Harwich Fund Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

     

 HARWICH – The Harwich Fund held a fifth anniversary donor reception last Thursday in the newly renovated historic fire house on Bank Street. 

The event was the first to be held in the newly created multipurpose facilities in the old station, the renovation and preservation of which was spearheaded by the Harwich Fire Association. The renovated historic structure will also contain three affordable housing units on the second floor and museum space that will house the town’s first fire engine, a 1928 Maxim.  

The more than 80 people who attended the donor reception were impressed by the newly created community space, which will be available to the public.

The Harwich Fund gathering focused on addressing the hardships facing members of the community. 

 A permanent endowment fund of The Cape Cod Foundation, the Harwich Fund was established in 2019 to provide grants to nonprofit organizations doing important work in all areas of community life, including health and human services, education, arts and culture and the environment.

 “Many in our community face growing challenges providing adequate nourishment, housing and health care for their families,” the fund’s mission reads. “Too many of our neighbors currently live at or below the federal poverty level. Roughly half of our elementary school children qualify for government sponsored meals. Over a third of our residents live in year-round housing considered unaffordable, spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing. These hardships are more critical now than ever before.”

Since its inception, the nonprofit has provided 35 grants to 18 nonprofits organizations in the community, Harwich Fund Chair Brian Scheld said. A total of $76,085 has been donated. Most has focused on health and human services needs, with $50,585 provided to needy families through the Homeless Prevention Council and Habitat for Humanity; $11,750 for seniors, including $7,500 to the Friends of the Council on Aging and Alzheimer’s Family Support Center. Another $4,250 has been donated to arts and culture organizations and $2,000 benefiting environment organizations.

The Orleans-based Homeless Prevention Council served 2,600 clients last year with services, including housing to assist in keeping families and individuals stable in their lives, said program officer Terri Barron. That was a 24 percent increase from the previous year. Last year the council assisted 518 Harwich residents, said Barron.

“The more we give out, the more we recognize the need,” said Scheld. 

 The good news is that more organizations are recognizing the need to address the challenges the community faces and are contributing to the fund. Attendees at the Sept. 4 reception were generous when participating in a silent auction. 

Tom Evans, president of the Harwich Conservation Trust, whose nonprofit joined with the Harwich Fire Association in the purchase of the fire station from the town to gain parking access to the adjacent Robert F. Smith  Cold Brook Preserve, praised how local organizations are working cooperatively to address issues. 

“It provides a great bang for the buck,” Evans said. 

Citing the success of the firehouse project, Scheld concurred, adding that “it’s a wonderful facility. It’s nonprofits helping nonprofits. We have had incredible comments about The Harwich Fund and the venue…The vibes were great.”