Over the last twelve months, Main Street Community Foundation has awarded a total of nearly $900,000 from the Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust. This trust, established in 1973 and transferred to MSCF in 2004, awards grants to organizations serving the Southington community through programs and initiatives that improve the health outcomes of Southington residents.

Grants awarded in the second half of 2022 to organizations serving residents of all ages include:

• Bread For Life - $68,000 - To support the meal program for Southington’s food-insecure population totaling over 300 clients, as well as funds to support emergency needs outside of the meal program.
• Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington - $25,000 – Funds will be used for health, safety and well-being initiatives that support Southington’s young children and educate their caregivers within the areas of mental health, nutrition, development concerns, and childhood safety.
• Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA) - $50,000 – This grant will support the continuation of the All Access program for adults with disabilities and those living with dementia, which teaches creative work skills to participants and helps them remain connected to their community and the community to them.
• Wheeler Clinic - $12,000 - Funds will be used to continue the Southington Health Outreach Initiative, which facilitates access to behavioral and mental health care for Southington residents.
• Friends of Southington Community Services - $15,000 – This grant will be used for the purchase of a commercial refrigerator and freezer, grocery gift-cards for holiday baskets, and emergency food purchases including items not available through Connecticut Foodshare.
• Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs - $28,720 - Funds to support costs associated with the construction of a splash pad at Camp Sloper, in order to provide healthy and safe recreation for campers, as well as two sessions of youth “Mental Health First Aid” training for YMCA staff and Southington residents.

Since 2004, the Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust has distributed a total of $12.3 million in grants.

The next Barnes Memorial Trust grant cycle opens January 3, 2023. Letters of intent will be accepted for new capital projects, programs or initiatives that improve the health and wellbeing of Southington residents. The deadline for submission will be February 3. All information can be found on the Foundation’s website.