By Tom Bannister

The Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund (TNSF) committee recently awarded grants to twelve organizations in Somerville. TNSF collects donations from university employees throughout the year and then awards grants to community-based, charitable organizations that serve Tufts’ host communities (Somerville, Medford, Grafton and Boston’s Chinatown) and actively engage Tufts volunteers in their work.

A committee comprised of Tufts administrators, faculty and staff meets annually to review proposals and select grant recipients. In 2014, there was a total of $18,500 available to distribute through TNSF. The committee received 60 proposals representing more than $90,000 in requests and selected 35 programs and projects for awards. Members of the TNSF committee base their decisions on a desire to address the most pressing needs in the communities and to encourage expanded involvement of Tufts volunteers.

The Somerville grant recipients for 2014 are:

• Arts At The Armory — $300 towards the Skillshare Monthly Workshop Series.
• CASPAR, Inc. — $275 to purchase personal-care products for clients staying at their shelters.
• Community Action Agency of Somerville — $750 for new books for their Head Start classrooms.
• Community Cooks — $500 for two dollies to help with food deliveries.
• Eagle Eye Institute — $500 to help support their youth leadership program.
• Hearty Meals for All — $250 for food and supply costs for clients.
• Second Chances — $275 to help expand their clothing donation program.
• Shortstop Somerville Wayside Youth and Family Services — $250 to purchase personal-care products for clients.
• Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services — $300 for their evening, weekend, and emergency home-delivered Meal-on-Wheels Program.
• The Elizabeth Peabody House — $400 to help expand their Health and Wellness initiative.
• The Welcome Project — $500 towards portable transmitters for the LIPS program, involving bilingual high school students.
• Walnut Street Center — $500 to purchase materials to begin a horticulture program.

“The range of proposals we receive reflects the diversity of the communities that Tufts calls home” said Barbara Rubel, director of community relations at Tufts University. “We are proud to support organizations so deeply committed to fulfilling unmet needs and making a difference.”

TNSF is a giving option of the annual Tufts Community Appeal (TCA), in which the university encourages its employees to contribute to charitable organizations at the regional, national and international levels. The TCA unites faculty and staff across all campuses of the university, and demonstrates the support the Tufts community for local and global efforts. It reflects the university community’s belief that individual action can make a difference in the world.

Questions regarding the Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund can be directed to the Community Relations Office at Tufts University (617-627-3780).