The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the world as we knew it. Schools shut down. Businesses shuttered. Events were cancelled.

Main Street Community Foundation (MSCF) responded by establishing the COVID-19 Response Fund in March of 2020. This Fund, together with other funds at MSCF, were used to help our local communities mobilize the necessary resources to support emerging needs in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott. MSCF also took on numerous leadership roles in those communities and continuously reached out to local organizations to listen to their concerns.

To date, over $1,000,000 in grants has been awarded to support COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. These were the most transformative grants that MSCF has ever awarded. An individual listing of these grants, from March of 2020 through December 31, 2021, is below:

Total Grants Awarded to Support COVID-19 Response and Recovery Efforts - $1,307,644

Rapid Response Grants totaling $13,850 have supported the following nonprofits meeting basic needs of local residents:

Boys & Girls Club of Bristol
Bread for Life
Brian’s Angels
Friends of Southington Community Services
Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center
LISA, Inc. (Living in Safe Alternatives)
Oak Hill
Plainville Seventh Day Adventist - God's Grocery Store Food Pantry
Plainville Social Services
Plymouth Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Prudence Crandall Center, Inc.
St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol
Tabernacle Christian Church - Giving Back Food Program
The Agape House
The Salvation Army
Thy Eagle's Nest
Town of Plainville Animal Control
Town of Plymouth Human Services
Town of Plymouth Parks and Recreation
TyLives Make It Different Foundation
Veteran's Strong Community Center
Wolcott Resource Center – Food Pantry
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church - Meals for Neighbors

Capacity Building Grants made in Response to COVID-19 - $67,714

American Clock & Watch Museum - $6,000
Technology upgrades to support remote work and virtual programming
COVID-19 Response Fund

Boys & Girls Club of Bristol - $7,500
Installation of Clean Air System at West Street Club Building for safety of staff and members
COVID-19 Response Fund

Bristol Preschool Childcare Center, Inc. - $7,000
Website update and marketing program to help increase enrollment and create community brand recognition
COVID-19 Response Fund

Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center - $7,500
Installation of Clean Air System in classrooms and learning areas for safety of staff and students
COVID-19 Response Fund

New England Carousel Museum - $7,500
Technology upgrades to support remote work and virtual programming
COVID-19 Response Fund

Nutmeg Symphony Orchestra, Inc. - $4,250
Equipment to record and broadcast live virtual chamber concerts in place of in-person performances
COVID-19 Response Fund

Plainville Community Food Pantry - $5,000
Support for cleaning costs and PPE for safety of staff and volunteers
COVID-19 Response Fund

Shepard Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc. - $4,800
Improve technology and telecommunication systems to support remote work and virtual programming
COVID-19 Response Fund

Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA) - $5,000
Tablet lending library to support virtual arts programming for students including those living in residential group homes
KAWFY Memorial Fund

St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol - $5,000
Support to hire a Human Resources consultant to develop COVID-19 related policies and procedures
COVID-19 Response Fund

Terryville Plymouth Little League - $1,800
Purchase of PPE equipment and safety supplies for participants and spectators
COVID-19 Response Fund

United Way of West Central Connecticut - $2,364
COVID-19 Outreach support as well as equipment and PPE for VITA tax assistance for program staff and volunteers
COVID-19 Response Fund

Wolcott Citizens Against Substance Abuse - $4,000
Enhance virtual programming and provide PPE to staff, volunteers and participants at in-person community events
COVID-19 Response Fund

Food Insecurity Grants made in response to COVID-19 - $19,377

Brian’s Angels Homeless Outreach - $1,877
Hot lunch program and purchase of an air purifier
COVID-19 Response Fund

City of Bristol Community Services - $1,000
Grocery gift cards for low-income clients
COVID-19 Response Fund

St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol - $2,000
Purchase of food and related costs for shelter residents
COVID-19 Response Fund

Plainville Seventh Day Adventist Church – God’s Grocery Store - $3,000
Purchase of food for the pantry
COVID-19 Response Fund

Plainville Social Services - $1,000
Grocery gift cards for low-income clients
COVID-19 Response Fund

Plymouth Community Food Pantry - $1,000
Purchase of food for the pantry
COVID-19 Response Fund

Plymouth Department of Human Services - $1,000
Grocery gift cards for low-income clients
COVID-19 Response Fund

