Local artist makes $76,000 bequest and anonymous donor gifts $100,000 to the nonprofit serving Franklin and Hampshire counties

NORTHAMPTON—United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire Region recently accepted two major gifts totaling $176,000, enhancing the power the organization has to impact the lives of people in need across Western Mass.

A $76,000 bequest was arranged by the late Hale Johnson, an artist from Colrain who passed away in April, and an anonymous donor gifted $100,000.

“We are thrilled with these incredibly generous donations and the fact that they come so closely together is also meaningful,” Donor Relations Manager Holly Martineau said. “Gifts of this magnitude allow United Way to reach more people and transform more lives. All gifts, in all amounts, help us support people living without ample means, and gifts of this magnitude give us even more power for change. The power of these two gifts alone will impact many for years to come.”

Johnson and his wife of 55 years, Lorraine Johnson, who passed away in 2016, were community supporters of organizations such as the Colrain Fire and Rescue, Dakin Animal Shelter, and the Franklin Land Trust. In tribute to his late wife, Johnson made a sizable donation to the Greenfield Public Library Foundation in 2020, as Lorraine Johnson was a longtime member of the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library.

Lorraine Johnson was an avid reader, the founder of two floral businesses, and the founder of the Foundation for Fiber Arts in Amherst.

Hale Johnson’s paintings capture the countryside of the Valley as well as coastal Maine and Northwestern England. Done in the American Realist tradition, his work is often compared to that of Andrew Wyeth and Eric Sloan. Johnson was known to be perceptive, compassionate, and generous throughout his life.

The donor of the anonymous $100,000 gift lives in Franklin County.

“We are grateful to these generous donors, and we will respect and honor their legacies and stewardship,” Martineau said, noting the announcement of the two donations offers the United Way the opportunity to educate people in the Valley about the importance of giving and the various ways to donate.

Martineau said all gifts to United Way of Franklin and Hampshire Region benefit local people with real needs.

She said donations come to the organization through many avenues, including corporate pledges and individual gifts made on the Donate tab at uw-fh.org or those mailed to the organization.

Gifts can also be made through wills, estate plans, and other disbursements.

Individuals can name United Way as a beneficiary in their will, make an outright gift of cash or appreciated stock or real estate, name United Way as the beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy, or establish qualified charitable distributions through their investments or IRAs.

A $230,000 bequest received in 2005 from the late Frederick Ames was one that United Way leaders say changed the future of the organization—as well as the futures of many people in need who have been supported since as a result.

The gift from Ames, an active community supporter, eliminated the need for United Way to operate from a line of credit, providing a financial foundation that allowed the agency to focus more on services.

“United Way still relies heavily on the generosity of our neighbors, so that we might assist more neighbors,” Martineau said. “We welcome gifts of any size, and we acknowledge that major gifts continue to give us the longterm security and strength we need to remain a committed presence in Franklin and Hampshire counties.”

To learn more about United Way of Franklin and Hampshire Region or to make a gift, visit uw-fh.org.

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NORTHAMPTON—United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region has added four new members to its staff team, allowing it to enhance its work with partner organizations, donors, and general operations.

The new-hires will augment the organization with their combined experience in leadership, education, marketing, donor relations, database management, and accounting. They are each eager to be part of a nonprofit that impacts the community in a positive way.

Jenny Coeur of Greenfield will serve as United Way’s program coordinator; Jenna Farrell of Easthampton, as donor relations manager; Jennifer Nhong of Belchertown, as database assistant; and Cathy Zimmerman of Chicopee, as the organization’s bookkeeper.

“I am thrilled to grow the team with such successful and motivated people,” said Executive Director John Bidwell. “Each of our new employees comes with a strong skillset in the area she will oversee, and each will help us better serve people in transition or need in Hampshire and Franklin counties.”

Coeur, who began her work at United Way in mid-July, was previously a teacher and math department chair at Applewild School in Fitchburg. She has 13 years’ experience in public and independent education as a community-focused teacher, program developer and coordinator, and department chair. 

“I’ve always been driven by my passion for social justice and equity, and I enjoy collaborating with others,” she said. “The role I have taken on with United Way aligns with my experience, ambitions, and core values. Through my work, I’ve always strived to help a diverse range of stakeholders feel welcomed, heard, and supported.”

Coeur holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Hampshire College and a master of education from the University of Massachusetts (UMass), Amherst.

Farrell took on her role as donor relations manager in mid-September and will apply the experience she gained in the nonprofit world at UMass, Amherst, and skills she honed while working for for-profits in marketing and events management. 

