The Jobs for New England Recovery Grant Program was offered by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to member financial institutions to assist small businesses and non-profit organizations that have experienced significant losses due to the pandemic. As a member, Jewett City Savings Bank was able to reserve grant funds for eligible organizations in the Bank’s service area. Jewett City Savings Bank focused its support to those organizations that had limited opportunities to participate in other funding sources that became available through the CARES Act and other government programs.

Throughout the year, NOW partners with local youth-serving organizations focused on sports and wellness activities. These partnerships include scholarship support, with NOW offering scholarships to qualifying youth of the community with up to 95% of the cost being subsidized by the non-profit. NOW has provided just under $93,000 in youth sports scholarships since 2015. In addition to scholarships, NOW promotes wellness education to all children participating in partner organization activities throughout each season of sports as well as with community partners and other local non-profit organizations.

NOW Executive Director, Tayler Shea commented, “NOW is very grateful to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and Jewett City Savings Bank for this grant. To say that 2020 was an unpredictable year would be quite an understatement. Like so many other organization

s, NOW felt the deep impact of COVID-19 on our programs and events.” Shea continued explaining “In February of 2020, NOW was on track to have a busy year. There were plans for multiple free wellness and sports clinics, community outreach, and fundraising events. The 9th Annual ‘A Taste for NOW’ event was set for April, with plans also underway for a 3rd Annual NOW Bartender night, and the 9th Annual NOW Road Race. All these plans came to an abrupt halt and in the following months we were forced to cancel all fundraising events, with a loss of crucial funds to help support scholarships and youth wellness outreach programs.” Shea emphasized her appreciation and stated, “I would like to sincerely thank the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and Jewett City Savings Bank for selecting NOW as a recipient of this grant and supporting youth wellness in the Quiet Corner.”

Northeast Opportunities for Wellness is a non-profit human services organization focused on youth wellness. Serving the 10-town area of Northeast Connecticut, NOW provides children with the opportunity to participate in area athletic programs and wellness activities. The mission of the organization is to provide all children, regardless of financial resources, equal opportunities to achieve and maintain youth wellness, beginning at an early age.