Friends of Southington Community Services - $4,000
Purchase of food for pantry and holiday baskets
COVID-19 Response Fund

Tunxis Community College Foundation - $4,500
Purchase of food for student food pantry
COVID-19 Response Fund

Unrestricted Operating Support Grants made in Response to COVID-19 - $114,553

American Clock & Watch Museum - $5,500
COVID-19 Response Fund - $5,000
Pat & Bob Wollenberg Charitable Fund - $500

Animal Rescue Foundation, Inc. - $2,500
COVID-19 Response Fund

Boys & Girls Club of Bristol - $23,652
Bristol Brass General Grant Fund - $20,201
Clement Family Fund - $3,050
Hamzy Family Charitable Fund - $401

Brian’s Angels Homeless Outreach - $4,500
Pat & Bob Wollenberg Charitable Fund - $3,000
COVID-19 Response Fund - $1,500

Bristol Preschool Childcare Center, Inc. - $6,300
COVID-19 Response Fund

Bristol Recovery Club - $4,000
COVID-19 Response Fund – $2,500
Pat & Bob Wollenberg Charitable Fund - $1,500

Community Counseling Centers of Central Connecticut, Inc. - $4,000
COVID-19 Response Fund

Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut, Inc. - $10,000
COVID-19 Response Fund

Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center - $3,500
COVID-19 Response Fund

Lock Museum of America, Inc. - $2,901
COVID-19 Response Fund - $2,500
Hamzy Family Charitable Fund - $401

Margaret C. Griffin Child Development Center of Southington - $2,000
KAWFY Memorial Fund

New England Carousel Museum - $10,000
COVID-19 Response Fund

Nutmeg Symphony Orchestra, Inc. - $2,000
COVID-19 Response Fund

Plainville Community Food Pantry - $5,000
COVID-19 Response Fund

Shepard Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc. - $3,500
COVID-19 Response Fund - $2,500
Pat & Bob Wollenberg Charitable Fund - $1,000

St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol - $9,000
COVID-19 Response Fund - $5,000
Pat & Bob Wollenberg Charitable Fund - $4,000

Tabernacle Christian Church – Giving Back Food Pantry - $3,500
KAWFY Memorial Fund

United Way of West Central Connecticut - $7,500
COVID-19 Response Fund

Veterans Strong Community Center - $5,200
COVID-19 Response Fund

Grants made in Response to COVID-19 from the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust - $979,091

Bread for Life - $6,600
Seed money for Summer Lunch Program serving food insecure children and youth in Southington in response to COVID-19

Bread for Life - $15,000
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Bread for Life - $25,000
Additional unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Bread For Life - $67,080
Support to meet the increased demand for food as well as the purchase of to-go meal packaging and supplies in response to COVID-19

Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington - $12,500
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Friends of Southington Community Services - $7,500
Purchase of food, supplies and grocery gift cards for the food pantry and holiday baskets for food-insecure families in Southington in response to COVID-19

Friends of Southington Community Services - $25,000
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Friends of the Southington Public Library - $7,000
Digital Access program to provide Wi-Fi hot spots and laptop lending and the Take and Make art/cooking kits program to reduce social isolation for Southington residents due to COVID-19

LiveWell Alliance - $25,000
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Prudence Crandall Center, Inc. - $50,000
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Prudence Crandall Center, Inc. - $56,900
Additional unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Prudence Crandall Center, Inc. - $50,000
Domestic Violence Intervention & Prevention Services in Southington

Prudence Crandall Center, Inc. - $25,000
COVID-19 recovery and relief for Emergency Shelter services for Southington victims of domestic violence and their children

Senior Transportation Services - $27,000
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs - $25,052
Emergency Childcare Services for medical staff and first responders in response to COVID-19

Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs - $14,328
Additional Support for Emergency Childcare Services for medical staff and first responders in response to COVID-19

Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs - $100,000
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs - $90,000
Continued unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs, Inc. - $100,000
Continued unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs, Inc. - $100,000
COVID-19 recovery relief for unrestricted support of programs and operations

Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA) - $50,000
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

The Arc of Southington, Inc. - $50,000
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

The Arc of Southington - $9,258
Technology upgrades to support remote work in response to COVID-19

The Hospital of Central Connecticut - $5,000
Hartford HealthCare Face Shield Project with OKAY Industries for the protection of hospital workers and first responders in the Southington Community in response to COVID-19

