Main Street Community Foundation (MSCF) has recently awarded a total of $301,983 in grants from the Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust to organizations that improve the health outcomes of Southington residents, especially in the priority areas of behavioral health, healthcare needs for an aging population, as well as healthy initiatives and lifestyle.

Five of the seven grants will continue funding important projects that align with the identified community health and healthcare priorities. Those grants are as follows:

• Bread for Life - $55,000 - Support the continuation of the meal program for Southington’s food-insecure population. Specifically, the grant will assist with the purchase of food, related items for packaging, and expenses for meal delivery to homebound residents such as gas and vehicle maintenance.
• The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington - $27,000 - support health, safety and well-being initiatives that support Southington’s young children and educate their caregivers. Program topics are recommended by constituents and fall within the areas of mental health, nutrition, development concerns, and childhood safety.
• Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA - $4,983 - Additional funds to support increased costs associated with the construction of the splash and spray park at Camp Sloper, which provides healthy and safe recreation for campers.
• Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA) - $50,000 – Funds will support the continuation of the All Access program for neuro-diverse adults with learning differences. The program teaches creative work skills, provides a source of income for participants through the sale of their art, and increases socialization and self-confidence, thereby enhancing quality of life. Participant’s also have the opportunity to have their artwork exhibited in galleries, museums, and on SoCCA’s website.
• UCONN Health - $150,000 - Support the continuation of UConn Health’s Child and Family Development Program which provides a comprehensive array of mental-health services for children and families in Southington. The center provides parent support groups, behavioral management groups, prevention groups to improve children’s emotional competence, drop-in consultation hours and psychological evaluations for medication and is also strongly endorsed by Southington Public Schools, collaborating closely with them for referrals and curriculum development.

In addition, two organizations were awarded proactive grants from the Trust:

• Friends of Southington Community Services - $5,000 - Funds will be used for emergency food purchases, energy assistance, housing assistance and other basic needs of Southington residents.
• Wheeler Clinic - $10,000 - Funds will support the capital campaign for the One Hope Street project in Bristol which will expand access to medical, pharmaceutical, and behavioral health services for the community, including Southington residents.

Since the Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust was established 50 years ago with the express purpose of providing funds for local organizations that work to improve the health and wellbeing of Southington residents, advisors and stewards of the Trust have worked to keep that purpose alive. Since MSCF was appointed trustee of the Trust in 2004, over $13 million has been awarded to local organizations.