AROUND THE VALLEY

Kids in Tech Launch Fund for Digital Equity

Kids in Tech is working to make sure the educational gaps in underserved communities don’t widen while schools are shut down.

The closure of schools due to COVID-19 have left hundreds of our students without any access to the resources that are now required for an education. Kids in Tech’s work in underserved communities continues to address these inequities virtually, delivering mentorship and programming to students who need it most.

As an extension of this effort, Kids in Tech is launching launching the Fund for Digital Equity to supply students with the resources they need to continue their education from home.

You can join in on the fight and help students continue to thrive now and in the future.

With your support, students will no longer be at risk of falling behind in their education simply due to lack of resources. Below we have listed some of our most pressing needs.

Fund–A–Need items:

• An hour of virtual instruction — $100
• A portable hotspot for a family so they connect to the internet — $140
• Wi-Fi enabled laptops for a child to participate in our virtual afterschool program — $319
• One year of software licenses that allows us to deliver virtual learning — $5,000
• A series of STEM curriculum projects adapted for meaningful hands-on virtual learning — $10,000

Kids in Tech also welcome donations of any amount, as it will go a long way to supporting the programs.

You can help support by Texting “KIT” to 44321, donating online at KidsInTech.org/donate or mailing a check to Kids in Tech, P.O. Box 9057, Lowell, Mass. 01853.

 

A Double Win: Supporting Local Businesses and Ensuring Food Access

In a new partnership with MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative and the City of Lawrence, Groundwork Lawrence has been contracting with eight downtown Lawrence restaurants. The goal is to purchase 1,600 meals a week to be donated to the Lawrence YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence, and Bread and Roses. This food is then distributed to local residents in need, expanding access to food during this time.

The restaurants — Blue Lounge Restaurant, Café Azteca, Coco’s Café & Catering, El Taller Café & Bookstore, Grumpy G, Lu’s Café & Bakery, Tu Kasa, and Vaka Restaurant — are all part of the fabric of our community. Each of these businesses were closed before this program began, but, with these funds, they have now been able to hire back 1/3 of their workforce.

The program is off to a resounding successful start, however we do not have enough funds to continue this work in the coming weeks. You can help — just $10 buys a hot meal for someone in need and supports our local restaurants. Donate here.

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Mills42 Federal Credit Union Uplifts Through Acts of Kindness

When times are tough, the leadership of a few can help an entire community rise up. Thanks to the team at Mills42 Federal Credit Union, a number of individuals under the most financial stress right now have received unexpected help. Currently, Mills42 is awarding 100 Market Basket gift cards worth $10,000 in all.

This giveaway benefits members of Mills42 who are experiencing the most adverse economic impacts of COVID-19 — especially families struggling to put food on the table.

“After getting feedback from local charities, we found the quickest way to help our community was through food,” says Carla Rasetta, president and CEO of Mills42 FCU. The gift card giveaway was funded by a grant from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) that Mills42 applied for. It’s just one of many acts of kindness Mills42 has spearheaded since the start of the pandemic.

Amesbury Carriage Museum Receives $120K from the Mass Cultural Council

The Amesbury Carriage Museum (ACM) has been awarded a Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) grant of $120,000 to support the development of the Industrial History Center. This new facility, currently under construction, will offer a wide range of programs to celebrate the rich history of Amesbury’s industry and its people.

“This is really amazing news. We are ecstatic. The support of the Mass Cultural Council is a huge validation of our project and comes at a time when we all could use a boost of positive news,” says ACM Executive Director, John Mayer. “Even during the COVID-19 crisis, we continue to work on our campaign. This grant moves us that much closer to our project goal.”

The One Haverhill Fund

The One Haverhill Fund — convened by Representative Andy Vargas and established by Haverhill community leaders like Mayor James Fiorentini, Representative Christina Minicucci, the Greater Haverhill Chamber, Community Action, Inc., Emmaus, Haverhill food pantries, and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley — will mobilize resources for emergency assistance and expanded food distribution, with a focus on those who are most economically vulnerable during the pandemic. This fund will deploy resources through nonprofit partners to prevent financial crises and displacement for the residents of our city.

