Publication: In Your Northwest Corner
Originally Published May 27, 2021
The Show Must Go On from a Safe Distance
During non-pandemic times, Sharon Playhouse entertains nearly 10,000 people from Northwest Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts annually with Broadway-quality performances and provides arts education to elementary through college students. In the Spring of 2020, with all non-essential businesses closed, staff were forced to reimagine their summer programming.
"In difficult times the relief of humor, thrill of live entertainment and the sense of community the theater delivers is needed," said Robert Levinstein of Sharon Playhouse.
Grants from the Northwest CT Community Foundation Buchanan Fund, Northwest CT Community Foundation Northwest Corner Gives: Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund, and Northwest CT Community Foundation Robert B. and Cheryl Freehill Pauls Fund enabled the Tri-State Center for the Arts dba Sharon Playhouse to provide entertaining shows throughout the summer from a drive-in theatre created in the parking lot of Sharon Playhouse. Local restaurants benefitted by providing patrons with take-out dining options during the shows.
"[At] Every performance there were families in the back of trucks enjoying time together as though we were not living through a pandemic, " said Robert Levinstein of Sharon Playhouse.
"Thank you. [Grants from Northwest CT Community Foundation funds] have been invaluable to our organization."
Emergency Services—Ready When you Need Them
Bethlehem Ambulance Association provides emergency services to all 3,600 residents of Bethlehem regardless of their ability to pay.
In 2020, EMTs found themselves responding to emergency calls for suspected Covid-19 patients and administering care with equipment that required manual close-contact readings and could be difficult to disinfect.
Grants from the Northwest CT Community Foundation Khurshed Bhumgara Fund and the Northwest CT Community Foundation Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund supported the purchase of an automated blood pressure machine with an oxygen/pulse device and forehead scan temperature monitor.
"Knowing our equipment is dependable, easy to use and has the latest technology available gives EMTs confidence and relieves the stress of anticipating equipment failure during a call," said Jan Sardo of Bethlehem Ambulance Association.
"The new blood pressure machine is more accurate, so the EMTs will be giving the Emergency Room staff better reports when admitting the patient."
Continued Support in Difficult Times
Susan B. Anthony Project works with some of Northwest Connecticut's most vulnerable residents. The organization provides a 24-hour crisis line, emergency food and shelter, domestic violence counseling, job readiness support, and advocacy in courts and hospitals. These services help more than 9,000 people annually.
Recent grants from the Northwest CT Community Foundation Marlene & Chris Smith Family Fund, the Northwest CT Community Foundation Holley-Doremus Fund, the Northwest CT Community Foundation Nolin Selby Fund, the Northwest CT Community Foundation Northwest Corner Gives: Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund, and the Robert R. Rosenheim Foundation provided needed support during difficult times.
"These grants are especially helpful this year as the need for services has dramatically increased during these challenging times," said Jeanne Fusco of Susan B. Anthony Project.
"Because of these grants, we are able to help these women, men and children as they begin to rebuild their lives."
