Seven local nonprofit organizations have announced the launch of the East End Fund for Children. Designed to meet the needs of the community’s most vulnerable during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the Fund for Children will help coordinate the efforts and build the capacity of these vital community partners through joint fundraising and collaborative programming.
The seven nonprofit organizations involved in the Fund include the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center, the Children’s Museum of the East End, the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center, i-Tri, Project MOST, the Retreat, and the Southampton Youth Association.
“These organizations have been a vital resource for thousands of children and families throughout the Covid pandemic,” said Dan Shedrick, who originally suggested the idea. “The East End Fund for Children will amplify the impact of their already great work.”
While charitable giving has begun to wane due to pandemic fatigue, the situation for local children remains dire. There continues to be food and housing insecurity, school absenteeism, and anxiety and mental illness among children. The situation is complicated even further by increased domestic violence, child abuse, and substance abuse within distressed families.
“After learning that the need here on the East End remains unabated, I felt it was important to get involved with the Fund,” said Jill Davis. “By providing essential food, mental health support, counseling, and educational and recreational programming, these organizations are more important than ever.”
The Children’s Museum of the East End is serving as fiduciary for the East End Fund for Children. All gifts are maintained in a dedicated banking account and are dispersed equally to the seven organizations minus credit card processing fees.
To learn more about the East End Fund for Children, or to make a donation, click here.