NEWBURYPORT — Anna Jaques Hospital will award $100,000 in grant money over the next two years to 10 community-based organizations serving the health needs of area residents.
The grants are part of the hospital’s Community Benefits Program to support programs that address community health priorities and help those facing the greatest health inequities within the hospital’s service area, according to a release from Anna Jaques.
Residents of Newburyport, Amesbury, Haverhill, Salisbury and Merrimac will benefit from the funding. Anna Jaques is part of Beth Israel Lahey Health.
The selection criteria for the grants included four major health priorities affecting the community that were identified during the hospital’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment, completed in 2022: equitable access to care, social determinants of health, mental health and substance use, and chronic/complex conditions.
“By supporting and investing in local organizations that share our goal in addressing the health needs of our region, we improve the quality of life for local residents while strengthening the communities that we serve,” Glenn Focht, M.D., the hospital’s president, said in the release.
“We are proud to support these local organizations and the important work they do to reduce health disparities and inequities throughout our region,” he added.
The following 10 nonprofit organizations will receive two-year grants of $5,000 per year, for a total of $10,000:
Common Ground Ministries: This program provides basic services aimed at alleviating hunger and homelessness while being an advocate for those in need. The grant will help 90 to 100 people who the program serves each day.
Mitch’s Place, Emmaus, Inc.: This temporary overnight emergency shelter provides adults with a bed, meals, and housing search and employment assistance along with help securing permanent housing and health and social services. The money will help the shelter serve the 400 people it assists annually.
McKinney-Vento Program, Haverhill Public Schools: The grant will fund food programs, including food closets and a food pantry program, for families whose children attend Haverhill Public Schools and are experiencing homelessness. The program seeks to help an additional 40 students and up to 15% more families.
Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center, Youth Empowerment Series: This series provides violence prevention programs that teach students of all ages to lead conversations on healthy relationships and to make positive decisions. The money will fund expansion of the series into Newburyport, allowing the program to serve an additional 100 to 150 participants.
Link House: Children and Teen Center for Help (CATCH): CATCH seeks to empower and support those ages 5 to 18 and their families across the region to understand and nurture their mental well-being. The funding will help to increase the number of young people served by 10%.
Northern Essex Elder Transport (NEET): This volunteer driver program provides adults age 60 and older across the region with no-cost transportation to medical appointments. The funding will support the 4,000 rides provided to 500 people annually.
Nourishing the Northshore: VEGOUT program: This program provides free fresh, locally grown produce to food pantries and senior centers across the region from June to October. The money will help provide 280,000 servings of food — a 55% increase from 2023.
Our Neighbors’ Table: Wednesday Meal Program: The grant will assist this weekly community program based in Amesbury, which provides a hot, three-course meal served by volunteers or as carry-out orders to 300 people each Wednesday.
The Pettengill House: Behavioral Event and Substance Support Team (BESST): The money will provide a social worker and support for people and families with mental health and substance abuse needs in Merrimac, Salisbury, Amesbury and Newburyport. The program assisted 462 people in 321 households in 2023.
Sarah’s Place Adult Health Center: This senior adult day health program offers outreach and education to assist people in remaining healthy and independent in their own homes. The funding will help enroll an additional 25 to 50 participants in the program.
