Boston, MA The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 103 and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) of Greater Boston, donated $50,000 to the Boston Resiliency Fund, the initiative mayor Martin Walsh is spearheading to support the city’s residents, and first responders, through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fund was announced to the public on March 16, after being established to, “help Boston residents hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic,” with a special emphasis on caring for children and seniors.
“The outpouring of support and generosity that we’ve seen from individuals and organizations in our community who have stepped up in such a big way has been tremendous,” said mayor Walsh. “I want to thank IBEW Local 103 and NECA of Greater Boston for their generous contribution to the Boston Resiliency Fund, which will go a long way towards helping our nonprofits in Boston provide critical services that our residents need during this difficult time.”
The Boston Resiliency Fund has $30.8 million in donations, thus far. The fund is being distributed by a steering committee, in part through grants to community businesses and organizations caring for children, families and seniors in need.
“Now is not the time to get comfortable, or to relax our efforts in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lou Antonellis, business manager/financial secretary of IBEW Local 103. “Our community must keep collaborating to ensure a safe reopening that follows City and CDC guidelines, while pooling resources to support our community’s most vulnerable. We’re happy to have like-minded allies in our NECA contractor partners, who helped to make this donation possible, and to let the Mayor and Boston residents know that they can count on us for support.”
“During these difficult times, we are proud to continue to support each other and support our City through the Boston Resiliency Fund that provides food, technology and support for our first responders & healthcare workers” said Kristen Gowin, executive manager of NECA Greater Boston. “One of our pillars as an organization will always be giving back to our community, in addition to raising the standards of the construction industry. We will continue to do our part to support each other, the industry and the City in which we live and work.”
Supplies and services provided to residents through the Boston Resiliency Fund include free meals, mental health services, COVID-19 testing, child care, and technology for students to learn from home until schools reopen. $7.2 million was granted from the fund to expand capacity of health care facilities and support front-line caregivers, with additional staff, PPE and important services for their families.
IBEW Local 103 also made it the organization’s mission to support health care workers and first responders directly with critical PPE at the high time of shortage in early April. The organization tracked, purchased and donated 20,000 PPE masks to Massachusetts Nurses Association members at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and many others to fire fighters across the region.
