The Millis Fund Continues Its Mission, Even with Costs Rising

What does it mean to help your neighbor?
Organizers of the Millis Fund know it as being there to help your neighbors in their time of need. In fact, that’s just why the Millis Fund was created. The small nonprofit has helped over 400 families out of critical financial crises, due to such issues as illness, accidents, and family issues, since it was begun 22 years ago, says Brooks Corl, who is entering his 18th year as treasurer for the organization.
Established in 1994, the Millis Fund was created by volunteers from four houses of worship in Millis –St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Ael Chunon Congregation, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (which is now closed) and the Church of Christ, Congregational.
“The three churches and the synagogue were the prime movers,” says Corl, who noted that one of the first presidents of the Millis Fund, Derwood Rowley, passed away this year. The fund is supported through private donations to provide emergency financial aid to Millis residents, for such items as rent, utilities, medical costs, fuel, clothing and other emergency needs.
Corl points out that some founding principles of the Millis Fund are complete confidentiality for the family needing help, that the fund pays the creditor owed, that it does not help any family more than once per year, (and rarely would it support any one family more than three times overall,) and that the fund is designed to relieve temporary financial emergencies.
The nine members of the Board of Directors meets about four or five times a year to plan the fund drive, create the materials and review the applications. Most often, the Millis Fund is used to pay utilities, medical bills, and rent, and board members take care to personally contact each applicant.
When The Millis Fund began, says Corl, it helped about 8-10 families a year, and now, he says, the families number in the 20s, typically. “At the same time, costs of all services have gone up. Living in general has gotten more expensive, even for a small town like Millis,” says Corl. He points out that in the 1990’s, a typical rent grant from the Millis Fund might have been $500, but these days, “it’s not unusual for monthly rent for so-called low income housing to go more than double that.” Corls explains that transportation costs are huge as well, as residents need cars for basic needs.
This month, the Millis Fund holds its annual drive, and then on the second Sunday in February, “Souper Sunday,” a soup bowl is literally passed through places of worship to gather contributions for the fund.
Applications for the Millis Fund can be found at the Council on Aging and the Millis Church of Christ. If you would like to help your fellow residents in need, you can send your donation to:
The Millis Fund, 142 Exchange Street, Millis, MA 02054.
The fund is a 501 (c3) organization and will provide a letter of thanks, which could serve as a receipt.