
Grandparents being the primary caregivers for their grandchildren is becoming more common these days, and it can be challenging to raise another child alongside the difficulties of growing older.
A 70-year-old retired grandfather living on Cape Cod was in that position when he contacted Needy Fund.
His 7-year-old grandson, of whom he has sole custody, wanted to go to summer camp this year, an expense this grandfather hadn’t anticipated and couldn’t afford on his fixed income.
He recognized the importance of keeping his grandson engaged, active, and connected with his peers over the summer break, and he reached out to Needy Fund for help.
The Fund was able to pay the cost of summer camp for his grandson, who exclaimed to the Needy Fund staff, “Thank you, I’m going to have the best summer of my life!”
More about the Needy Fund
Many human service agencies offer assistance to those in need, but the Cape Cod Times Needy Fund has been helping with various immediate, short-term emergencies like food, rent, medical costs, and other basic expenses since 1936.
No cash is given to recipients of the Needy Fund. Instead, the agency pays providers through a voucher program. The case described above was provided by the Needy Fund on condition of anonymity.

How to donate to the Needy Fund
Donations, which are tax deductible, can be made in needyfund.org. Checks may also be made payable to Cape Cod Times Needy Fund and mailed to Cape Cod Times Needy Fund, PO Box 36, Hyannis, MA 02601.
How to get assistance from the Needy Fund
Those in need of assistance can contact the Needy Fund at 508-778-5661 or 800-422-1446. Questions can be emailed to [email protected]. The Needy Fund is also on Facebook (facebook.com/NeedyFund) and Twitter (@NeedyFund.)
Total contributions to date: $120,993.96
Dan and Terese Heintzelman Family Foundation: $10,000
Brazilian Grill, Inc.: $5,000
In memory of Caroline S. Lloyd of James Lloyd: $2,500
In gratitude for all we have: $2,500
In Memory of Kathy Livingston by Anne Pickart: $2,000
Jeffrey and Georgia Wilson: $1,000
Dennis and Marisa Devine: $500
Marjorie Donovan: $500
Susan and Bruce Jankowski: $500
Marcia Dalbey: $500
In memory of Frank Ward Sr.: $500
In memory of James Sethares by William Jarvis: $500
In Memory of Pat Schiestl by Stefan Schiestl: $500
Anonymous: $500
Anonymous: $500
Cordelia and Donald Delson: $300
Helen and Clifford Fisher: $300
Fredericka B. Cobey: $300
John Stanley and Diane Miller: $250
Vincent and Mary Birbiglia: $250
Paul and Mary Alice Gallant: $250
Donald and Ruth Wright: $250
John and Adelita Fracasso: $250
Paul and Lauren: $250
Anne and George Gingold: $220
West Yarmouth Women’s Congregational Scholarship: $200
Peter and Joan Boyer: $200
Cecile Sneider: $200
Daryl Bladen: $200
David and Barbara Webb: $200
Sharon and Fred Johnson: $200
David and Joyce Zemina: $200
In memory of David and Shirley Hamblen: $200
In memory of Donald Campbell by John Janowicz: $200
In memory of my Lenny: $200
Rita and Joseph Wood: $200
Anonymous: $200
Anonymous: $25
In memory of Marie Grace Lucier of Kent and Kathleen Farrenkopf: $50
Anonymous: $100
Patricia F. Lotane: $100
Cheryl Divito: $100
Reagan and Everett Chalk: $50
Phyllis Burnham: $25
Joan Murphy: $10
Francis and Joyce Celli: $25
Donald and Elaine Bassett: $40
Glee and Roscoe Riley: $40
Cristina Schott: $25
Thanking Tom and Vivian: $75
Susanna Hoepker: $25
Carol Croft: $25
Anonymous: $100
John and Theresa Clarkin: $50
Cape Cod Cabins: $100
Anonymous: $100
Pedro and Maria Genovese: $50
Albert and Barbara Willey: $30
Anonymous: $25
M. Sylvia Cordero: $50
Ward and Maureen Dunning: $50
Anonymous: $25
Kendall Ayers: $100
In memory of Gary A. French: $100
Susana Methelis: $100
Anonymous: $100
