MELROSE — Over the past month, the Melrose Emergency Fund has received approximately $21,000 in donations from 70 donors, bringing the total donations received to more than $26,000: just over 50 percent of the fundraising goal set by the Melrose Emergency Fund fundraising campaign, $50,000 by the holiday.
The campaign was launched in November through a partnership between the Mayor’s Office and the Council on Aging to ensure the Melrose Emergency Fund can continue to provide one-time financial assistance to Melrose families in financial emergencies in 2024.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our community, almost speechless,” said Mayor Paul Brodeur. “Since the end of November, 70 community members have demonstrated tremendous generosity and caring for their neighbors in need. This support safeguards the Melrose Emergency Fund’s mission to ensure Melrose families do not have to choose between buying food, paying rent and keeping the lights or the house warm. Thank you to all our donors this week, this month, this year and in years past.”
Council on Aging Executive Director Erica Brown agreed.
“The Melrose Emergency Fund provided more in financial aid to Melrose families in need than it received in donations last fiscal year,” said Brown. “Now that we’re about halfway to realizing our fundraising goal, we hope to reach community members who have been considering donating to the fund. Please know that reaching our goal means the fund can continue to provide one-time assistance to Melrose residents who are experiencing financial emergencies and hardships.”
Over the past month, Melrose community members collectively donated more than $21,000 to the Melrose Emergency Fund. The fund depends entirely on donations from the public and every penny goes to direct aid to Melrose residents.
Established in 1996 by Mayor Richard Lyons’ administration after 25 families were displaced by fires, the MEF accepts donations to provide relief to resident families found in emergency need, with a focus on ensuring basic needs including food, rent and utilities are met. There are no overhead costs because city staff administer the funds as part of their regular duties. All funds collected go directly to helping Melrose residents in need.
To donate, send a check to Melrose Emergency Fund, Mayor’s Office, 562 Main St., Melrose, MA 02176 or bring it directly to the Mayor’s Office on the second floor of City Hall. Checks should be made out to the City of Melrose with “Melrose Emergency Fund” in the memo line. Contributions may also be made through the City of Melrose Online Bill Payments webpage at cityofmelrose.org/payments. For questions regarding the Emergency Fund, call 781-979-4440.
The 2023 Melrose Emergency Fund fundraising campaign, $50K by the Holiday, aims to raise awareness of the importance of donating to the fund, which received approximately $35,000 in donations last fiscal year but provided over $78,000 in financial aid to Melrose families in need between July 2022 and June 2023. To learn more about the campaign and how the Melrose community can help keep the Melrose Emergency Fund going, visit cityofmelrose.org/50kbytheHoliday.
If people are in a financial emergency, they can contact the Council on Aging at 781-665-4304 or visit cityofmelrose.org/emergencyfund to fill out an inquiry or complete an application. All applications are confidential.
