M&T Bank is contributing $150,000 to the opening of a new youth resource center in west Wilmington that will provide meals, access to transportation, job skills training and other basic services to more than 100 homeless youth a year.
The facility – the first of its kind in Delaware – is part of a larger project led by West End Neighborhood House that will expand housing, employment opportunities and independent living counseling to homeless men and women between ages 16 and 23.
West End Neighborhood House, a nonprofit organization providing housing and other services to former foster care youth, is raising $4 million to complete its project this year.
M&T Bank also plans to offer financial literacy education and coaching to homeless youth served by West End Neighborhood House’s new drop-in resource center at 710 N. Lincoln St. in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood.
“M&T is proud to partner with West End Neighborhood House on something that will have such a profound impact on the city’s youth and broader community,” said Nick Lambrow, M&T’s Delaware regional pesident. “We understand the importance of the services that will be offered at the new resource center and look forward to working with West End Neighborhood House to determine how M&T can contribute to the success of these young men and women.”
In January 2019, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness reported that Delaware had an estimated 921 people experiencing homelessness, 42 of which were unaccompanied young adults between ages 18 and 24. These numbers have likely risen due to the pandemic, as most emergency shelters have operated at about half capacity to comply withthe state’s social distancing measures.
Construction on the new youth resource center is underway, with a grand opening anticipated this summer.
In 2020, M&T contributed nearly $2.2 million to nonprofit organizations in the Delaware region. Most of the bank’s charitable funds supported organizations providing health and human services.
Ministry of Caring gets $2,500 from Food Lion foundation
The Ministry of Caring, Inc., has received $2,500 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to help feed local neighbors in their time of need. The Ministry will use the gift to support its Emmanuel Dining Room program, which operates three locations in New Castle County, DE.
“With the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having across the region, this grant really helps the Ministry make a difference in Emmanuel Dining Room program’s ability to feed those in need.” says the Ministry of Caring’s Director of Planned Giving and Donor Relations, Cindy Gamble.