“My passion for community connection and living my values makes me a great fit for my position at United Way of Franklin & Hampshire Region,” she said. “I am a believer in this organization, and my prior work experience allows me to do my job with passion, focus, and determination.”

Farrell holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University.

Nhong started in her new role in early October and will help manage United Way’s database. She worked for 13 years at MicroTek, a nonprofit cable manufacturing company in Chicopee in production, quality, and planning and management. 

“I’m excited to be a part of an organization that impacts the community in such a positive way,” Nhong said. “I grew up in the Valley in a low-income household, so I know firsthand how United Way helps families and individuals in the community.”

Zimmerman, United Way’s bookkeeper, has worked as an accountant for Temp-Pro, Argotec, Sisters of Providence, and Holyoke Hospital. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Elms College. 

Zimmerman began her new role in early October and is excited to learn United Way’s accounting programs and systems.

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Assistance across the country, and at home, has increased exponentially since 2019

NORTHAMPTON—United Ways work year-round to help people who are vulnerable, and in the past year, meeting increased needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has made agencies across the world far busier and even more relevant. 

United Way of Hampshire County regularly reports to United Way Worldwide, including its own efforts related to COVID. In meeting the needs of an additional, estimated 5,000 people in Hampshire County in the past year, the agency expanded its summer diaper drive into a year-long effort, rallied 300 volunteers for COVID-related tasks, and fielded 380 percent more calls for help via the 2-1-1 emergency line. 

“United Way has always fought for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community,” said John Bidwell, executive director of the Hampshire County agency. “In particular, that means we focus on the thorniest issues related to poverty and near poverty. Too many of our neighbors have to decide between diapers and food, or medicine or gas for our car. Things that most of us don’t think twice about. As the pandemic continues, so does our critical work helping the most vulnerable in these tough times.”

Bidwell said increased support for the agency would allow it to continue to provide a higher level of help. To make a donation, visit https://www.uwhampshire.org/give.

In the region

In a more typical year, United Way of Hampshire County provides support that touches roughly 20,000 lives. With the financial devastation wrought by COVID, the agency has reached an estimated 5,000 additional people, greatly ramping up the assistance it provides. It has:

• Responded to 4,930 calls for help to the 2-1-1 emergency line over the past year, up from 1,297 in 2019, with top needs reported as rent assistance and childcare.
• Expanded the summer diaper drive into a year-long effort, increasing diaper donations by 250 percent and offering busy partner agencies relief in knowing they can relax their own diaper-gathering.
• Rallied roughly 300 volunteers for COVID-specific efforts, including preparing and running shelters, delivering food, and making hats and masks.
• Collected and dispersed a high volume of donated items for the homeless, including tents, jackets, hats, gloves, food, chairs, water bottles, hand-washing stations, hand sanitizer, and masks.
• Provided logistical and strategic support, such as in opening shelters in Amherst and Northampton as well as supporting a recovery center in Ware. 

Each year, United Way of Hampshire County provides funding in three-year grant commitments to its partner agencies with direction that the funds must be spent in one of three specific categories: Children, Youth, and Families; Economic Security; and Health and Safety. 

“We continue providing support to 35 programs across Hampshire County,” Bidwell said, adding, “This year, we have unrestricted funding, allowing the partners to use the funds in the ways they need during COVID. This flexibility has been critical for them in responding to increased needs.”

Supporting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion 

The COVID-19 crisis has corresponded with a rising awareness of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion—referred to as (JEDI) issues. As a result, United Way of Hampshire County created a standing JEDI committee, was involved with the crafting of several racial solidarity statements for nonprofits and has helped underwrite JEDI trainings for nonprofits through the Council of Service Agencies (COSA) and Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce.

Assists across the globe

United Way Worldwide has also seen exponential demand for help. “United Way is the largest nonprofit in the world, and the scope of what the organization has been able to do has been huge,” Bidwell said. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit one year ago, United Way has been working overtime to help communities respond, recover, reimagine, and rebuild.”

The United Way network has raised and distributed more than $1 billion and helped more than 27 million people cope with the impact on their lives and livelihoods. 

“The human response has been heartening,” Bidwell said. “The COVID-crisis helps us remember that we are all part of a larger community.” 

One supporter of United Way Worldwide’s efforts is Amanda Gorman, America’s youth poet laureate who captivated many in the recent Superbowl and during President Biden’s inauguration. Gorman wrote a poem for United Way last year, titled “Live United,” to motivate people during dark times. 

