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CFMC: Creativity the Foundation of a Healthy Community

Every day at the Community Foundation of Middlesex County (CFMC), we see first-hand that creativity and collaboration make a real difference in our communities. We are in awe of the talented people who combine resources and work together to address the needs in our region. We celebrate the creative ways they put their passion into action and we publicly recognize their efforts and offer a “Round of Applause” for their caring and generous ways.

We all know that the pandemic has had a profound impact throughout Middlesex County, especially on our children. Most enrichment and recreational programs shut down or limited their capacity, creating a growing need for alternatives, especially for our neediest families. Enter Artists for World Peace (AFWP), a nonprofit local arts and peace organization. This group creatively found a way to help families in and around Middletown provide fun, engaging art activities for their children. With a grant from CFMC, AFWP purchased 300 beach buckets and filled them with numerous art supplies and, of course, bubbles. Two organizations, Amazing Grace Food Pantry and North End Action Team, enthusiastically jumped in to distribute the “buckets of love” and helped bring smiles and giggles to all. What a wonderful example of creativity, collaboration, and community.

We’re all inspired by the glorious sunrises we experience, and at CFMC we’re inspired by none other than the Cathy Weiss Sunrise Fund. Weiss knew that the pandemic caused more and more of our neighbors and friends to rely on food donations and meal services. Through grants from her Sunrise Fund at CFMC, Weiss assisted two shoreline nonprofits, the Food for All Garden in Clinton and the Estuary Council for Seniors, the sole provider of Meals on Wheels to residents in nine towns. The Food for All Garden is enlarging its footprint to serve the community’s increasing need for fresh produce, and plans to purchase seeds and fertilizer for the upcoming growing season to make the expansion plans a reality. The Cathy Weiss Sunrise Fund grant to the Estuary Council of Seniors, along with other grants, helped purchase a new freezer that allows it to provide more meals and a faster service to some of our most vulnerable citizens. We can’t think of better examples of how good things happen when community members put their hearts and dollars to work for the benefit of all.

In these uncertain times, the only prediction we can make is that the sun will rise every day and that the future will be brighter thanks to the creative and caring actions of CFMC’s friends at AFWP and Cathy Weiss and her Sunrise Fund. You can count on CFMC to help connect you with your area of interest and a community need. By combining resources, even the smallest gift has big impact through charitable funds that support animal welfare, arts and culture, health and social services, history, education, the environment, economic security, civic improvements, recreation, and so much more. Give CFMC a call at 860-347-0025 or visit MiddlesexCountyCF.org to learn more.