GLHA 2025/2026 COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVES GRANTS
The GLHA is proud to announce the grant awards for the fall of 2025 to support programs and services to improve the overall health of the Greater Lowell community.
The Greater Lowell Health Alliance offers grants to support programs and services to improve the overall health of the Greater Lowell community. To date, we have distributed more than $2.5 million in grants to organizations on the front lines of addressing unmet health needs thank to money allocated by Lowell General Hospital through the hospital’s Determination of Need process for its 2010 campus expansion.
This year grants were awarded around the health priorities and programs that meet specific areas of focus identified by the GLHA’s 2025 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) process. This years funds were prioritized by the following health topics below:
- Accessibility
- Chronic Disease
- Mental Health
- Safety & Violence
- Substance Use and Prevention
Grants were announced at this years Annual Breakfast on Friday November7, 2025. Congratulations to this years awards!
AgeSpan-Mind & Body Wellness for Older Adults in Public Housing – $14,687
Mind and Body Wellness for Older Adults in Public Housing is a collaboration between AgeSpan and local Housing Authorities to address and improve the mental health of approximately 420 residents at three public housing apartment buildings in Billerica, Chelmsford, and Tewksbury that provide Supportive Housing for low-income individuals over age 60 and individuals under 60 with a disability. The goal of the Supportive Housing model is to offer the services necessary to enable residents to maintain their highest level of independence in a community environment and to safely age in place. In partnership with the local Housing Authorities, AgeSpan provides an embedded Resident Services Coordinator (RSC) to coordinate and facilitate services and activities, working closely with resident older adults and with other community organizations to help provide for physical, social, and emotional well-being.
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell- Club Love on Wheels Youth Food Truck Expansion – $15,000
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell will meet a community need of food insecurity by supporting an expansion of outreach with “Club Love on Wheels,” our food truck that distributes free healthy light meals and substantial snacks to youth in Lowell. “Club Love on Wheels” will target each week an average of at least 100 youth, ages 8 to 18, who live in predominantly low-income neighborhoods in Lowell. The food truck will run for a total of 37 weeks during the 2025-2026 School Year and Summer 2026. The food truck will travel to predominantly low-income neighborhoods in Lowell, making stops at schools at dismissal times, city parks and splashpads, and other places where youth gather. Staff will distribute free light nutritious meals or substantial snacks, such as fruit smoothies, burritos, and empanadas prepared by the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell Nutrition Manager. Each meal or snack will contain at least one protein and at least one fruit or vegetable serving.
Butler Middle School-Building Resilience: Mental Health Support for Youth and Immigrant Students at Butlter Middle School – $5,000
This project aims to enhance mental health support and social integration for youth and immigrant students, including refugees, at Butler Middle School, addressing the intersecting challenges of poverty and mental health disparities. Through targeted biweekly culturally responsive peer support groups, and culturally sensitive outreach, the program will empower students to build resilience, improve wellbeing, and foster a supportive and inclusive school environment. Additionally, the project will provide migrant and low-income students with opportunities for outings and participation in activities that they might otherwise be unable to afford, supporting social connection and community engagement.
Clear Path for Veterans NE-Veteran Behavioral Health Wellness Initiative: Expanding Comprehensive Mental Health Support in Greater Lowell – $17,500
The Veteran Behavioral Health Wellness Initiative will utilize GLHA funding to expand Clear Path NE’s existing Comprehensive Wellness Program to serve veterans in the Greater Lowell area better, specifically targeting those experiencing behavioral health challenges, including PTSD, TBI, MST, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. The project will serve an estimated 25 additional veterans over the 12-month grant period, building upon the 123 veterans from CHNA 10 communities already served in Fiscal Year 2024. This grant-funded expansion addresses specific barriers veterans face in accessing behavioral health care, including stigma associated with seeking help, lack of trust in civilian providers, transportation challenges, and financial constraints. The enhanced program will deliver evidence-based interventions through a holistic approach that combines peer support, wellness activities, and community integration. Services will include structured group wellness sessions, peer mentoring, therapeutic activities incorporating
Ironstone Farm- Equine Assisted Experiences Program in partnership with Riverbend – $10,000
This program supports individuals in early recovery from Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) by providing a non-clinical space for emotional regulation, connection, and skill development. Through this grant, Ironstone Farm will provide five three-hour EAE sessions to 10 clients referred through Riverbend between October 2025 and September 2026. During each session, participants engage in structured, horse-facilitated activities designed to: ● Reduce symptoms such as anxiety, craving, and emotional distress ● Build mindfulness, communication, and leadership skills ● Strengthen emotional resilience and self-esteem
LASA Foundation- Mitigating Food Insecurity & Free Medical Clinic – $20,000
- Food Pantry: Specific: Increase the number of unique households served by the food pantry by 50%. Measurable: Track the number of unique household sign-ins at each distribution event. Achievable: Partner with grocery stores and optimize volunteer scheduling Relevant: Expand reach to up to 20 individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. Time-bound: Achieve the 50% increase by September 2026.
B. Meals for Shelters Specific: Increase the number of nutritious meals distributed to local homeless shelters by 30%. Measurable: Track the total number of meals prepared and delivered to each shelter bi-weekly. Achievable: Optimize meal preparation processes, recruit additional volunteers for cooking and delivery, and secure new food donations or partnerships to meet the increased demand. Relevant: Address the critical need for consistent, healthy food options for individuals experiencing homelessness in the community. Time-bound: Achieve the 30% increase in meal distribution by September 2026.
C. Free Medical Clinic Specific: Continue to maintain the current level of visitors (high) on an ongoing basis. Measurable: Track the unique patient visits for primary care appointments. Achievable: Implement a new patient outreach program targeting local community centers and churches, and recruit additional volunteer healthcare providers to enable rotation and availability. Relevant: Address the critical healthcare needs of the uninsured population. Time-bound: Maintain current level of visitors to serve uninsured primary care patients.
THRIVE Communities-Deepening peer re-entry groups and accompaniment for service navigation $17,500
THRIVE was awarded $17,500 to deepen peer re-entry group activities and advance accompaniment services to navigate resources in the community with individuals 25+ transitioning from incarceration who have overlapping experience navigating wellness in Mental Health, the impacts of Substance Use Disorder, and/or Immigration supervision post incarceration. This grant will support volunteer recruitment and training, group facilitation, participant transportation and support needs, and ongoing evaluation of outcomes. Over the one-year period, THRIVE will operate these 4 types of groups weekly with peer support serving approximately 40 community members impacted by incarceration in the Greater Lowell area. These individuals, all returning citizens experiencing poverty and marginalization, will receive intensive wraparound support from trained volunteers and staff. These groups do not replicate case management services, but instead bridge a gap in relational infrastructure essential for long-term stability and resilience.