Said Bidwell, “Her words elevate the importance of taking care of each other. She captures the promise, possibility, and potential of galvanizing the caring power of communities. Amanda’s clarion call ‘to be hope-sighted’ is uplifting.”

To read the poem in its entirety, visit https://www.uwhampshire.org/news. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit https://www.uwhampshire.org/.

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In past years, I have written the stories that appear in United Way of Hampshire County’s annual campaign report. This year, the agency is telling its tales in blog form to raise awareness. United Way of Hampshire County funds 34 programs that deliver 21,687 acts of service per year. Over 250 volunteers give over 5,000 hours of their time. I am proud to be able to help spread the word about this trusted, important organization. What follows is a recent blog I penned.

There is a deep need to get diapers into the hands of parents and onto the bottoms of newborns and toddlers. 

People cannot use food stamps or support from WIC to purchase diapers, and let’s face it, they are not a luxury item, even though they come with a steep price. Diapers can cost up to 50 cents apiece—or $4 or $5 per day—and that is more than some families can manage without making difficult choices, such as whether to buy diapers or their child’s next meal. 

More than an economic issue, the lack of affordable diapers is a health matter for infants, as they are exposed to more health risks without frequent, clean changes. The problem also poses mental health dangers: Stressed out parents raise stressed out children. 

Barbara Black, formerly the early childhood coordinator for Northampton Public Schools, is passionate about meeting the need for affordable diapers, and she came to United Way of Hampshire County five years ago to encourage us to start a diaper drive. In that first year, we gathered roughly 33,000 diapers to give away to parents. We later teamed with Amherst Survival Center to fundraise and provide diapers through annual drives.

The demand continued to exceed our supplies, though, as it did in Franklin County, where the United Way had established a diaper bank and was donating 6,000 to 10,000 diapers per month to parents, continuously fundraising to replenish.

Now, all involved individuals and organizations have banded together. Bolstered by a grant from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, we are collaborating with the United Way of Franklin County on a single United Way Diaper Bank that is a member of the National Diaper Bank Network. We provide 14 partner agencies with diapers to disperse to parents.

In July, the new bank distributed 9,100 diapers to families in need. We are thrilled with the program’s success and relieved to be able to meet the need. As we explore a merger with United Way of Franklin County, we are excited to have a model program that so well showcases the success and growth we can achieve together. 

We have worked in unison with United Way of Franklin County for decades. A merger will better serve the region through shared programs like the diaper bank, increased capacities like with fundraising, and allow new efficiencies, such as grant processing, which we’ve already begun to meld. 

The diaper bank was the first and most defined collaboration to date, and it was made possible in March through a $35,000 grant from the Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund. As the pandemic cost people their jobs, buying diapers became more out of reach for some and out of reach for the first time for others. Need increased quite a bit.

We are excited that the grant funding helped us purchase just over 190,000 diapers, which we received at a discounted price of 18 cents per because of our new membership in the National Diaper Bank. 

Parents who need affordable diapers don’t need to worry about where they will get them. Through the new diaper bank, diapers are available at Community Action’s Family Center, Franklin County Community Meals Program’s Orange Food Pantry, The Center for Self-Reliance Food Pantry, Montague Catholic Social Ministries, Leyden Woods, It Takes a Village, The Children’s Closet in North Leverett, Greenfield Community College’s Food Pantry, the Good Neighbors Food Pantry in Charlemont and the West County Food Pantry in Shelburne Falls, Amherst Survival Center, Easthampton Community Center, and Jubilee Diaper Ministry.

At least for now, our regional United Ways don’t need to worry about where the funding will come from to provide. The grant, the partnership, and the diaper bank membership offer us all a huge, collective sigh of relief. 

State Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, who led the Amherst Survival Center for many years and was a critical part of the diaper drive efforts in Hampshire County, is now working to meet diaper need on a larger scale.

With Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox, and Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem, she has filed a bill that, if passed, would create a new fund offering grants to nonprofits that distribute free diapers. The trio hopes that an initial, one-year pilot program could provide funds for up to 12 organizations in the state. 

While this kind of effort will also provide relief, we know the need will continue, and we will need to assess it, and fundraise, continually. And you can help.

Funds can be earmarked for the diaper bank, and we also accept in-kind donations throughout the year. Please contact our office before dropping off as our hours have changed due to COVID-19. 

Click here to make a gift or learn more. 

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Donations of clean clothing, outerwear, blankets and sleeping bags, and other winter-warming merchandise are sought

NORTHAMPTON—United Way of Hampshire County and Cooley Dickinson Hospital (CDH) are collaborating to assist area shelters in stocking up on much-needed items for winter as the weather turns cold and snow has fallen.

