The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts has awarded $200,000 in grants to community health projects with a goal of improving access to medical care and behavioral health care in Nashoba Valley. This announcement was shared March 20th on the organization’s Facebook page.
The grants come from the Nashoba Valley Health Care Fund, which was established in 2006 when Essent Healthcare purchased the now-closed Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, according to the Community Foundation’s website.
The fund has a local focus on Nashoba Valley. Awards are intended to serve residents of Ashby, Ayer, Bolton, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend.
This year, the Community Foundation awarded 12 grants, including to:
- UMass Memorial Health Care
- North Middlesex Regional School District
- Advocates, Inc.
- Clear Path for Veterans New England
- Conversations to Remember
- Joe Andruzzi Foundation
- LUK Crisis Center
- Rise Above Foundation
- Seven Hills ASPIRE!
- Spanish American Center
- The CASA Project
- Virginia Thurston Healing Garden
In addition, the Community Foundation awarded more than $10,500 in scholarships to Fitchburg State University and Mount Wachusett Community College to support Nashoba Valley residents who pursue education in direct-care programs.
A Few of the Donations:
UMass Memorial Health Care received a $22,000 grant for 2 EKG machines capable of detecting heart problems quickly and accurately. These will be used for the new satellite emergency facility that opens in Groton. This will help residents who currently face a long drive to the nearest emergency room.
North Middlesex Regional School District received a $20,000 grant to open a mental health center inside the high school, which serves students grades 9-12 from Townsend (where it’s located), Ashby and Pepperell. These three communities are the furthest north among the Nashoba Valley communities mentioned in this article, all bordering New Hampshire.
The goal is to eliminate transportation and scheduling barriers to help student access care. Students will be able to meet with clinicians in person or virtually. Staff will also receive training to better recognize and respond to mental health needs in the classroom.
Advocates, Inc., which has a Harvard office, received a $11,000 grant to provide mental health and substance use services for uninsured or underinsured Medicare recipients aged 65 and older.
Clear Path for Veterans, of Devens, received a $20,000 grant for behavioral health services for veterans.
Joe Andruzzi Foundation received a $12,000 grant to provide critical financial assistance to cancer patients.
—
Ayer News wrote this article. To learn more, you can read the Community Foundation’s announcement. There’s also additional background information on the Nashoba Valley Health Care Fund grant webpage.
The Community Foundation of Greater Lowell has a similar grant program, out of the Nashoba Valley Health Care Fund. This provides grants to support the health of residents in about 9 local communities, according to its website.