Neighbors help neighbors through tough economic time

It’s been a hard summer, with the sluggish economy and the unseasonable weather hurting everyone from retail business owners to farmers. In response, the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has expanded a fund designed to help area residents who have hit hard times.

“Berkshire Taconic, for about 12, 15 years, has been awarding grants to individuals in distress,†said Jennifer Dowley, president of the foundation, which is based in Great Barrington and was created by the late Robert Blum of Salisbury.  

“We’ve called it the Emergency Relief Fund. Now we’re renaming it Neighbor-to-Neighbor [N2N] and making it a much more public program.â€

Northern Litchfield County residents (Bantam, Colebrook, Cornwall, Falls Village, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Warren and Winchester) who need some financial help should contact their town’s social worker to see if they qualify for N2N aid.

“One of the reasons we want to work through the social workers is that they are extremely familiar with all of the other resources,†Dowley said. “Our fund is usually the last one drawn upon, but it’s the most flexible. It fills the gaps no one else covers.â€

Dowley gave an example of how N2N might help: A resident struggling to pay his bills comes to the social worker. The social worker draws on area food banks, fuel banks and funds set aside to help with medical costs. The N2N fund can then be used to cover the costs that other funds don’t, such as an insurance bill, car repair or dental care.

Grants are made in amounts under $500 and are not intended for long-term assistance, but rather to help in a crisis, such as sudden unemployment. Checks are written directly to the vendor, whether it be a landlord, auto mechanic or utility company.

Though the foundation has been able to provide this sort of assistance for a while — Dowley said Berkshire Taconic has payed out $700,000 to 1,600 families over 15 years — Dowley wanted to be sure the community is aware of N2N.

“It just seems this is a time when people are concerned about their neighbors and would like to know how they can help make their lives different, better,†she said. “If there ever was a time to step up and help your neighbors, this is it.â€

To apply for assistance from N2N, contact a local social service agent. To donate to N2N, call 413-528-8039 or visit berkshiretaconic.org.