John Bidwell, executive director of United Way, and Joanne Marqusee, president and CEO of CDH, both stressed the greater needs faced by those who are homeless at this time when COVID-19 remains a threat. 

They stressed that the donations are not luxury items yet materials needed to protect peoples’ health and safety.

Items should be new or gently used and clean, and delivered in a plastic or paper bag. The organizations specifically seek donations of:

• Jeans
• Warm shirts
• Outerwear such as coats, jackets, and parkas 
• Foot and hand warmers
• Sleeping bags and blankets
• Socks
• Hats
• Quarters for drying cloths at a laundromat
• Large trash bags for use within the shelter

Items can be placed in a designated container at CDH’s North Entrance.

“With winter and ongoing economic challenges, we are very concerned with a rise in homelessness,” said Bidwell. “Because the cold is coming on quickly, and the region doesn’t seem to have enough shelter, it is important that we get basic supplies to those who are homeless. It goes beyond human decency. Making these gifts could be a matter of life and death.”

He added, “We are proud to work with CDH on collecting these donations.”

Marqusee said, “We know our health is—in part—determined by social and economic opportunities. This time of year presents many hazards for people who are less fortunate, specifically those who are homeless in our community. Factor in the COVID-19 pandemic—and decreased capacity at area shelters—and we realize just how vulnerable people are.”

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United Way of Hampshire County using new Diaper Bank to wipe away diaper need, one change at a time

NORTHAMPTON—United Way of Hampshire County, together with United Way of Franklin County, has donated tens of thousands of diapers to parents in need in the first months of its new Diaper Bank program. 

John Bidwell, executive director of the Hampshire County agency, said the program is a huge success, and need continues to increase as COVID-19 holds a tight grip on the region. 

“There is a deep need to get diapers into the hands of parents and onto the bottoms of newborns and toddlers,” Bidwell said. “Diapers are going faster than we anticipated.”

Bolstered by a grant from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, the two United Ways collaborated last spring to create a single, regional United Way Diaper Bank that is a member of the National Diaper Bank Network. The program provides 16 organizations with diapers to disperse to parents.

This summer, the new bank distributed roughly 10,000 diapers per month to families in need from the bank, which was launched with nearly 200,000 diapers in hand. 

“We are really excited about the expansion and being able to provide more diapers to local families,” said Cheyanne Gracia, who manages the diaper bank.

She explained that parents cannot use food stamps or support from Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to purchase diapers, which cost about 50 cents apiece—or $4 or $5 per day. “That is more than some families can manage without making difficult choices, such as whether to buy diapers or their child’s next meal,” Bidwell said. 

Barbara Black, formerly the early childhood coordinator for Northampton Public Schools, said meeting diaper needs is more than an economic issue. “The lack of affordable diapers is a health matter for infants, as they are exposed to more health risks without frequent, clean changes,” she said, noting the problem also poses mental health dangers: Stressed out parents raise stressed out children. 

Black is passionate about meeting the need for affordable diapers, and she came to United Way of Hampshire County five years ago to encourage the agency to start a diaper drive. In that first year, roughly 33,000 diapers were gathered and donated to parents. “We later teamed with Amherst Survival Center to fundraise and provide diapers through annual drives,” Black said.

The demand continued to exceed supplies, however, as it did in Franklin County, where the United Way had established a diaper bank and was donating 6,000 to 10,000 diapers per month to parents, continuously fundraising to replenish.

With the two United Ways considering a merger, the leaders banded together to create the new diaper bank and register it as part of the national organization. “A merger will better serve the region through shared programs like the diaper bank, increased capacities with fundraising, and it will allow new efficiencies, such as grant processing, which we’ve already begun to meld,” Bidwell said. 

The diaper bank was the first and most defined collaboration to date, and it was made possible in March through a $35,000 grant from the Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund. As the pandemic cost people their jobs, buying diapers became more out of reach for some and out of reach for the first time for others. 

The grant funding allowed the purchase of just over 190,000 diapers, which were received at a discounted price of 18 cents per because of the membership in the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN). 

Diaper partner organizations are: Community Action’s Family Center, Franklin County Community Meals Program’s Orange Food Pantry, The Center for Self- Reliance Food Pantry, Montague Catholic Social Ministries, Leyden Woods, It Takes a Village, The Children’s Closet in North Leverett, Greenfield Community College’s Food Pantry, the Good Neighbors Food Pantry in Charlemont and the West County Food Pantry in Shelburne Falls, Amherst Survival Center, Easthampton Community Center,  Jubilee Diaper Ministry, WIC, Northampton Area Pediatrics, and the ParentChild+ Program at the Northampton Public Schools.

