Main Street Community Foundation recently awarded a total of $319,155 from the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust to six nonprofit organizations working to improve the health and wellbeing of Southington residents. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its ongoing effects, funding was provided for the continuation of programs and initiatives previously supported by the Trust; equipment, supplies and technology needs related to COVID-19; and for general operating support.

The grants awarded are:

• $67,080 to Bread For Life to support the meal program for Southington’s food-insecure population. Specifically, the grant will cover the cost of packaging individual meals for pick up at Bread for Life or delivery to senior housing centers and the homebound.
• $50,000 to Prudence Crandall Center, Inc. to support comprehensive Domestic Violence Intervention & Prevention services in Southington.
• $100,000 to the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs, Inc. for unrestricted operating support to help the YMCA continue providing youth development, healthy living and social responsibility activities to strengthen the foundation of the Southington community.
• $9,258 to The Arc of Southington to assist with a technology project to equip employees with remote access for their safety and productivity.
• $50,000 to The L.E.A.F. (Lewis Educational Agricultural Farm) to support labor and purchase materials/supplies necessary to operate school and community programs with an overall goal of ensuring a healthy and sustainable food supply in Southington.
• $42,817 to the United Way of Southington to continue support of free rides for seniors in collaboration with Senior Transportation Services of New Britain. The service is available free of charge to Southington residents aged 55+ or disabled individuals that need rides to medical appointments, pharmacy, hair salons, barbershops, bank or care facility to visit a family member.

The Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust was originally established in 1973 by the late Bradley Henry Barnes of Southington to support the health and health care needs of Southington residents. The Trust was transferred to the Main Street Community Foundation in 2004 and since that time has awarded nearly $11 million to improve health outcomes of Southington residents.