Main Street Community Foundation’s annual Women of Wonder (WOW) event not only celebrates the Foundation’s Women & Girls Fund and the grants made throughout the years, it also features an additional fundraiser for local organizations that benefit women and girls. At the event, small purses are placed on each table and attendees are encouraged to Pass the Purse around the table and donate what they can to a pre-selected cause each year. This year’s cause, inspired by the needs identified by local organizations that serve women and girls, was personal care items for senior women in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Roughly 1 in 3 older adults aged 65+ are economically insecure, and senior women are more likely to live in poverty than men. SNAP dollars cannot be used for personal care items and therefore many women simply go without because these products can be expensive. The top requests by senior women in the local communities are: disposable washcloths, denture adhesive, incontinence products, shampoo and body wash, and deodorant.

This year’s Pass the Purse initiative raised $6,053 and grants were awarded to organizations based on the percentage of senior women in each community. The grants made from this initiative for the purchase of personal care items for senior women are as follows:

• Bristol Senior Center - $1,553
• Burlington Social Services - $600
• Plainville Senior Center - $900
• Plymouth Community Food Pantry - $600
• Southington Community Services - $1,500
• Town of Wolcott - $900

“Your research has motivated us to create a personal care section within the Pantry for seniors,” said Larry Chiucarello, Director of the Plymouth Community Food Pantry, referencing a community conversation held by MSCF to identify priority areas of need, one of which was services for senior women. “We have surveyed our customers and hope to have it up and running, containing the requested items, within the next few months.”

These grants, which were awarded based on the percentage of senior women in each community, not only made an immediate difference, but are inspiring long-term change.

“We are currently working with outside vendors to expand and maximize this effort to purchase personal care items for senior women and help educate them on the importance for their health and wellness,” said Donna Belval, Director of the Wolcott Senior Center.

Main Street Community Foundation has awarded a total of $780,000 in grants from the Women & Girls Fund to organizations and individuals in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott since the Fund’s establishment in 2001.

For more information on the Women & Girls Fund, contact the Main Street Community Foundation at 860.583.6363 or visit mainstreetfoundation.org/women-girls-fund.