City Mission Society's Rev. June Cooper
In a press conference at Boston City Hall, Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who has been leading a Food + Fuel campaign for Boston residents this winter, joined United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley President Michael Durkin as United Way announced details of $2 million investment to provide individuals and families with emergency assistance for food, heat and other basic needs this winter. Since October, United Way has been leading a community effort – called the Community Support Fund-- to raise funds for Massachusetts residents seriously impacted by the economic recession. Today’s event details United Way’s swift distribution of $2 million into 25 health and human service organizations in the greater Boston and Merrimack Valley regions. These investments come at a time when even more individuals and families need assistance.
“Because of the strength of our network, we realized early on that United Way was in a unique position to lead a wide-scale, swift, and efficient response to the rapidly rising need in our communities,” said Michael K. Durkin, president and chief executive officer at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. “We have an important responsibility to keep as many people as possible from homelessness, utility shut-off and other financial crises and we have been working around the clock to do so.”
25 agencies in all received Community Support Funds. Pictured here, Reverend June Cooper of City Mission Society spoke to the level of need she has seen in her agency.
Learn more about the Community Support Fund
Photo by John Gillooly/PEI
