WESTFIELD-While “hard decisions” were made during this year’s grant cycle, Michael Roeder, president, Sarah Gillett Services for the Elderly, Inc., said that 23 service providers aiding seniors received funds that will assist with programming in the coming months.
Roeder made his comments during welcoming remarks at the 2018 Annual Corporators Meeting of the nonprofit organization which was conducted Thursday afternoon at the Westfield Senior Center.
Meg Raggio, assistant manager of Our Community Food Pantry in Southwick, discusses the program with Diane Armstrong, a trustee for Sarah Gillett Services for the Elderly, Inc.
The mission of Sarah Gillett Services is to support programming that improves the quality of life and health of seniors by awarding grants to nonprofit groups in the Greater Westfield area. Sarah Gillett, who died in 1904, had made Westfield her home for many years with her husband, D.L. Gillett, and son, Ralph D. Gillett. Both men were prominent dry goods merchants in the city.
“It breaks my heart when we get legitimate requests and our allowable funds are out of synch with requests,” said Roeder, noting that while $47,720 was distributed in grants, the total requests came in at $60,000.
Roeder noted that because of the increased need to support services for seniors and continue the mission of Sarah Gillett Services, ideas for a “major fundraiser” within the coming months is being considered by the board of trustees.
“We did authorize 7% of our trust fund to support the organizations requesting services and we had a record number of grant requests this spring,” said Roeder, adding that the foundation’s bylaws only allow trustees to use either 5%, 6% or 7% of the principal to ensure the trust fund remains viable.
Mary Madru, a new corporator for Sarah Gillett Services for the Elderly, Inc., reviews the agenda prior to the start of the 2018 Annual Corporators Meeting on Thursday at the Westfield Senior Center.
“We have distributed more than $1 million since the foundation was established in 1970,” said Roeder, noting it is important for the community to learn more about the organization’s commitment to supporting services that help seniors.
Organizations receiving grants included:
- Westfield Council on Aging, $540, to support the weekly art class. This class has been receiving grants from the foundation for 16 years.
- Baystate Health Foundation, $3,080, to provide complementary therapies to elderly patients receiving palliative and hospice care. This foundation has received 27 grants from the foundation.
- Behavioral Health Network, Inc. (Carson Center), $1,160 to provide outpatient mental health services for seniors age 65 and older. This agency has been receiving grants from the foundation for 15 years.
- Cancer House of Hope, $1,890, for various cancer support services. This is the second year the agency has received a grant.
- Food Bank of Western Mass., Inc., $1,950, to support the Westfield Brown Bag Program that distributes nutritional groceries each month to low income seniors in Westfield. This agency has been receiving grants from the foundation for 39 years.
- Friends of Grandmother’s Garden, $1,900, toward painting the Summer House and re-pointing the bricks this spring. This is the third year the Friends group has received a grant.
- Friends of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, Inc., $1,900, to support its Quality of Life program. This group has been receiving grants for nine years.
- Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, $930, to provide support, education and socialization with peers for grandparents raising their grandchildren. This is the group’s third year receiving a grant.
- Heartsong, $210, to assist the volunteer singers pay for a workshop to further their a cappella singing skills to bring music of comfort, hope, and peace to seniors who are approaching the end of their life. This is a first-year grant.
- Huntington Council on Aging, $2,160, to purchase and install residential lock boxes on the homes of seniors that would be keyed to one key held by all town emergency service providers. The council has received a grant for 14 non-consecutive years.
- Mercy Adult Day Health of Westfield, $12,440, to assist in awarding scholarships to Westfield area seniors who require financial assistance with social or day care services. This agency has been receiving grants for 27 years.
Margaret Feyre, program coordinator for the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, chats with Margaret McLennan, secretary of Sarah Gillett Services for the Elderly, Inc., prior to the start of the foundation’s annual meeting. The Soldiers’ Home was among the service providers receiving grants.
- Our Community Food Pantry, $1,860, to improve and expand on the unique needs of seniors in the towns of Southwick, Granville and Tolland. This is the third year the food pantry has received a grant.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society, $1,380, to assist in meeting the needs of seniors who seek help in paying for food, utilities, heating and rent. The society has been receiving grants for 15 years.
- Southwick Council on Aging, $510, to purchase items that address the safety concerns in homes of seniors. This is the third year the council has received a grant.
- Southwick Public Library, $500, to offer a three-part memoir writing workshop for seniors and to purchase large print biographies and memoirs. The agency has been receiving grants for 15 years.
- Stanley Park, $510, to sponsor a Sunday night concert this summer. This is the first year that Stanley Park has received a foundation grant.
- Russell Council on Aging, $2,220, to be applied toward the delivery and assembly of one treadmill. This is the fifth year the council has been awarded a grant.
- Valley Eye Radio, $2,450, to provide special radios to visually impaired seniors in the Westfield area, allowing them to obtain their broadcasts. The agency has been receiving grants for 14 years.
- Westfield Athenaeum, $3,160, to purchase large print and audio books. The Athenaeum has been receiving grants for 34 years.
- Westfield Council on Aging, $3,030, to assist in continuing the Volunteer Companionship Program which assists seniors with errands to grocery stores and medical appointments. The agency has been receiving grants for 35 years.
- Westfield Woman’s Club Foundation, $430, toward a handicap accessibility project for the building. This is the second year the group has received a grant.
- Westfield High School Band Association, $600, to help defray the cost of lunch for those attending the annual free Westfield High School Band Pops Concert for Seniors. The association has been receiving grants for five years.
- YMCA of Greater Westfield, $2,910, to assist funding of direct operating expenses. The agency has been receiving grants for 30 years.
In other business before the corporators, the following slate of officers, trustees and new corporators were unanimously approved: Michael L. Roeder, president; Kathryn Milligan, vice president; Margaret McLennan, secretary; Robert R. Wilcox (ex-officio), treasurer, and David E. Woodford (ex-officio), grant coordinator; Diane Armstrong, Gerald Rheaume, Mary O’Connell and Raymond W. Zenkert, Jr., all trustees; Dr. Howard Eberwein, Dr. Irene Eberwein, Dan Kotowitz, Nancy Kotowitz, Neil Larsen, Rissa Larsen and Mary Madru, all new incorporators.
Sally Munson, manager of Our Community Food Pantry in Southwick, one of the grant recipients, also spoke for a few minutes about the continued needs of her organization.
“We currently serve about 500 people a month, and 35% are seniors and the numbers are increasing,” said Munson, adding that many of those seniors are caring for grandchildren.
“The seniors are on fixed incomes and are in need of food,” said Munson.
Several trustees were also thanked for their many years of volunteer service to the organization since their terms ended at this annual meeting. Hilda Colon, Peter H. Martin, Debra J. Michaud and David E. Woodford were recognized for serving and will remain as corporators.
As the 40-minute annual meeting ended, corporators enjoyed conversations getting to know each other, including Mary Madru.
Madru, a new corporator, said she was eager to be an “ambassador” for the organization.
“After looking at the list of all of the service providers we are supporting, I am eager to help out with any fundraiser that is planned,” said Madru. “More people need to know the scope of what this organization does.”
Kathy McKenna echoed those sentiments.
“I am still learning about the organization,” said McKenna, who is beginning her second year as a corporator. “This organization is wonderful with the things it has done for seniors and I expect to get more involved in the future.”
For more information on joining the all-volunteer organization or to make a charitable donation, call Roeder at (413) 207-2399 or visit www.SarahGillett.org.
