The Town of Montgomery Community Response Team lent a helping hand to those in need over the past few days.

On Sunday the group partnered with the Walden Rotary Club for “Operation Clean Sweep.” More than thirty volunteers helped beautify the community by cleaning up garbage around town. Small groups of 2-4 volunteers wearing personal protective equipment were arranged throughout town.

Walden Savings Bank brought the most volunteers, with nearly 10, while Taylor-Montgomery, LLC donated garbage disposal services. Town of Montgomery Superintendent of Highways Shaun Meres and the Town Highway Department collected the bags of garbage. Montgomery Town Supervisor Brian Maher gave a special thanks to the Operation Clean Sweep Committee that was led by Robbie Brown, Mike Bliss, Theron Adkins and Shaun Meres for all the planning they did to execute the event.

“It was an awesome community clean-up day,” Maher said. “It was a great event.”

In addition, grant applications for the Response Team’s Business Relief Program became available via gotomstrong.org on Monday.

The Business Relief Program will be awarding cash grants in the form of direct payments to creditors and vendors to small businesses within the Town of Montgomery, including the Villages of Walden, Maybrook and Montgomery that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

Eligible businesses that qualify for this grant include independently owned businesses in the Town of Montgomery that were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. These businesses may qualify if they are in need of funds to retain business, stay current on rent, inventory, utilities and/or to cover fixed costs related to business.

Ineligible businesses that do not qualify for this grant include nonprofit organizations, gambling businesses, lending or investment businesses, multi-level sales distribution businesses, loan packagers, pawn shops, real estate developers or brokers, landlords, insurance businesses as well any business engaged in illegal activity.

All grant applicants must be prepared to provide proof of financial losses to their business due to the COVID-19 crisis. Grant applications will be reviewed by the #TOMSTRONG Business Relief Program Committee.

“That’s a Town of Montgomery only program. It’s unique to the entire area,” Maher said. “There’s no other town in the county or in the area that has a program like this.”