Critical needs grants provided to 52 groups

The Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation through the Draper Foundation Fund, the Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund, and through gifts made anonymously through a donor-advised fund, has awarded 52 charitable organizations serving some of the area’s most economically distressed residents grants totaling $67,000. Grants will help provide the most basic of necessities – food, warm clothing and shelter.

The following nonprofits received critical needs grants: Batcheller Early Education Center, Bronc Callahan Community Fund, Canaan Child Care Center, Caring for Bethlehem, Catholic Charities, Inc., Chore Service, Church of Christ, Norfolk, Community Food Bank, Community Kitchen of Torrington, Connecticut Food Bank, Cornwall Food and Fuel Fund, EdAdvance, Falls Village Emergency Relief/ Fuel Fund, Falls Village Senior Center, Family & Children's Aid, FISH/ Friends in Service to Humanity of Northwestern CT, Friendly Hands Food Bank, Geer Village Senior Community, Goshen Community Care and Hospice, Goshen Good Neighbor Fund, Hands of Grace, Helping Hands Chore Service, Inc., Housatonic Youth Service Bureau, Junior Women's Club of Litchfield Hills, Litchfield Community Center, Litchfield Hills Chore Service, Litchfield Hills Northwest Elderly Nutrition Program, McCall Center for Behavioral Health, North Canaan Social Services, Northwest Hills Council of Governments Fuel Bank, Prime Time House, Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association, Sharon Community Foundation, Sharon Community Foundation (Food Bank), Sharon Day Care Center, Saint Michael's Litchfield (Food Pantry), Sullivan Senior Center (Assisted Medical Transportation), Susan B. Anthony Project, Torrington Area Youth Service Bureau, Town of Colebrook, Town of Kent Social Services, Town of Warren, United Church of Christ, Cornwall, Veterans Service Office & Museum, Visiting Nurse Services of Connecticut, VNA Northwest, Warm the Children, Washington Community Fund, Winchester Center Congregational Church, Winsted Area Child Care Center, Winsted United Methodist Church (Marilyn's Pantry), and Women's Support Services.

Established in 1969, the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation serves 20 towns in Northwest Connecticut. Its total endowment, comprised of more than 280 funds, has grown from initial assets of $15,000 to more than $110 million. Last year, combined grants and scholarships totaled more than $3 million.