When COVID-19 struck the world, many organizations were forced to cancel their fundraising events.

To the Union Relief Association of Westfield, this was devastating. Union Relief typically holds several fundraisers during the year to raise money to support their mission of giving temporary relief to people in the Westfield area who may be struggling and in need of a little assistance.

The need is often the greatest during the holiday season and annually Union Relief organizes a Christmas program to help Westfield families and senior citizens.

Union Relief’s biggest fundraiser for the Christmas program is the Charity Ball, which has been held every year for almost 100 years. However, without COVID subsiding, it was impossible to safely hold this long-standing event. Members of the organization, faced with a year where community need was greater and program expenses were projected to exceed $ 10,000 dollars, decided to reach out to the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and other community groups and members to ask for help.

When asked for assistance, the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and community businesses, individuals, and organizations stepped up to help. The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation awarded a grant for $ 5,000 dollars to the Union Relief Association of Westfield for their Christmas Relief Project and individuals and businesses in the community helped make up the rest.

“We are humbled and grateful for the grant from NCCF,” said Sarah button, president of Union Relief. “The NCCF grant helped us maintain our annual Christmas project during a year when it was needed the most. Thank you again to the NCCF for their generosity. Union Relief is also very grateful for the support from the community and the level of caring that they exhibited. People in our area know that we are an organization that helps people in need throughout the year and they came to our rescue.”

Because of the donations and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation grant, and contributions by community members and businesses, Union Relief was able to provide food, household items, clothing, winter boots, and gifts to 48 families with 108 children. They also gave food and household items to 43 senior citizens in Westfield.