JLS Awards Grants to Community Partners
Submitted by Dana Felmet
The Junior League of Summit is pleased to announce that it has granted more than $50,000 to local community partners and agencies. Due to the suspension of JLS membership meetings and gatherings and a focus on social distancing, the funds were mailed to the organizations in March. In light of recent events, grant recipients have been given permission by the Board of Directors to apply the funds as necessary in response to assist with the COVID-19 crisis. “Year after year, the Junior League of Summit continues to give back to our community by providing financial and member support of local non profits,” says Erika Melchiorre, JLS President. “We are proud to grant over $50,000 to these deserving non profits that align with our focus areas and are making our community a better place for all.”
The 2020 grant recipients include:
- Bridges (supplying qualifying Summit students with backpacks & school supplies for the 19-2020 school year);
- Central Presbyterian Church (funding for a new refrigerator providing food storage for Family Promise and GRACE);
- Christ Church, Summit (funding to supplement GRACE efforts for food insecure citizens);
- College of Saint Elizabeth (funding will cover purchased and recovered food and packaging for student-run food recovery program and student pantry);
- Cornerstone School (funding cooking equipment and classes; shared eating experiences in the classroom);
- Dress for Success (supporting ME (My Essentials) bags containing personal hygiene, toiletry items, and gas cards);
- Family Promise (funding “Healthy Kitchen Initiatives” providing food, utensils and gift cards to families graduating from shelter program and moving into new homes);
- Good Grief (supporting food and volunteer training for families attending Nights of Support, grief counseling support groups);
- Keys 2 Success (helping to build upon existing program providing musical co-learning programs to under-privileged children in the community);
- Overlook Foundation (providing funding for insulin, medications, healthy food for low income prenatal women and children);
- Reeves-Reed Arboretum (supporting educational sustainability programming through camps, and educational initiatives);
- SAGE Eldercare (providing funding for Meals on Wheels program);
- St. Joseph’s Social Service Center (funding food insecurity program for the Greater Elizabeth area);
- Summit Area YMCA (supporting career and college prep and counseling plus corporate mentoring as part of the Achievers Program servicing community’s underserved);
- The Summit Department of Community Programs (funding for TRYcan special needs recreation programs: build a sensory room in the new Summit rec center, including climbing wall, chairs, ball pit, and more);
- The Summit Park Line Foundation (supporting a direct and safe option connecting Summit communities: bike riding lessons for members of the community; safety on the path);
- Summit Soccer Club (supporting program which provides healthy activity to GRACE community and additional children);
- The Summit Speech School (providing fresh, healthy snacks for students and water filters for last year’s refrigerator donation)
- The Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad (funding a state-mandated technological upgrade: one new laptop to be docked in a rig);
- The Connection (supporting Pathways program that provides services for women undergoing cancer treatments).
The Junior League of Summit is a nonprofit, charitable and educational organization of women who are committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. For more information about the Junior League of Summit, please visit the website at www.jlsummit.org or contact the office at 908-273-7349.
