Stockwell offers help to needy
Published on September 19th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - Believe it or not, the town's Board of Selectmen has a stack of money at its disposal, and if you've run into a predicament with stacks of unpaid medical bills, the town will likely lend a helping hand.
It may sound like a too good to be true infomercial sales pitch, or even a potential scam, but the Selectmen help out dozens of needy citizens in such situations every year.
And perhaps the most surprising aspect of it all, the Selectmen need to spend every dime of its appropriation from the charitable trust every year. Otherwise, funding for the account, popularly known as the Stockwell Fund, will likely be decreased.
During the last Selectmen's meeting, held on Sept. 11, Chairman George Seibold implored the public to come forward and take advantage of the money.
According to Seibold, who believes that the majority of Stoneham's populace has no inkling that the account even exists, he hopes that those who do know of the Stockwell Trust, but are too embarrassed to come forward for assistance, rethink that initial reluctance.
"I don't think a lot of people know that this trust exists for medical reasons. I know there are a lot of people who feel uncomfortable coming forward. But the money is there for people in dire straits," the Selectman Chair said during the board's recent meeting.
"Anybody who has a need and feels that they financially qualify is welcome to come forward," Town Counsel Bill Solomon later chimed in.
The Stockwell Fund, which is actually called the Arthur Harris Cowdrey, Mary Walcott Cowdrey, and the James Alden Stockwell Hospital Memorial Account, was established decades ago by longtime Stoneham resident Helen Walcott Stockwell.
The trust's creator, since deceased, reportedly originally intended the money to be used to construct a hospital facility, but also allowed for the fund's trustee to provide free medical care and aid to needy Stoneham residents within a medical facility either within or outside the town.
In June of 1979, in a decision issued by a Mass. Probate court, the fund's purpose was amended to also allow for contributions and grants to be issued for residents not only in hospitals, but also in nursing homes, health institutions, clinics, or other such places that primarily serve Stoneham residents.
The court decision at the time not only permitted the funding to go directly to local residents for such services, but also to the institutions and organizations themselves.
The Stockwell Trust is currently managed by Boston's Mellon Financial Services, which gives the town an annual appropriation from interest gained on the investments.
According to town officials, although the amount fluctuates from year to year, the Selectmen usually have about $70,000 to spend annually.
This year, because the fund had leftover money, which must be expended by August, the Selectmen voted to restore the Senior Center van driver from the account.
Although the Stockwell Fund is intended for the use of needy citizens, the Selectmen do have some discretion in deciding who meets that criteria.
Many times, according to Seibold and Selectman John DePinto, even if the Selectmen determine that a person or family doesn't qualify for funding, town officials are able to steer applicants towards other avenues - such as other government or private sources for money.
"It's all confidential. They can go to our office and file an application with [Selectman Office Manager Muriel Doherty]," said DePinto. "We're required to spend so much money each year. And we don't get as many requests as I thought we would."
"If a person thinks they may even come close to qualifying, they should really contact the Selectman's office for an application."
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