The LEAF (Lewis Educational Agricultural Farm) - $12,500
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

United Way of Southington - $23,373
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19

Unrestricted Operating Support Grants made in Response to COVID-19 from the Women & Girls Fund - $42,000

Boys & Girls Club of Bristol - $2,500
Barbara Hackman Franklin Fund for Women - $2,090
Women & Girls Fund - $410

Bristol Family Resource Centers - $5,000

Bristol Youth & Community Services Parent & Child Center - $2,000

Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington - $2,500

Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut - $4,000

For Goodness Sake - $3,500

Girl Scouts of Connecticut - $2,000

Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center - $5,000

Plymouth Community Food Pantry Diaper Bank - $750

Prudence Crandall Center - $5,000

St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol - $5,000
Women & Girls Fund - $4,410
John & Gloria DiFrancesco Fund for Women and Girls - $590

The Children's Law Center, Inc. - $4,750

Other COVID-19 Related Responsive Grants - $68,058

Boys & Girls Club of Bristol - $1,000
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19
Men & Boys' Fund

Boys & Girls Club of Bristol - $25,000
General support due to temporary closure as a result of COVID-19
Tim and Mary Walsh Charitable Fund

Bristol Board of Education - $458
Purchase of drum mallets and sticks for individual use by students in response to COVID-19
Dan Cistulli Memorial Music Fund

Bristol Hospital Foundation - $5,000
Support COVID-19 response efforts and support of the new molecular testing equipment
COVID-19 Response Fund

For Goodness Sake - $6,500
General operating support due to temporary closure as a result of COVID-19
COVID-19 Response Fund

For Goodness Sake - $1,500
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19
Plainville Community Fund

Friends of the Bristol CT Animal Shelter - $1,000
Support for the medical care of animals and assistance for pet owners in need in Bristol due to COVID-19
Elizabeth I. and Louis J. Matt Animal Protection Fund

Friends of Wolcott Dog Pound - $1,000
Support for the medical care of animals and assistance for pet owners in need in Wolcott due to COVID-19
Elizabeth I. and Louis J. Matt Animal Protection Fund

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church - $2,100
Shelving and food supplies for the Food Pantry
Bristol Brass General Grant Fund - $1,100
COVID-19 Response Fund - $1,000

Grace Baptist Church - Grace Pantry - $3,000
Food supplies for the pantry
COVID-19 Response Fund

Plainville Board of Education - $500
To purchase an IPad for the Plainville High School Math department to facilitate virtual learning in response to COVID-19
Plainville Community Fund

Plainville Community Food Pantry - $4,000
General support for staffing costs and the purchase of food and supplies
Plainville Community Fund

Plainville Community Food Pantry - $500
Unrestricted operating support in response to COVID-19
Plainville Community Fund

Plymouth Community Food Pantry - $4,000
Healthy Options Program Plus to provide non-perishable dairy and produce to program clients
COVID-19 Response Fund

Prudence Crandall Center, Inc. - $2,000
Unrestricted operating support for services provided to Plainville residents in response to COVID-19
Plainville Community Fund

Town of Burlington Social Services - $1,000
Purchase grocery gift cards for low-income clients of the Burlington Food Bank in response to COVID-19
James R. Parker Trust

Town of Plainville Animal Control - $500
Purchase supplies for the newly established Pet Food Pantry to assist pet owners in financial need due to COVID-19
Elizabeth I. and Louis J. Matt Animal Protection Fund

Town of Plainville Animal Control - $2,000
Support for the medical care of animals and the purchase of supplies for the Pet Food Pantry to assist pet owners in financial need due to COVID-19
Elizabeth I. and Louis J. Matt Animal Protection Fund

Town of Plainville Social Services- $1,000
Purchase gift cards to provide food and daily essential items to Plainville residents in need due to COVID-19
Plainville Community Fund

Zion Lutheran Evangelical Church – Meals for Neighbors - $6,000
Fresh produce and a commercial freezer for the soup kitchen
COVID-19 Response Fund

Immediate Response COVID-19 Related Grants totaling $3,001 have been awarded from the following funds:

Bristol Board of Education Immediate Response Fund
Main Street Children’s Fund
The Werner Family Fund
Women & Girls Immediate Response Fund