Interfaith Social Services was among eighteen recipients of the annual HarborOne Foundation grants benefitting dozens of communities and organizations stretching from Attleboro to Plymouth to Quincy to Southern New Hampshire. HarborOne Foundation awarded a total of $205,500 in grants, bringing the 2018 total to over $400,000.

The HarborOne Foundation’s $30,000 grant will support the purchase and installation of a walk-in freezer for Interfaith’s food pantry to help serve over 30,000 individuals a year. This acquisition will greatly expand the organization’s food rescue program providing clients additional access to healthy food. Interfaith operates the only food rescue program in the area, collecting and distributing more than 300,000 pounds of vegetables, fruit, bread and meat annually.
“The HarborOne Foundation is a vital part of our commitment to give back to the communities in which we live and work,” said Joseph Casey, President and COO of HarborOne Bank. “We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with organizations in our communities who work vigorously to improve the lives of children and families.”

The HarborOne Foundation was created in 2016 to support the work of community non-profits including those organizations that promote educational opportunity, create access to safe and affordable housing and provide basic human services to our most vulnerable citizens. Grantees for this round of funding include:

Attleboro Area Interfaith Collaborative, Attleboro:  $7,000        

• To help combat childhood hunger and family homelessness in the Attleboro area with support for the organization’s Kids Summer Café and Family Café Programs.

Attleboro Area School to Career Partnership, Attleboro:  $7,500

• To support the Summer of Work and Learning Program that provides project-based employment opportunities for at-risk students to earn income, develop self-advocacy and professional communication skills.

Boys and Girls Club of Taunton, Taunton:  $10,000

• To support educational enrichment programs for club members focused on fostering academic achievement and aiding the development of critical thinking skills.

Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, Brockton:  $10,000        

• To support the pediatric case management and food access program by providing food vouchers and case management to youth and families experiencing food insecurity.

Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity, Wareham:  $5,000     

• To support access to safe and affordable housing with support for the organization’s 'Brush With Kindness' renovation Program.

Capital Good Fund, Bristol, Plymouth and Norfolk County:  $15,000       

• To support loan capital fund to provide 30 low-income families with affordable Emergency Loans in Bristol, Plymouth, and Norfolk counties.

Catholic Charities South, Brockton:  $10,000

• To support the delivery of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes in the evening and the summer months, which combined will serve 60 low-income adult learners.

CEDC- Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Mass, New Bedford:  $10,000

• To support 10 First-Time Homebuyer classes in Spanish, Landlord Certification and Financial Coaching.

Community VNA/Healthcare Options, Inc., Bristol and Norfolk County:  $10,000

• To support the Elder Dental Program, a program of HealthCare Options and an affiliate of the Community VNA.

Enable Inc., Greater Brockton:  $8,500  

• To support the purchase of children's books for 12 classrooms serving toddler/preschoolers and 75 family childcare programs.

Interfaith Social Services, Quincy:  $30,000        

• To support the purchase and installation of a walk in freezer for the food pantry allowing for the expansion of the organization’s Food Rescue Program.

NeighborWorks Southern Mass, Greater Brockton: $25,000

• To support first-time homebuyer education, down payment assistance, foreclosure counseling prevention services and financial education and coaching to low and moderate Brockton homeowners and homebuyers.

New Hope Inc., Greater Attleboro: $17,500

• To support the emergency shelter program, which provides a safe haven to survivors of violence and their dependents who are fleeing abuse.

Playworks New England, Brockton:  $10,000     

• To support the work of a local coordinator to increase the capacity of teachers and paraprofessionals to deliver Playwork’s programing in the Brockton Public Schools.

Raising A Reader Massachusetts, Greater Brockton:  $5,000      

• To support family engagement in young children's early literacy development.

South Shore Habitat For Humanity Inc., Weymouth:   $15,000   

• To support the building of two single family safe and affordable homes in the town of Hingham.

Webster House, Manchester NH:  $5,000           

• To support life skills programing that includes basic financial planning, career path options, healthy lifestyle practices and workforce mentoring for 65 residents in transition.

Youth Opportunities Unlimited Inc., New Bedford: $5,000         

• To support "Spring Urban Explorers" program that uses cycling as a tool to develop perspective, character, confidence, empowerment in 50 low-moderate income youth.