These funds will cover the costs of essential needs including, but not limited to, rent, food, utilities, internet connectivity, childcare, medications and other basic necessities.

At this time, this fund is not intended to support nonprofit capacity. It will rather focus on the basic needs of families. Priority will be given to those who are most economically vulnerable to this crisis. All donations will be collected by United Way and distributed by established Haverhill nonprofit organizations with a track record of administering assistance funds.

You can donate to the fund by clicking here. All gifts are tax-deductible, and 100% of the proceeds will go to individuals seeking assistance via nonprofits already working in our community.

Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Backbone of Haverhill

Haverhill’s small businesses and creative community are the backbones of what makes our city a wonderful place. The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce want to celebrate you —  artists, restaurateurs, gym owners, musicians, writers, makers, lawyers, bankers — with their new media project .    

Submit a 30 second to 1-minute video showcasing how you are getting the job done from home, from your essential business, from your garage/driveway or whatever you are doing to get by.  Share a live performance, a time-lapsed art demo, a story, a poem, a working kitchen or anything else you can imagine, complimented by a short positive message to the Haverhill community.

Visit here for more information on how you can submit your video.

Friends from Mass. and N.H. to Hike the 21.5-Mile Wapack Trail to Raise Funds to Preserve Open Space

On June 6, 2020, mvm columnist Emilie-Noelle Provost and Robert Hamilton of Lowell, Mass., and Suzanne and Thomas Perry of Londonderry, N.H., will hike the entire 21.5 Wapack Trail, which runs  from Ashburnham, Mass. to Greenfield, N.H. The hike, which is being called “Wapack Hike for the Wild,” will raise funds to support the Northeast Wilderness Trust’s effort to preserve a parcel of unprotected land abutting the Binney Hill Wilderness. The fundraising goal is $5,000.

The hike will begin at Wapack National Wildlife Refuge in Greenfield, and end at Watatic Mountain State Wildlife Area in Ashburnham. One of the oldest interstate hiking trails in the U.S., the Wapack Trail opened in 1923, and it traverses nine mountains. The estimated total elevation gain for the 21.5-mile hike is 4,600 feet.

Merrimack Valley Hospice Now Offering Free Virtual Grief Support Groups

Grief support groups offer individuals who have lost a loved one with a safe space and supportive environment to express feelings and share memories with others who understand what they are going through. Since in-person meetings are not possible during this health crisis, Merrimack Valley Hospice is offering virtual sessions so those who are grieving may continue to find comfort and learn coping skills to help them come to terms with their loss.

Groups are offered on a biweekly basis on Zoom, with each session led by a facilitator from Merrimack Valley Hospice’s licensed, credentialed bereavement staff. Groups take place Wednesdays (12 to 1 p.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m.) and Thursdays (10 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.).  Sessions are tailored to meet the group’s needs, with topics including the grief process, general loss and healing.

All groups are free of charge and open to the public. To learn more or register, call (978) 552-4510.

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Maudslay Arts Center Cancels 2020 Summer Concert Series

Maudslay Arts Center has made the decision to cancel this years Summer Concert Series due to the COVID-19 crisis. The decision was made of concern for the safety of patrons, musicians and volunteers.

Congresswoman Lori Trahan Hosts Virtual Town Hall in Spanish with Congresswoman Veronica Escobar

Friday, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) was joined by Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) for a live virtual town hall in Spanish to answer questions about COVID-19’s impact on the Spanish-speaking communities in their districts, the resources and benefits available to those who have been affected, and what they are doing in Washington to deliver additional relief.

The Congresswomen answered questions submitted by constituents ranging from what is being done to mitigate the disproportionate effects of the coronavirus on communities of color, assistance available to minority-owned small businesses, the recently passed Heroes Act and more.

The full event can be accessed by clicking here.