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W. WARWICK, R.I. — The Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation has awarded $319,864 in funding to 37 organizations in Rhode Island and Connecticut, according to Harold M. Horvat, bank president, CEO and chairman.
This round of charitable giving brings total grants awarded to $1,114,764 for 2021, the largest annual giving amount in bank history, and the second year in a row surpassing the million-dollar milestone.
Connecticut organizations receiving fourth-quarter grants are: Northeast Placement Services (Woodstock) – The $25,310 in funding will be used to help with completion of “The People’s Barn,” which serves as a workforce development training space for adults with disabilities; The Woodstock Academy- The $50,000 grant will help fund the Chandler Bowen building rehabilitation campaign. Also: Madonna Place (Norwich) – The $5,000 grant will go toward the Family Support Center Program; Martin House, Inc. (Norwich) – The $1,500 donation will help provide daily meals and temporary shelter for those experiencing homelessness; Operation Fuel (Hartford) – The $3,000 grant will help provide emergency energy assistance for those in need; Thames River Community Service, Inc. (Norwich) – The $4,000 grant will go toward wrap-around services for young parents so they can become economically self-sufficient.
The following Connecticut food pantries were awarded $1,000 each as part of the bank’s annual holiday donations: Pomfret Food Pantry; Project Pin (People in Need) Food Pantry (Moosup); TEEG – NE Connecticut (N. Grosvenordale); Friends of Assisi Food Pantry (Danielson); Interfaith Human Services of Putnam. Also: Ledyard Food Pantry; St. Vincent de Paul Place (Norwich); St. Mary’s Food Pantry (Griswold); Madonna Place (Norwich); Access Community Action (Willimantic).
Rhode Island organizations receiving fourth-quarter grants are:
Comprehensive Community Action, Inc. (Cranston) - The $10,083 in funding will be used to enhance virtual and in-person instruction at three Learn to Earn Sites in Cranston, West Warwick, and Pawtucket; Day One (Providence) - The $4,000 grant will be used help provide basic needs for victims of sexual and domestic violence ;Junior Achievement of Rhode Island (Warwick) – The $5,000 grant will support financial literacy programming for RI youth in urban communities; ONE Neighborhood Builders  (Providence) – The $15,000 grant will help fund Affordable Housing projects in Providence; Reach Out and Read of Rhode Island (Providence) - $10,000 in funding will go toward partnerships with pediatricians to prepare young children for academic and lifelong success by incorporating books into every well visit; Saint Elizabeth Community (Warwick) – The $9,840 grant will support the Certified Nursing Assistant Workforce Development Training Program to meet the healthcare needs of low-income seniors and provide a pathway for long-term, meaningful employment for underemployed and unemployed Rhode Islanders; Shri (Pawtucket) – The $100,000 in funding will support expansion of social services including affordable housing and community hub space for the 390 Pine Street Initiative in Pawtucket; Sophia Academy (Providence) – The $20,000 grant will go toward student scholarships; The Sharing Locker (East Greenwich) – The $2,500 donation will help with the purchase of basic needs and other essential items not traditionally received through donations; Wood River Health Services (Hope Valley) – The $10,000 grant will help fund the facility expansion in Hope Valley to help meet the needs of growing patient demand.
The following Rhode Island food pantries were awarded $1,000 each as part of the bank’s annual holiday donations: Better Lives RI (Providence); Coventry Community Food Pantry; Esperanza Hope (Providence); Jewish Collaborative Services (Providence); Jonnycake Center for Hope (Peace Dale); North Kingstown Food Pantry; Northern RI Food Pantry (Cumberland); Pawtucket Soup Kitchen; Progreso Latino (Central Falls); Project Hand Up (West Warwick)
“Centreville Bank is fortunate to be in a position to help the people of Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut through these vital organizations, particularly as communities are still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and when the need is so great,” said Horvat. “These fourth-quarter Charitable Foundation grants are assisting with such critical issues as food and housing insecurity, literacy and education, and health and well-being. We’re proud that we’ve been able to provide over $1 million again this past year to such indispensable institutions, and hope it makes a difference in the communities we serve.”

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Urged to support
NE CT service system
DAYVILLE — United Services, Inc. recently updated local state legislators on the record increases in services delivered to residents in the last year, and United Services continued efforts and innovations to meet the rising need.
Dramatic increases to the agency’s Crisis Response Services program was a major focus of the meeting. Services provided by the agency’s Crisis team, which responds to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis by phone or in person in the agency’s clinics or out in the community, have increased by 534 percent in the past two years.
Other programs, such as the agency’s Adult Outpatient and Child Guidance clinics, are operating at a 20 to 40 percent increase in clients served over the previous year. The agency continues to see a large number of truancy and juvenile review board referrals, providing a critical safety net for youth struggling with the many stresses of the pandemic.
United Services shared innovations to meet this skyrocketing need, including the application for and award of a competitive federal grant that will greatly expand the region’s crisis response capacity.
Funding and service system inequities continue to adversely affect northeastern Connecticut residents, according to the agency. Board members called for legislators to support United Services programs, which have been underfunded for years. They also urged the delegation to support increases in funding to non-profit providers and increases in the Medicaid rates to address a staffing and services crisis in the state.
“United Services has always been here for northeastern Connecticut, and our region has needed us more in the past two years than ever before,” said United Services President/CEO Diane L. Manning. “We are grateful to the members of our General Assembly delegation who are committed to working with us to continue to advocate for the mental health service system so many residents rely on.”

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‘Warm’
donations
PUTNAM — The Putnam Public Library thanked all those who donated warm items to the library’s annual Warm-up Putnam tree in December. Library Director Priscilla Colwell said 118 items were donated. The items will be dropped off at Daily Bread’s clothing bank and the Putnam Family Resource Center.

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Woodstock Elementary/Middle
Everyday: Fruit. Monday: Cheeseburgers, baked beans. Tuesday: Grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup. Wednesday: Chicken nuggets, green beans. Thursday: Bosco Stix, marinara sauce. Friday: Pizza, corn.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday:  Grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, Goldfish crackers, fruit. Tuesday: Chicken bacon ranch flatbread sandwiches. Wednesday: Cheese-filled twisted bread, marinara sauce, broccoli. Thursday - 2 hr. delay: Popcorn chicken potato bowls. Friday: Stuffed-crust pizza, fruit.
Putnam High
Monday: Pasta Bolognese or spicy chicken sandwiches. Tuesday: General Tsos Chicken or bacon cheeseburgers. Wednesday: Mozzarella sticks, marinara sauce or chicken and cheese quesadilla. Thursday: Nachos Grande or calzone pizza Boli. Friday: French bread pizza or mozzarella sticks , marinara sauce.
Pomfret Community
Everyday: Fresh fruits and veggies and Alt. Sunbutter & Jelly. Monday: Chicken patties on rolls. Tuesday: Cheeseburgers. Wednesday: Turkey and cheese sandwiches. Thursday: Chili. Friday: Pizza.

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