THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 19, 2020 Page 11 Mass Redistribution Fund announces second round of COVID-19 aid to frontline grassroots organizations T he Mass Redistribution Fund (MRF), a statewide COVID-19 emergency fundraiser launched in early April by a dozen grassroots leaders, recently distributed its second round of grants, redirecting a second disbursement of $260,000 in donations from more than 900 individual donors and foundations to critical relief efforts across the state. Funds collected by the MRF will go to 27 grassroots organizations working at the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis to support renters facing eviction, to undocumented families without access to food, and to others as well as for organizing policy campaigns to ensure a just recovery from the pandemic and beyond. Many residents enduring financial crises as a result of the economic shutdown, such as undocumented hourly workers, cannot access government aid or unemployment benefits, despite paying taxes. The MRF provides support to individuals and foundations seeking to contribute directly to frontline relief during the coronavirus crisis. The MRF is governed by an advisory board of grassroots community leaders from Massachusetts who came together across issues and geography to help unite our communities in this time of crisis. “The power of the Mass Redistribution Fund is that we’re a strategically organized response to allocate funding to groups that are chartering the future survival of our community by transforming money into immediate aid and political power,” said MRF Advisory Board Member Monique Nguyen, who is the Executive Director of Matahari Women Workers’ Center. The MRF was initially funded by Massachusetts residents who pledged to donate their stimulus checks to join a growing movement of people putting community health over personal wealth – contributing to a diverse group of direct relief funds and urgent efforts across Massachusetts to stabilize families, workers, elders, prisoners and immigrants, and to amplify the long-term changes needed for community resilience next time a crisis hits. “As grassroots organizers, broad collaboration is key to successfully taking our common fights to the next level,” said MRF Advisory Board Member Alex Papali, who serves as the Green Justice organizer of Clean Water Action. “MRF is building the solidarity we need to make meaningful changes for oppressed and under resourced communities.” The MRF is supporting 27 recipients – an increase from the 20 recipients that received funding during the first allocation – that are all Massachusetts-based grassroots organizations working to meet the continuous needs arising from the COVID-19 crisis and to achieve a just and sustainable recovery. “At the Pioneer Valley Workers Center, we are thrilled to partner with the Mass Redistribution Fund to support our Undocu-Worker SolidarFood Link raises $2M to combat food insecurity, construct community hub F or several months COVID-19 has exposed how vulnerable our communities are to food insecurity. At Food Link, which is based in Arlington, Mass., there has been a staggering increase in numbers since March. As the country shut down, Food Link ramped up its efforts to rescue food and help those in need. In the past three months, Food Link has provided enough food for 232,000 fresh meals, distributed food to 32 new community partners across Eastern Massachusetts, doubled the amount of food rescued from grocery stores, restaurants and other donors across the food chain and saved nearly $500,000 worth of food that would Everett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti family since 1958 • 57 Years! “Same name, phone number & address for family since 1958 • 62 over half a century. 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