Mini Grant Funding Opportunity

The UMass Memorial Medical Center (UMMMC) Community Benefits Department is committed to the continued efforts of our partners and UMMMC caregivers to improve the health outcomes of our community members, especially those most adversely affected due to historical and systemic oppression. To help meet this commitment, we offered a funding opportunity for local non-profit organizations to fund small projects and events for Fiscal Year 2025.

These funds aim to assist partner organizations in small capital projects, events, training offerings for internal capacity building, and other activities to support their mission. The funding opportunity was intended to assist local partners that serve community members within the UMMMC Community Health Assessment (CHA) service area: Grafton, Shrewsbury, West Boylston and Worcester.

For questions regarding this program, please email: UMass Memorial Health Community Benefits.

UMMMC has awarded a total of $30,000 to the following organizations and projects:

Community Health Awareness Network Grows Equity (CHANGE) received $5,000 for its program VOICE OF CHANGE (VOC): Community Conversations to improve immigrant Health Literacy & Equity. VOC is an innovative online health education series aimed at empowering underserved African immigrant communities, particularly low-income individuals in the Greater Worcester area. The project addresses critical health disparities by providing culturally sensitive, accessible health education on chronic disease prevention, early detection, and healthcare navigation. By addressing these challenges, the Community Conversations series promotes health equity, empowering individuals to make informed decisions and improve health outcomes.

This initiative not only increases health literacy and community engagement but also enhances cultural competency among healthcare providers, ensuring better service access. Ultimately, the project aims to improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities, and empower immigrant communities to take control of their health, resulting in transformative impacts on both individual and population health.

UMass Memorial Medical Center’s Injury Prevention Center received $5,000 for its Guns 2 Gardens gun buyback program, a proactive community initiative aimed at reducing gun violence and its public health impacts. With firearm-related injuries and deaths on the rise, particularly among children and teens, this program helps reduce the number of unwanted, improperly stored, or at-risk firearms in circulation. The program operates on a "no questions asked" policy, ensuring full amnesty and encouraging greater participation, especially from individuals who may be hesitant to engage with law enforcement.

Now in its 23rd year, the program has become a trusted resource for residents, contributing to Worcester’s lower gun violence rates compared to similar cities. The event is held annually on the Saturday closest to the anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy, offering gift cards in exchange for unwanted firearms. Firearms are collected at multiple locations around Worcester County, and all guns are destroyed and repurposed into garden tools by volunteer blacksmiths. These tools are then donated to local community gardens, including the Worcester Youth Grow program. This program plays a vital role in fostering safer communities by addressing the critical public health issue of gun violence.

Dismas House of Massachusetts received $5,000 for its BAR None Returning Citizens Stabilized Housing program. BAR (Basic Advocacy for Reentry) None is a leading pro-bono civil legal support service for former prisoners and the homeless in Greater Worcester. It provides essential legal assistance to over 800 clients each year, helping them navigate challenges related to landlord issues, disability insurance, family law and identification problems. The BAR None team, which includes retired judges, pro bono attorneys and staff, is mobile and ensures clients access case management, housing, and healthcare services, including for substance abuse and physical/mental health issues.

In 2025, BAR None will expand its resources to better serve its clientele, particularly in providing housing support for recovery. Funding will help enhance staffing and distribute resources through Coming Home Worcester, a program designed to connect former offenders with housing and other critical resources in Central Massachusetts. This will include distributing hard copies of the guide at BAR None clinical workshops, developing a downloadable app for staff, and ensuring up-to-date information on available resources.

For 37 years, Dismas has worked to reconcile former offenders with society by creating supportive communities. Unlike homelessness, mental health, and public health, which have structured systems and resources, former offenders often fall through the gaps, highlighting the need for targeted support and infrastructure. BAR None aims to fill this gap and ensure former offenders have the resources needed for successful reintegration.

Provision Ministry, Inc. received $1,750 for its Care Packs initiative to create 175 essential family hygiene packs for families in need. In response to the growing challenges faced by vulnerable communities — such as the influx of refugees, inflation, supply chain issues, and cuts to Massachusetts' Healthy Incentives Program — Provision is working to support families in need. Through its Care Packs initiative, it provides essential hygiene items like shampoo and shaving gel, bringing dignity and relief to those struggling to meet basic needs. With this grant, it is ablee to sponsor 175 hygiene packs, to provide families with 1-2 months' worth of essential products. These packs help ensure that the most disadvantaged communities have access to the hygiene supplies they need.

Senior Connection received $5,000 for its Amplifying Vision Care Across America program. Vision screenings are a crucial service, but many communities face barriers to accessing them, especially in the Greater Worcester area. According to the 2024 Greater Worcester Regional Community Health Assessment (CHA), groups such as people living in poverty, non-English speakers, BIPOC groups, and older adults face disproportionate barriers to care. Technology now allows non-eye care specialists to conduct thorough screenings and make referrals, making it possible for senior citizens and other underserved populations to receive essential care.

Senior Connection, through its community health workers and Care Express — a mobile health and outreach clinic — addresses these gaps by bringing services directly to underserved communities. The Care Express is the only mobile clinic specifically designed for older adults, offering a variety of services including vision screenings, free glasses, medical and dental screenings, medication management, and referrals to health promotion and disease prevention programs.

Regional Environmental Council (REC) received $5,000 for its Youth Growing Organic in Worcester (YouthGROW) program, a leadership development and employment program for young people in Worcester, particularly those from under-resourced neighborhoods. YouthGROW focuses on combating food insecurity and promoting sustainable food systems. The program employs youth, ages 14-18, to work on urban farms, where they gain hands-on experience in sustainable farming, urban agriculture, and community service. Participants also engage in a curriculum covering professional development, social justice, and leadership, preparing them to take on leadership roles and create positive change in their communities.

Beyond farm work, YouthGROW participants assist with outreach, community events, and food distribution, including mobile farmers markets in neighborhoods with limited access to fresh produce. The program connects youth to local community gardens, fostering both agricultural skills and a sense of community resilience. With a focus on BIPoC youth, particularly those who are disconnected or facing challenges like being English Language Learners or having experienced foster care, YouthGROW provides an inclusive, empowering space for growth.

The program offers year-round employment, providing financial relief and teaching essential professional skills such as communication, problem-solving, and time management. Participants leave with increased confidence and a deeper understanding of urban agriculture’s role in sustainable food systems, positively impacting their health and the broader community. YouthGROW not only benefits participants but also strengthens neighborhoods, helping to build a more equitable and resilient future in Worcester.

Massachusetts Organization of African Descendants (MOAD) received $3,250 for its Our Community, Our Future program. The Worcester African community, comprising immigrants and refugees from over 17 African nations, plays a crucial role in the city’s economy but faces significant challenges, including limited access to immigration services, healthcare, civic education, and mental health support. "Our Community, Our Future" aims to connect this community with essential services, empowering individuals and fostering a healthier, more equitable community.

This initiative provides access to services like mental health support, healthcare, education, elder care, civic education, and employment resources. Through targeted outreach, including door-to-door canvassing and partnerships with faith-based institutions, restaurants, and salons, MOAD aims to reach over 10,000 individuals by 2025, including immigrants, refugees, business owners, and faith leaders from the African community.

The program will offer education, outreach, and recruitment through workshops and community events. Service coordination will compile a list of mental health providers, MassHealth enrollment services, Black maternal care, and more. Resource management will provide information on language classes, legal aid, domestic violence support, educational programs, employment, and youth/elder programs.

This initiative will empower the Worcester African community, providing them with the knowledge and resources needed to thrive, creating a more equitable and prosperous future for all.