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$5,000 grant for new ramp
On Sunday, June 5, Steve Brewer, President of the Barre Savings Charitable Foundation Board of Trustees, awarded a $5,000 grant from the foundation toward the construction of a new access ramp at the Stone Church Cultural Center, 283 Main Street (Rt 32), Gilbertville, MA 01031. Mr. Brewer, a former Massachusetts State Senator, spoke about the foundation’s achievements and its recognition of the important work the Friends of the Stone Church (FOSC) are doing to enrich the cultural life of communities in our region.
To date, the BSCF has given over $400,000 in grants to community projects. Mr. Brewer spoke about the essential importance of the arts to the human spirit, to a crowd of 100 who gathered on the Stone Church lawn to hear the Weir River Concert Band’s Walk Down Broadway concert. He praised FOSC for restoring their historic building, for giving the band its rehearsal space, and for providing concerts and other cultural programs at the Stone Church Cultural Center. Giving other examples, Mr. Brewer elaborated importance of community pride in local history, and the work of several local non-profits enhancing community life including the East Quabbin Land Trust.
Phillip Warbasse, Project Architect, represented the FOSC Board in accepting the donation. “We are honored to receive this grant, which will help us meet the important goal of increasing access to the Stone Church, and we are grateful for the work of the Barre Savings Charitable Foundation.” Mr. Warbasse designed the ramp, which will be constructed of pressure-treated wood finished with a long-lasting surface, and fitted with a metal hand railing.
The Barre Savings Charitable Foundation is dedicated to building a stronger local community by supporting organizations who are enriching the quality of life for others. The Foundation was established with a $1.5 million endowment when the Barre Savings Bank (BSB) merged with Fidelity Cooperative Bank in 2016. Its purpose is to provide charitable support for the people in communities previously served by BSB. The Foundation focuses its giving on youth and senior programs, programs supporting education and health and human services, and other projects improving the quality of life in our communities.
Friends of the Stone Church, Inc. is a public charitable corporation and community group organized in 2015 and open to all. Our mission is to preserve and protect the Gilbertville Stone Church Cultural Center and to make it available as a place of community enrichment. Our concerts through June, 2022 have been funded in part by the Mass Cultural Council and by the Local Cultural Councils of Barre, Hardwick-New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham and Petersham. We welcome donations toward our ongoing preservation projects, currently the stabilization of the steeple and improving access for all, online at www.FriendsoftheStoneChurch.org or by mail to FOSC, PO Box 347, Gilbertville, MA 01031.
Friends of the Stone Church 