Community Home
HELP KEEP ELMER'S VIBRANT!
HOW TO DONATE
We are an all volunteer-run organization, so every dollar goes to restoring and maintaining the building, ongoing utilities and operations, and community events. We appreciate checks for large amounts (over $500) to avoid credit card fees. You can make checks payable to: "Elmer's Community Center, Inc"
Mail checks to:
Elmer's Community Center
PO Box 334
Ashfield, MA 01330
OR click the button to donate online!
FUNDRAISING HISTORY
THANK YOU to the more than 400 friends and neighbors who have contributed funds to this project so far! Through a big, collective fundraising effort, we were able to raise about $300,000 by May 12, 2023. With these funds we purchased the building outright ($275,000), paid for closing costs (~$3,000) and a year of insurance (~$11,000). We also had a small amount left over to begin repairs.
Over the summer and fall of 2023, we raised an additional $10,000+, mostly through Community Sidewalk Cafes and other events. Between that and rent from the upstairs tenants, were able to continue paying for taxes, utilities, materials and some professional labor (e.g. plumbers, electricians). We got all the structural repairs done, including rebuilding the porch, and restored the building's Certificate of Occupancy!
In 2024, we raised $20,000 through contributions and events and were able to install a required hard-wired fire alarm system, and pay for materials to repaint and repair the interior. We also received a competitive state grant to pay for exterior repairs (roof, front balcony and siding), which will be completed in the summer of 2025.
None of this would have been possible without the untold hours of time and expertise contributed by board members, community stewards and member volunteers. Your efforts ranged from free real estate lawyering to volunteer post-hole-digging for the porch foundation to HOURS of painting and cleaning. THANK YOU!