CORTLANDT MANOR- Field Hall Foundation has awarded $275,000 in grants through its Fall 2024 grant cycle. The funds will be used to provide home repairs, digital equity and education, and emergency relief funding for seniors, and will also address food insecurity, social isolation and transportation needs.
A number of non-profits throughout the region will benefit from the Cortlandt Manor based foundation.
Field Hall Foundation spokesperson Patti Lavan Horvath announced the grant recipients that include CoveCare Center of Carmel–$40,000; to pilot a program addressing senior isolation and behavioral health needs;
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County–$25,000; to support the agency’s Bountiful Meals Program for seniors in need; Putnam based Hillside Food Outreach–$20,000; to deliver free, nutritious produce and groceries to homebound seniors; Community Action Partnership for Dutchess County–$30,000; The STEM Alliance–$30,000; Westchester Residential Opportunities–$30,000; North East Community Center–$20,000; Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill–$15,000; Church of the Good Shepherd–$15,000; Poughkeepsie Farm Project–$15,000; Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation–$10,000 and the Pawling Resource Center–$10,000.
Lavan explained her organization’s mission was to “improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers in the tri-county region by providing grants to nonprofits and local government agencies for programs and projects that directly impact vulnerable seniors and/ or their caregivers, with priority given to programs that address their basic needs.”
Eric Toth, President and CEO of Cove Care was most appreciative of the funding: “The grant will support the launch of a new program designed to combat social isolation and loneliness among seniors in Putnam County, in collaboration with the Putnam County Office of Senior Resources.”
Toth said the initiative will “foster community engagement and provide vital connections for older adults through phone calls, video chats, and in-person visits. Volunteers from the community will engage seniors in a variety of activities, with CoveCare Center providing training and offering essential behavioral health services. These services will include screenings, crisis consultation and tele-health support in order to address the needs of seniors who are experiencing behavioral health challenges, including mental health and substance use concerns.
Social isolation and loneliness are significant issues among seniors, exacerbated by factors such as retirement, health limitations, the loss of loved ones, and the challenges of asking for help.”
Toth anticipated the new program will serve 100-150 seniors in its first year, with an estimated 30 percent requiring additional behavioral health support.
