Malden YMCA Receives Grant from The Foundation Trust

August 5, 2019 – The Malden YMCA – which serves Everett, Malden and Medford – received a $7,000 grant from The Foundation Trust to support the YMCA’s programs addressing hunger and food insecurity in the Medford community.

This is the first grant the YMCA has received from The Foundation Trust, a Melrose-based private foundation that was established in recent years with a regional focus on New England and a special focus on Greater Boston. Its mission is to support the ongoing work of small to medium-sized non-profit organizations that provide vital services to under-resourced populations that larger charitable foundations may overlook.

“We are thrilled that our Medford Food Security Program is among the first round of grantees from The Foundation Trust,” says Malden YMCA CEO, Debbie Amaral. “It is our belief that no person should ever feel the shame or fear of not knowing where their next meal will come from. This grant will help us serve hundreds more individuals and families in Medford with our food pantries and free grocery markets and programs.”

The grant from the Foundation Trust will enable the Malden YMCA to add four Pop-Up Grocery Markets in Medford, which distribute free fresh and frozen food, as well as household items, to local families. The YMCA anticipates that each market will reach more than 100 local families. There are no eligibility requirements or documentation required to use the Malden YMCA’s various food pantries or Pop-Up Grocery Markets. The YMCA will post dates and times of the Markets on Facebook, in its community centers, and in neighboring schools and housing developments to promote the opportunities.

Foundation Trust funding will also support the YMCA’s food pantries and grocery programs for youth and families at its Willis Avenue Community Center, LaPrise Village Housing Complex and Medford High School – all in Medford, MA. This includes the YMCA’s newest initiative, the “Rover” Food Truck. The Rover is serving free meals all summer to Medford youth, and will help distribute food throughout the rest of the year to its food pantries and grocery markets.

“Hunger is a pandemic,” says Dr. Joseph Spinazzola, Executive Director of the Foundation Trust, “and our attention is often rightly directed far from home to pronounced areas of need. We’re less often made aware of the substantial degree of food insecurity that quietly persists right next door. We live in a time in which it’s easier than ever to send thoughts and prayers through social media, comforting ourselves that we’ve responded sufficiently with our compassion. But such messages lack caloric content. The Malden YMCA has been enriching the community for well over a century. Now, and with little fanfare, they are safeguarding its communities against hunger: delivering nutrient-rich food to neighborhoods and schools across Malden, Medford and Everett. The Foundation Trust is privileged and honored to partner with the Malden YMCA in this vital undertaking.”

About the Malden YMCA

For over 140 years, the Malden YMCA has supported the foundations of community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. From its facility in downtown Malden as well as community outreach sites in Malden, Everett and Medford, the Y serves over 23,000 individuals each year. The Y is committed to nurturing the potential of every child and teen by cultivating the values, skills and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement. The Y’s programs enable children and teen the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. To learn more visit www.ymcamalden.org and connect with us on Facebook: @YMCAMalden.

About The Foundation Trust
The Foundation Trust is a private philanthropic foundation serving Greater Boston. In supporting the important work of small to medium-sized nonprofit organizations, the Foundation Trust enhances individual wellbeing and community development. To learn more, visit www.FoundationTrust.org or find us on Facebook: @foundationtrust.