By Regina McConnell
East Madison Community Center

 For nearly 20 years, the CUNA Mutual Group Foundation and the East Madison Community Center (EMCC) have combined resources to help develop and support services to best serve families facing financial hardships on Madison’s east side. COVID-19 continues to challenge many families. 

To help families secure their basic needs and other essential resources has required community partners’ collaborations to be both diligent and creative. During these difficult times, the silver lining has been the resiliency of the neighborhood families and the service agencies’ coordination in providing support. Agencies working together minimize expenses while expanding expertise.

CUNA Mutual Group Foundation recently awarded EMCC the largest donation in the center’s 55-year history, $100,000 for the COVID-19 Support Program. This program helps the center reach out to community members and bridge the virus’s impact with a network of services. In 2021 EMCC will provide an expanded curbside food pantry, hot meals, college prep, job training, housing assistance, wellness programs, neighborhood development, education camp, garden club, internet/computer access, information and referrals, clothing/diaper distributions, art programs and other family support services.

Cedric Ellis, CUNA Mutual Group Foundation president, said, “As we continue to focus on building equity in our communities, we recognize the importance of partnering with organizations that can provide holistic support to families in need. The East Madison Community Center is a great example of an organization that represents, wholly, our foundation’s focus on education, economic stability and emergency aid. We are proud to be a part of the positive community impact the EMCC provides.” 

Seventy percent of EMCC’s modest annual budget is secured through on-going fundraising. EMCC’s Executive Director Tom Moen said, “The center has amazing staff and all we need to do is generate enough funds to keep these skilled staff members working closely with neighborhood youth and their families. After more than 45 years as executive director, I can say with confidence and pride that the CUNA Mutual Group Foundation is at the top of the list when it comes to their awareness of the issues that face many families in the Madison community and by generously supporting local nonprofits that address those needs.”

In 2020 EMCC remained open throughout the year and quickly retooled services in response to the health risks of COVID-19. EMCC volunteer PK has been helping in the food pantry since COVID began. When asked how EMCC helped him through COVID-19, he said, “I look forward to times I can get away from the house and go to the center. The staff helped me with my resumé, and I got a great job. It’s been a total rebirth for me since walking through the center’s doors on that day in March to get clothes for a job interview.” 

With CUNA Mutual Group Foundation’s support, EMCC will continue programming to address issues created during the “new normal.”