Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 10/12/2021
EASTHAMPTON – The Pascommuck Conservation Trust (PCT) was one of six nonprofit organizations to receive a $1,000 grant from the River Valley Co-op Community Trust Fund.
Marty Klein, a longtime PCT member and main grant writer, said he noticed that River Valley was handing out money to local non-profits over the summer through a post. The grant was particularly looking for applicants to describe a specific project they would need the money for, so Klein went to the PCT board and talked about their greatest needs as an organization.
Ultimately, the awarded money will make repairs to a bridge and to viewing decks at the Pomeroy Meadows property, one of 16 properties that the PCT controls to protect important land and other natural resources for public benefit. One viewing deck overlooks Frog Pond, while the other one overlooks the Manhan River. “One of the bridges on the Pomeroy Meadows property has started wearing out,” said Klein. The two viewing decks, meanwhile, have railings that were starting to deteriorate because of overuse, so the PCT wants to replace those, as well. “There’s always stuff that needs to be done when you have infrastructure on trails.”
Klein indicated that some of the deterioration is caused by a notable increase in usage over the past year and a half, where residents looked to participate in more outdoor and socially distanced activities like taking walks or hiking. All repairs are set to begin “pretty soon,” according to Klein.
Some of the money will also go toward the PCT’s bench campaign, which is an opportunity for residents to donate a minimum of $1,500 for a bench and/or $800 for a chair for a commemorative plaque and contribute to the PCT’s Stewardship Endowment for the future. The Stewardship Endowment helps to cover costs to maintain the areas in an environmentally friendly manner.
There are currently nine spots available for benches and chairs, as of press time. Residents can visit https://www.pctland.org/get-involved/memorial-benches-available-at-various-sites-to-honor-loved-ones-or-promote-a-business-and-support-pct/ for more information on that project. The grant money acquired is not going to the benches themselves. It will instead be used for installation, transportation, and securing of the benches.
The River Valley Co-op’s board of directors selected six nonprofit organizations out of 12 applicants to be awarded $1,000 each from their Community Fund. The six grantees are using the money to focus on preservation of forests and farmland, access to restorative collaborative learning education for students in grades seven-12, addressing community health disparities with access to alternative medicine, providing free leadership for social change, providing portable, “alternative homes,” as a transitionary step between homelessness and a more traditional living situation, and promoting a deeper, broader and more truthful understanding of the Native Americans of the Northeast.
Rochelle Prunty, River Valley Co-op’s general manager, told Reminder Publishing that the board of directors looked for targeted proposals in the applications that detailed specific projects. The organization also wanted to choose different projects to grant money toward so there could be a diversity.
“We wanted to reach different aspects of supporting the community,” said Prunty. “Our mission is to build a just marketplace that nourishes the community.”
According to Prunty, the PCT grant application really struck the River Valley community because so many people utilized these areas – now in need of repair – during the pandemic as way of outdoor escape. “It is a very direct connection to protecting our forests and having opportunities to be out in nature, which is good for their health,” said Prunty, when talking about the importance of the PCT grant.
The River Valley Co-op established the Community Fund, where the grant came from, in 2013 to help nonprofits in the area, and they are one of 40 food co-op community funds participating in the Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation Program, which is the program that manages the individual co-ops.
As River Valley has built its fund up, local nonprofits have been able to earn more from the grants. The hope for the future is to grow that fund to a level where it provides even more substantial funding to support co-op development and for earnings to be even more substantial for the support of nonprofits. Currently, the co-op has built a community fund of $165,000 since 2013 from its businesses, its co-op owners and matching funds from vendors.
For PCT, their goal will be to continue to find funding for invasive control at some of their properties, since they are always dealing with invasive plants. They have also received several grants from Easthampton’s Community Preservation Act Committee.
As a small, all volunteer nonprofit, we’re always looking for ways to pay for the things that we do,” said Klein, who added that this year has been a very expensive year due to the number of trees falling on their properties due to wind damage and the many rainstorms we’ve received.
According to Klein, it could cost $1,000 or $2,000 to remove a fallen tree. “It’s a constant struggle for us, but we manage to keep our head above water.”