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NEW BUFFALO — Neighbor by Neighbor was recently awarded a grant to help local families improve their circumstances and achieve long-term stability by the Pokagon Fund. 

Since 2017, Neighbor by Neighbor (“NbyN”) has been a critical link between resources and residents who fall on hard times. NbyN assists families in various ways, including helping clients stay current on household utility bills to avoid shutoff, helping pay for home repair projects to keep low income families in their homes, providing food to the hungry and other essentials like diapers and formula to new parents, and connecting families to other benefits for which they are eligible, particularly from agencies that lack a physical presence in southwestern Berrien County.

This asset-based work is poised to continue after The Pokagon Fund recently awarded NbyN grant funds to sustain it over the next three years.

“Neighbor by Neighbor plays a vital role in supporting individuals and families in our community, ensuring they have access to the resources they need to thrive,” said Dan Petersen, Executive Director of the Fund. “The Pokagon Fund is proud to continue supporting its mission, and we encourage others in our community to join us in investing in their important work.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference and help Neighbor by Neighbor continue to create lasting impact.”

With the grant funds, Neighbor by Neighbor will be able to not only meet urgent needs but also invest in programs that build pathways to stability and self-sufficiency. For Neighbor by Neighbor Executive Director Laura Richards, the partnership highlights the power of community-driven solutions, and the critical role local organizations play in fostering lasting change.

“The strength of Neighbor by Neighbor is that a vast majority of its funding comes from local sources that allow its services to be driven by community needs and assets” Richards said. “We can meet critical needs of families in a way that is appropriate and expedient. This support will enable us to not only continue the assistance we’ve been able to provide to date, but also to expand our services and reach even more families in need. We invite the community to join in supporting our work—together, we can build a stronger, more resilient community for everyone.”

NbyN is a nonprofit organization that is classified as tax exempt under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. To learn more about Neighbor by Neighbor and its services, visit neighborbyneighbor.org. For more information about The Pokagon Fund, visit its website at www.pokagonfund.org.