of cribs and winter coats as well as opportunities to attend camp that might not have been possible without this fund.

In 2001, the Women & Girls’ Fund created a similar fund that would serve females of all ages in the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott. These grants are to provide assistance to women and girls in their efforts to improve the quality of their lives. Since its creation it has provided air conditioners in senior housing, summer camperships, prom accessories, food and clothing, car repairs and security deposits to those in need of a helping hand.

In 2005, led by Deputy Superintendent Susan Moreau, the Bristol Board of Education created a fund with money raised from dress down days. The teachers, guidance counselors and others involved in the school system in Bristol were passionate about helping students and their families cope with unexpected financial hardships.

In 2006 the Main Street Children’s Fund was created with a donation from the NapCar event at Yarde Metals. This fund is available to help children ages 18 and under in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott who are in immediate need of items or assistance that would help improve the quality of their lives.

Most recently the Elizabeth I. & Louis J. Matt Animal Protection Fund was established in 2007 to help animals that are in immediate need of assistance.  

Requests for funding from the immediate response funds are initiated by a social service organization or other nonprofit working with the family or aware of the financial hardship. Grants are made on a one-time basis so as many recipients can be helped as possible and are usually under $200.  

Another fund was established in 2008 as a result of a city wide initiative of Bristol’s Mayor Art Ward in to plan for ways to respond to the economic slow down and high rising costs of energy. The Winter ’09 Fund was established as a basic needs response fund to provide mini-grants to community organizations in the city of Bristol (e.g. food pantries, social service agencies, shelters, etc.) Grants from this fund are usually in the range of $500 and in most cases have been used to help the food pantries restock their shelves or provide funds for needs that have arisen in the social service organizations as a result of the economy.

These grants may be small in dollars but provide big impact on the lives of the residents in our communities. The Main Street Community Foundation is honored that donors have provided these opportunities to help those in greatest need in our six communities.