DUTCHESS COUNTY — Since this past spring, the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF) has been deploying emergency services to families and individuals in need in northeastern Dutchess County through its Northeast Dutchess Fund (NDF). As part of BTCF’s efforts to provide critical support to those struggling during the pandemic, the NDF recently partnered with Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.
As written on its website, www.berkshiretaconic.org, BTCF has been dedicated to “strengthening communities through philanthropy and leadership” so all residents have opportunity for economic stability and a high quality of life since it was first founded in 1987. Though located in Sheffield, Mass., northeastern Dutchess County falls within its coverage area, said BTCF Program Director Maeve O’Dea. Additionally, O’Dea noted the strong partnerships it’s built with northeastern Dutchess County as well as the North East Community Center (NECC) in Millerton and Community Action Partnership (CAP) for Dutchess County in Poughkeepsie, which has given BTCF insight into the many regional organizations.
This past spring, BTCF began deploying resources primary through its Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fund, which was established in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to assist residents in crisis with emergency grants for food, health services, utilities, short-term housing costs and other critical needs.
O’Dea said BTCF works with social service agencies across the state to administer funding. The emergency resources deployed through the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fund have been made available for individuals and families experiencing sudden economic distress due to the pandemic.
“What we’ve been hearing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is that there’s a greatly heightened need,” O’Dea told The Millerton News at the pandemic’s start, “and we anticipate it will continue for quite a while. The powerful thing about Neighbor-to-Neighbor is it’s completely flexible and it’s at the discretion of the social service agencies to best determine the best way to use the funding.”
At one point, donors contributed nearly $40,000 in just one week to provide grants to residents in crisis living in Amenia, Dover, North East, Pine Plains, Stanford, Washington and Clinton Corners. Donations to the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Fund also rose to more than $81,000 by November — $55,000 of which was distributed to social workers at Grace Immigrant Outreach at Grace Church in Millbrook, NECC and CAP.
“It’s people in our community that want to help,” O’Dea said. “It’s great to be able to provide this assistance at a time it’s really needed. There are always needs and always people who are struggling, but it’s particularly helpful now.”
The generosity of both the community and its donors was also key to the Foundations’ recent grants announcement. Totaling $258,600, the Pivoting to Respond grants were created with the intent of providing “general operating support to organizations and communities disproportionally impacted by COVID-19 and its economic consequences,” stated the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley in a press release, which noted grants from the NDF collaborative will provide an additional $40,000 to organizations in northeast parts of the county.
Included in those receiving funding are Legal Services of the Hudson Valley and the Worker Justice Center of New York. Among the local services receiving funding are Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County in Millbrook; NECC; RDC Loaves and Fishes in Dover Plains; and St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia.
“We are grateful for the community-wide support which has resulted in a historic year of grant making,” stated Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley President and CEO Sally J. Cross.
‘Square Quilting painting' by ransomeAlexander Wilburn
