RMHC Awards Grant to Gifts of Love

Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts awarded a grant of $5,000 to Gifts of Love in Avon to fund a weekend food program that predominantly serves children and families from low-income backgrounds.

“RMHC is thrilled to be supporting so many diverse community organizations,” said Edward Abraham, President of RMHC of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. “RMHC was created to better the lives of children and their families in our community and we are delighted to be able to continue our work through these selected organizations.”

For over 25 years, Gifts of Love has been dedicated to providing resources to Farmington River Valley community members in need. The Weekend Food Backpack Program was created to help eliminate food insecurity on the weekends for over 3,000 children and families. Every Friday, backpacks filled with easy to prepare foods, snacks, and juices are distributed to students who would otherwise go without. The RMHC grant will specifically help fund the ever-present need for food supplies for this extensive nutrition program.

In addition to the Ronald McDonald Houses in New Haven, Conn., and Springfield, Mass., that provide a “home-away-from-home” to seriously ill children and their families, RMHC of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts provides grant awards to non-profit organizations that help so many local children and families. In 2013 alone, RMHC awarded a total of $198,000 to 18 deserving organizations.

Since 1988, RMHC has provided more than $6 million to over 400 non-profit organizations, helping thousands of area children lead happier, healthier and more productive lives. RMHC and its global network of local chapters in over 50 countries and regions have awarded more than $460 million in grants and program services supporting children worldwide. For more information visit www.rmhc-ctma.org or connect at www.facebook.com/rmhc.ctma.