Anonymous: $50
In honor of Peter Moriarty: $50
Survivor of David and Diane: $100
In memory of Cynthia Markle, Faith Halfyard and Arthur J. Beatty, by Betsy and George Gardner: $75
Anonymous: $100
Ed and Shirley Larsen in memory of Betty Jacques: $100
Rene Guenette: $100
Norma L. Shidlovsky: $50
Donald Larsen: $20
Anonymous: $50
Mary Ellen and Sean Curran: $50.01
Anonymous: $100
In memory of Bob and Scott Duverger by Florence Duverger: $25
John and Shirley Farrington: $100
Donald H. Clegg: $20
Deborah Donaldson: $10
In memory of my parents Steve and Irene Gwozdz Nancy Gwozdz Turnbull’s summer birthday: $50
Anonymous: $50
Anonymous: $50
Carol Magenau: $100
In memory of loved ones: $20
Anonymous: $100
In memory of Fannie T. Carreiro: $15
James and Joan Duchesney: $15
Gerald and Karen Katchmar: $25
Beverly Clark: $50
Anonymous: $150
William Leavitt: $25
Michele Pregent: $20
Andres and Anita Raposa: $25
Shirley O’Brien: $50
In memory of Brenda M. Kinsella: $100
Be Well Stay Safe: $35
In memory of Steve Grizey: $25
Anonymous: $50
Elena Karel: $50
David and Gini Donnelly: $100
Marvin Hooves: $100
Irene Antkowiak: $100
Anonymous: $30
William and Patricia Thomas: $50
William Munro: $100
In Memory of Edmund Lukas by Helen Rakov: $50
In memory of Jack Dowman: $20
In honor of God and his miracles. Fortunately, Paula Mello: $50
Anonymous: $100
Frederic and Sandra Scudder: $100
Arthur N. Rey: $30
Anonymous: $20
Courtney Raeke: $2
Thomas G. Lamont: $25
In memory of Win and Frank Bopp – my parents: $100
Rita Klopfenstein: $80
Joan F. Garrity: $50
Chris and Mary Argys: $30
Anonymous: $25
Jeanie Reilly: $25
Paul Bosselaers: $50
John Fauth: $100
Anonymous: $100
Kathleen Riley: $100
Andy and Judy Cornella: $50
Anonymous: $50
In memory of Phil Bee: $100
In memory of my husband George: $100
Valeria Mellett: $15
Richard and Lesley Swaylik: $100
Anonymous: $25
Anonymous: $50
Anonymous: $20
Bill and Lorna Hathon: $150
In honor of Bob Connelly’s Rob and Cathy Giapponi: $25
Stanley and M. Theresa Goldstein: $50
Julie and Vince Kraft: $100
J. C. Garner: $100
Anonymous: $100
Maria and Roger Cadrin: $50
Brian and Ann Kelly: $25
Kenneth J. Whittington: $25
Mary Ellen Hautanen: $50
Richard and Jean Lyon: $50
Gail Schoonover: $100
In memory of Lennie – love B: $50
Marianne Durford: $25
Bruce and Patricia White: $50
In memory of Peg Noyes and Tess LaSpina by Patricia McCarthy: $50
Charles Ering: $100
Anonymous: $100
Anonymous: $25
Jane Martell: $50
In memory of Marge and Ed, and Rusty and Ed: $100
Anonymous: $2
Joseph and Joan Powers: $15
Richard and Patricia Tucker: $75
Raffi: $100
Phil and Beverly Johnston: $100
In memory of Mary and Bill Costello: $100
In Memory of My Halloween Hooters: Virginia Sullivan, Mary Goyette, Mary Cullen, Liz Zubrinski, Nancy Plaster, Jean Paquin, Jean Butler, and Anne Berard, by Joan Schlander-Minelli: $150
Mia and Max: $25
CL and AE Mello: $50
George and Janet Levesque: $100
James and Elizabeth Cullen: $50
Thomas and Marita Ducharme: $162.78
Dennis Mascio: $100
Anonymous: $150
John and Linda Wilson: $50
Donald and Murva Deneen: $50
From Erica Long in Heaven: $25
Jed and Carolyn Johnson: $100
Karin Wennberg: $100
Carlos and Susan Pitzi: $150
In memory of Neil Cronin by Darren Grebe: $100
Wayne and Janice Grenier: $50
In memory of Rachel Hassett: $100
John Keef: $21
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Capece: $150
Dick and Mary Ellington: $100
Judith Sweeney: $50
MDR: $50
Anonymous: $15
Anonymous: $100
Frances Dooley: $10
Lucy L. Elmer: $50
In memory of Carol Sawyer, Judy Lovett, Patricia Fethiere: $150
Ana Garrahan: $100
In memory of Sherry Sajban de Rocco and Susan Maffei: $100
In memory of Barbara J Hosmer: $100
Ruth Anderson-Zabre: $75