“The grant funding and membership with NDBN allows us to pause and really focus on our mission of ending diaper need,” Gracia said, noting that, with need increasing, she is not sure how long the supplies will hold. “Our goal is to supply diapers to our partners as needed for as long as we can.”

State Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, who led the Amherst Survival Center for many years and was a critical part of the diaper drive efforts in Hampshire County, is now working to meet diaper need on a larger scale.

With Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox, and Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem, she has filed a bill that, if passed, would create a new fund offering grants to nonprofits that distribute free diapers. The trio hopes that an initial, one-year pilot program could provide funds for up to 12 organizations in the state. 

Visit https://www.uw-fc.org/diaper-bank to make a gift or learn more.

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NORTHAMPTON –United Way of Hampshire County has awarded $765,000 in three-year funding to 10 area programs that best demonstrated their ability to make a significant and lasting difference in the lives of children in the region.

James Ayres, executive director of United Way, said 35 organizations pursued funding this year, in the area of Children, Youth and Their Families, and after an extensive process, involving hundreds of experts and community volunteers, the United Way Board of Directors announced the funded programs today.

“We’re looking for those programs that are equipped to address the most pressing needs in our community,” Ayres said. “Our process and approach is open and thorough and involves extensive conversations with experts on community need and the data that supports that need. We look deeply into the challenges that exist and where we can have the greatest impact.”

Funded initiatives will address: comprehensive family support, child advocacy, support for homeless youth, quality childcare, youth mentoring and mental health for children impacted by trauma.

The following are the funded programs and the agencies they are managed by: Big Brothers/Big Sisters, a program of Center for Human Development, serving Hampshire County; Healthy Families, a program of Community Action, serving Hampshire County; Friends of Children, serving Hampshire County; Hampshire County Youth Outreach, a program of DIAL/SELF, serving Northampton; Under Five Thrive, a program of the Behavioral Health Network, serving Ware and Belchertown; Child & Family Clinic, a program of Cutchins Programs, serving Northampton; Peoples Institute, serving  Hampshire County; the Hilltown Collaborative for Children & Families, a program of the Hilltown Community Health Center, serving the Hilltowns; Girl Scouts of Western and Central Massachusetts, serving Hampshire County; and Community Centered Family Support, a program of Berkshire Children & Families, serving Hampshire County.

“Our objective is to nurture the healthy development of children and youth through approaches that are preventative in nature, address needs early and engage whole families,” Ayres said.

In addition to these three-year awards of $30,000 to $135,000, Ayres said, smaller investments of $1,000 will also be awarded to emerging initiatives.

“These smaller investments are going to organizations that aren’t yet at a level where we’re able to offer full grants as they are still developing,” Ayres said. “Yet, they are engaging key populations, and we want to support their growth and potential. We want to help bring these organizations along and to do so strategically.”

Those receiving what Ayres called “capacity-building support” are the Amherst Boys and Girls Club and Tri-County YMCA, which provides services in Ware. 

United Way offers funding to its organizations in multi-year awards, so that their efforts will continue for the next three years. In addition to its Children, Youth and Their Families support, United Way also funds initiatives focused on Economic Security and Health and Safety.  Grants for these areas will be awarded in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

In making grants, United Way looks for organizations that can reach families and individuals in greatest need, engage diverse populations and demonstrate the capacity to have a long-term effect, Ayres said.

Also valued are organizations that are: interested and able to collaborate with one another; able to measure their own success; and dedicated to building on best-practices in their field.

Ayres stressed that United Way relies on a proactive and deliberate funding process and approach that makes decisions based on the changing needs and resources of our community.

“Each year, beginning in the fall, that approach begins by gathering a panel of experts on the focus area, this year Children, Youth and Their Families. These professionals offer new and critical information on need in the county and identify approaches and interventions with the greatest potential to address these challenges,” Ayres said.

A survey is then conducted in the general community, seeking additional perspectives on the region’s greatest needs. A Community Review Team made up of about 35 local volunteers review all applications, and after a meticulous process that also includes site visits to each organization that applied for funding, a recommendation is made to the full United Way Board of Directors.

United Way of Hampshire County engages and inspires the people, employers and organizations of Hampshire County to give, advocate, and volunteer on behalf of our community.  Our vision is that all individuals and families have the tools and resources to reach their full potential through education, economic security and wellness. 

 Lifting together, we build strong, vibrant, and inclusive communities. 

To learn more or to make a donation, please visit:  www.uwhampshire.org.

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