The Harwich Fund of The Cape Cod Foundation has awarded a $4,500 grant to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod to support the purchase of major appliances for the newly built homes on Murray Lane in West Harwich.
Habitat Cape Cod partners with local families in need of affordable housing and, with the help of volunteers, helps them build their own homes across Cape Cod.
“The Murray Lane Habitat Project is an incredible addition to Harwich. The new residents have been working for over a year, not only building their own houses but helping each other,” said Wendy Cullinan, president and CEO of Habitat Cape Cod. “Since they are actively involved in planning and construction, they are already neighbors. They meet for coffee and snacks, and the children will be playing and riding their bikes right here in the circle soon. The homes are near Route 28 and close to everything, yet it is a safe spot for the kids who will be living here.”
The neighborhood, Cullinan added, was named after the late Bob Murray, a Harwich resident who was a fierce advocate for local housing. “The impact that The Harwich Fund grant will have on these six families and to the town of Harwich is significant.”
The Harwich Fund also awarded a $1,000 grant to the Homeless Prevention Council (HPC) to facilitate personalized case management for Harwich residents, giving them access to financial advice, housing preservation, and programs that promote stability. This grant was in addition to a grant awarded by The Chatham Fund of The Cape Cod Foundation.
Hadley Luddy, the CEO of HPC, said, “There is a 65 percent greater increase in need from 2019 to now. With 439 cases, the need in Harwich is the greatest. We are grateful to partner with so many organizations, including The Harwich Fund and The Chatham Fund. Seeing our community step forward to support families energizes our work.”
The Harwich Fund was established as a permanent endowment fund of The Cape Cod Foundation to provide resources for the Harwich community now and in perpetuity. To date, it has awarded over $22,000 in grants to eight different nonprofits serving a broad cross-section of Harwich residents. Its motto, “Harwich Helping Harwich,” drives the nonprofit organization, supported entirely by donations, to identify and help meet the greatest needs within the community.
“In just two years, we have built a community of donors working to strengthen the critical framework that supports the Harwich community,” said Brian Scheld, Chair of The Harwich Fund.
To donate to The Harwich Fund, visit harwichfund.org or send a check payable to The Harwich Fund to The Cape Cod Foundation; 261 Whites Path, Unit 2; South Yarmouth, MA 02664.
