West Side Nut Club Donates Over $563K to Local Organizations

During a normal year, the West Side Nut Club would invite members of the organizations who receive donations from funds raised during the Fall Festival to their annual Founder's Day dinner event. But, as we all know painfully well, this is not a normal year. The coronavirus pandemic has forced the Club to cancel this year's dinner for the first time in its nearly 100 year history, but it didn't stop them from still helping a large number of organizations in the area who have asked for assistance.

In lieu of the dinner event, three members of the Nut Club held a brief, socially distant press conference outside the entrance to the West Branch Library on Franklin Street Tuesday afternoon to announce this year's recipients. Of course, thanks to the hugely successful half-pot contest during last year's festival, the Club was able to donate more money than it ever has in a single year, $563,075 to be exact, with another $101,600 waiting to be distributed after membership approval.

Organizations wishing to receive donations must first apply with the Club through their website. From there, board members review all the applications and present them to the members for approval. Here are the organizations who are receiving a share of the initial funds.