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Melrose Emergency Fund Thanks Recent Donors: "Halfway to realizing our fundraising goal."

The campaign "50k by the Holiday" aims to raise awareness of the importance of donating to the fund, which provided over $78,000 in one-time financial aid to Melrose families in need but received less than $36,000 in donations last fiscal year.
Posted on: December 22, 2023 - 6:00pm
After Raising Over $26,000, Melrose Emergency Fund Fundraising Campaign is Half-Way to Goal

Since announcing the launch of the Melrose Emergency Fund fundraising campaign "50k by the Holiday" in October, the Melrose Emergency Fund has received approximately $26,000 in donations, with community members donating more than $21,000 in the past four weeks alone.

The campaign, which has a goal to raise $50,000 by New Year’s Day 2024, was launched by the Mayor's Office in partnership with 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. “Over the past month, 70 members of our community 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 on or the house warm. Thank you to all who donated this week, this month, this year, and in years past."

“The Melrose Emergency Fund provided more in financial aid to Melrose families in need than it received in donations last fiscal year,” said Erica Brown, Executive Director of the Council on Aging. “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.”

The people who collectively donated more than $21,000 to the Melrose Emergency Fund over the past month are:

Sean Fisher & Anne MacDonald
Mary Werler
Janet M Nevin
Karen Schweihs
Allen Shaughnessy & Andrea
Martha Grover
Kevin Cohan
Jeff Becker
The McCarthy Family
Jayshree Srinivasan
Bob and Nancy Savarino
Steve and Suzanne Locke
Brenda and Steve Merken
Kaitlyn C Baptista
The Arsenault Family
Gretchen Locke
Robb Stewart
Mary Gregorio
Ronald P Harding
Susan L Cann
Albert J Commito
Kathryn J Armata
Barbara J Musselman
Fairlie A Dalton
Sara Brandon
Mary Ellen McNamara
Mary E Mogavero
Glenda A Amirault
Thomas & Eileen Torpey
Paul & Mary Bruce
John and Christine Oteri
Paula Emelock
Mary Gregorio
Stephen Cavalear
Michael & Susan Morris
George & Patricia Rowe
Penelope L Jones
Phyllis & Susan Carr
Helen F Cronin
Mary M Edwards
Lori & Thomas Rossi
Barbara M Quinlan
Evelyn C Gladu
Bryan E and Kristin B Thorp
Richard and Patricia McConville
Jerold and Donna Larsson
Cheryl A Murphy
Laurie Adamson
Eagle Eye Construction Corp
Raymond & Joan Gillis
Helen H & Kery Overlan
James & Anne DeSouza
Mark & Lucille Ann Ohearn
Peter & Louise Mason
Brenda & Edward Mahan
Ellen M Crocker
Jenice McMullen
Jean Gorman
Anthony & Carol Schena
Interbartolo Family
Lea A Fasano c/o Bunco Babes
Robert W Christiansen
Paul Brodeur
Donna M Albertelli
Bunco Babes
Karen Corr
Paul & Katie Moore
Kathy & Dan Radley
Michelle Ford Guihan
Chad Besegi

The fund depends entirely on donations from the public, and every penny goes directly to aid Melrose residents.

Established in 1996 by Mayor 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.

How to Donate

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 web page, www.cityofmelrose.org/payments. For questions regarding the Emergency Fund, call (781) 979-4440.

Learn More

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 https://www.cityofmelrose.org/50kbytheHoliday.

Get Help

If you are in a financial emergency, please contact the Council on Aging at 781-665-4304 or visit https://www.cityofmelrose.org/emergencyfund to fill out an inquiry or complete an application. All applications are confidential.