November 01, 2017 - The newly established Men & Boys’ Fund of Main Street Community Foundation will hold an introductory community meeting at the Hawk’s Landing Country Club in Southington from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on November 14th. The public is invited to attend; RSVP is required to Julie Matthews at the Foundation by calling 860.583.6363.

Attendees will hear about how the Fund is helping local men and boys improve the quality of their lives, become more self-sufficient, and make a positive difference in their communities. Specifically, several speakers from local organizations will discuss the unmet needs identified in Plainville, Southington and Wolcott.

“Two years ago some of us started hearing stories from several local social service agencies that men struggle to get some services that were more readily available to women and children,” said the Men & Boys’ Fund Advisory Board President Rodger Stotz. “Main Street Community Foundation held several information gathering meetings in 2015 and 2016 and it became obvious the facts backed up the stories we were hearing.”

Community organizations and representatives from Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott – the communities served by the Fund - took part in the meetings. Among the statistics and facts the group discussed were that in some local schools a majority of students are in single parent households and a percentage of those households are run by single dads is increasing.

Among the men and boys the fund has already helped are: a gifted 16-year-old was given the opportunity to attend a National Youth Leadership Forum technology camp in Chicago; a homeless man was awarded an immediate response grant for a rental application fee to provide him with permanent supportive housing; a program for special education students that teaches independent living skills received a grant to purchase a stove for their learning center; and Southington’s Bread For Life received funds to provide haircuts to people unable to afford them.

Community members are invited to come with questions and ideas.