FEMA Awards Over $2M to Mass for COVID-19 Hospital Staffing

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BOSTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $2 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse it for the cost of hiring temporary staff to handle the increased patient loads at public health care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The $2,079,767 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the cost of contracting for medical and nursing staff to support the state-run medical facilities between April 2020 and July 2021.
 
The department contracted for 123 staff such as registered nurses, certified medical assistants, physicians, and respiratory therapists for a total of 20,595 hours at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain, Tewksbury Hospital, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children in Canton.
 
"FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with these costs," said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. "Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and our success as a nation."
 
FEMA's Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.
 
So far, FEMA has provided more than $1.6 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.
 

Tags: COVID-19,   FEMA,   


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Pittsfield's Christian Center Announces Community Day, 'Big News'

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— After collecting community input about a potential new name and programming opportunities, the Christian Center says it will make a big announcement this summer. 

The nonprofit plans to unveil "big news" during its annual Community Day on Aug. 22, Executive Director Jessica Jones told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday. 

To accommodate different work schedules, Monday through Friday pantry hours were extended to include the second and fourth Saturday of every month; the pantry and lunch open from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

"Having some Saturday availability, we're hoping, is going to be helpful for those whose work schedules don't allow for weekday visits to the pantry," Jones said. 

"And we also know that more and more working people are having to make tough decisions about whether or not they spend their money on food or gas or rent or any of the other things that they have to make decisions about." 

HAC Chair Kim Borden said the Saturday hours are very exciting. 

"And I love your thinking on that, because you're right, limited hours when folks are working and picking up kiddos from daycare, there isn't always enough time," she added. 

The Christian Center was incorporated in 1974, but it dates back to the early 1890s, when it was the Epworth Mission, founded by the Methodist Church. 

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