Middletown's Lucy's Hearth Among RI Foundation Fund Recipients

MIDDLETOWN, RI — The Lucy's Hearth transitional living facility and the James L. Maher Center in Middletown are among the Newport County nonprofit organizations that will share in $290,000 in grants awarded through the Rhode Island Foundation's Newport County Fund.

The funding is designed to support activities ranging from emergency housing and distance learning to food pantries and job training.

"In a year marked by the impact of COVID-19 on everyday life, we're fortunate to have the resources to support organizations that are on the frontlines of the pandemic in Newport County," said Neil D. Steinberg, the Foundation's president and CEO. "We are grateful for the donors who make it possible for us to support organizations that are well-positioned to respond every day to community needs, and particularly in this uniquely challenging time."

Island Moving Company in Newport, Lucy's Hearth in Middletown, Meals on Wheels and the James L. Maher Center are among the 42 organizations that will share the funding.

Meals on Wheels received $5,000 to support its work providing more than 24,000 home-delivered meals to Newport County seniors and other homebound adults.

"Our goal is to enable Newport County seniors and adults living with disabilities to live independently in their homes for as long as possible by offering daily nutrition and safety checks," said Meghan Grady, executive director. "We know that providing daily home-delivered meals is a fraction of the cost of paying for a senior to live in an assisted-living facility."

Meals on Wheels said the average monthly cost for for in-person food delivery for a person in an assisted-living facility is $155.

"The outcomes include reduced hunger and isolation and improved health, safety, and peace of mind for clients, families and their communities," said Grady.

Island Moving Company received $5,000 to support art-integrated learning programs in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth and Little Compton elementary schools.

"There is a great need to help struggling students so they may make gains in academic, social and emotional learning," said Peter Bramante, executive director. "Our programs provide students with additional learning tools, which helps non-traditional or disengaged learners increase their appetite for learning."

The funding will facilitate programs at the Forest Avenue Elementary School in Middletown, Melville Elementary School in Portsmouth and the second-year expansion at the Wilbur & McMahon School in Little Compton, to go along with the existing program at the Pell Elementary School in Newport.

"Our approach uses the power of the arts to illuminate ideas, spark curiosity and inspire students to higher academic achievement," he said.

Lucy's Hearth received $10,000 to provide social services to homeless families participating in its
emergency shelter and transitional living programs. The organization expects to serve about 175 people, including about 100 children.

"These services are critical for people who are healing from the victimization and trauma inherent with homelessness," said Kelly Lee, executive director. "Our residents often have multiple and severe impediments to self-sufficiency. This is the lifeblood of all the work we do."

The James L. Maher Center in Middletown received $10,000 to support a job training program that can accommodate up to 75 clients with developmental disabilities. The grant will enable the Maher Center to pivot to a fully or partially virtual program as necessitated by the fluctuating requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Employment brings structure, social interaction and a sense of achievement into all of our lives," said Lynne Maher, executive director. "Unfortunately, the public health and economic ramifications of the pandemic have reduced employment opportunities for the people we serve. We're using this time to develop training programs that will prepare our Maher Center participants for employment when circumstances change — while giving them as much of the experiential value of work as we can."

Established in 2002, the NCF has awarded more than $4.6 million in grants for programs and services for residents of Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth and Tiverton. It is one of the grant programs that enable the Foundation to serve Newport County communities.