FY2020 Funding
32.6% of the $2.2 million in FY20 charitable contributions was directed to COVID relief and support.
$728 thousand in COVID related grants awarded to 49 different organizations and COVID response funds throughout our region.
Here for our community. Here for you.
Community support 2020.
In March, the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation shifted its funding efforts to support organizations that were on the frontlines of the virus or experiencing hardship as a result. This included a dual funding approach that allowed our Charitable Foundation to directly fund organizations as well as contribute to collaborative emergency funds throughout our community.
The effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt throughout our community and many of our non-profit partners remain on the front lines trying to help those affected as well as dealing with their own negative financial impact. As we adapt to the evolving needs of our community partners, we want to continue to be resource during these difficult times.
Apply For COVID Related Grant FundingSupplying masks for the frontlines.
The Bank was able to source and purchase 12,000 hard-to-get surgical masks through relationships with our vendors. The masks were donated to local hospital partners throughout our regions. A shipment of 4,000 masks was delivered to our “Community Heroes” at Morton Hospital, SouthCoast Health (Charlton & St. Luke’s Hospitals) and Care New England.
And for our community partners.
In addition to the purchase of PPE for our community healthcare workers, our employees also wanted to help by creating homemade cloth masks that the Bank was able to distribute to our community partners in need. Not surprisingly, the response was overwhelming with over 100 masks created and donated.
Addressing record food instability throughout our region.
If this pandemic has shown us anything, it is how fragile the economic situation is for so many. With many workers furloughed, laid off or industries closed, many of our neighbors were struggling through no fault of their own. Organizations throughout our region shifted their mission/focus to address the basic human needs of their clients/communities.
In North Attleboro, we assisted our partners at the Hockomock Area YMCA in their efforts to address the overwhelming demand for, and lack of, food access. With our support, and the support of others, the Hockomock Y launched their Food Access Initiative at the beginning of the pandemic.
Through this initiative:
- 211,000 meals and counting were provided to kids and families in our community
- More than 22,000 bags of groceries valued at $50 each were distributed every Wednesday at their three locations
- 900 families were provided Thanksgiving meals in November
Stronger together.
Provided grants to response funds throughout our market area including:
- United Ways of Mass Bay, Greater New Bedford and Fall River
- SouthCoast Community Foundation
- RI Foundation
- Taunton COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
In Attleboro, a $50,000 grant was awarded to the Attleboro Stronger Together Fund. This response fund was created and organized by non-profit organizations in the Attleboro community. The Greater Attleboro Stronger Together Fund aims to raise and quickly deploy funds to support people in our community who have lost income due to job loss or reduced work hours and are now facing food insecurity and potential homelessness.
Helping schools and youth organizations deliver education and support for our kids.
Almost $200,000 in grant funding went towards organizations supporting education and youth programs.
Many organizations had to shift how they delivered their programming. Normally in person delivery shifted to virtual. The shift to virtual programming and education exposed the shortcoming of technology access to many in our community.
In Fall River, we were able to address this need for our partners at Argosy Collegiate Charter High School by providing a grant in the amount of $10,400 for the purchase of 40 Chromebooks that provided their students with the ability to maintain their academic coursework and their current grade level.
Helping local small businesses stay in business.
Worked with the Mayors of Pawtucket and Taunton to support their efforts in providing relief and support to small businesses in their communities.
A $50,000 grant was provided to each community to assist impacted small businesses.
In Taunton, we provided $50,000 in seed funding to establish the Taunton Small Business Sustainability (TSBS) Fund. This Fund was set-up to assist local small businesses substantially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, who were having difficulty obtaining funding from other federal or state initiatives. Tim Chaves, SVP/Commercial Lending Team Leader for Taunton, served on the TSBS Fund committee to review applications and award grants up to $5,000.
These grants were used to help fund payroll, expenses, lost sales and costs associated with reopening as result of the pandemic.