United Way awards more than $100k in grants to local nonprofits

This article is brought to you by the Kokomo Downtown Farmers Market. ☀️ Rise and shine on Saturday! Celebrate a beautiful Spring with a stop by the Kokomo Downtown Farmers Market on Sat., June 6! The market runs from 9 a.m. until noon at the corner of Washington and Mulberry Streets.

Stock up on fresh produce, local goods, and unique finds from your favorite vendors. Come for the shopping, stay for the community!

We can’t wait to see you there! 🍅🌻🥖

Ten local non-profit organization gathered at Rhine Hall in Kokomo late last month for a very special event. They were there to receive more than $100,000 in grant funding made possible by the United Way Serving Howard and Tipton Counties.

From helping to feed and clothe children to protecting victims of domestic violence to helping people on the road to recovery from addiction, the United Way selected the 10 agencies to receive funds provided by generous donors throughout Howard and Tipton counties.

“This is really a great day for us; we’ve looked forward to this for quite a while,” said Dana Neer, executive director of United Way. “All the good things that our nonprofits here are doing, we’re just very thankful for all the work we can do together. United Way is very happy to be a part of that.”

Each of the nonprofits were given the opportunity to explain to those in attendance how the funding would be used. Whether it was for education, better health outcomes, or providing services that lead to greater financial well-being and security, each program embodied one or more principles held close by United way.

Christine Olson of ABC and Me in Tipton County was the first to speak, explaining that the organization currently serves more than 30 children with a variety of needs

“One of the goals with this grant money was to just be able to meet their basic needs,” said Olson.

Those needs vary greatly, including meals and appropriate clothing for various seasons. But most importantly, the grant will be used to purchase a new curriculum for the organization.

“What I like about this curriculum is it teaches the letters, numbers, and all that, but it goes beyond that,” said Lori Nelson, ABC and Me’s preschool director. “It's teaching them life skills like logic and reasoning and communication and intention and persistence. It also brings them real life experiences that a lot of kids, especially in this day and age, just don't have the chance to do.”

Alternatives of Tipton County received a grant from United Way, also to help children. The organization serves six counties, mainly providing non-essential supportive service to individuals surviving domestic violence. However, part of that mission includes outreach to youth.

Alternatives will use its funding to provide prevention education, teaching teens how to have health and happy relationships, both with friends and romantic partners.

The Area 5 Agency on Aging received a grant to link people to health insurance options that are affordable.

“The main purpose of this program is to find people that are uninsured and to help them link with insurance options,” said Area 5’s Ann Melissa James. “Our services are free, local, unbiased, and confidential. A lot of the people that we help have never had preventive services. They've never been able to really maximize their wellness.”

As the new director of Coordinated Assistance Ministries (CAM), Jerome Williams was excited to accept a grant from United Way. With it, CAM will support its Connected transportation program.

“When the city trolley isn't running, that's when we go,” said Williams. “We have one van. Hopefully in the future we'll have more, but we average about 360 rides a month. We're booked Monday through Sunday. This money is what fuels it.”

Angie Ciski, executive director of the Family Service Association, is no stranger to the local United Way. Her organization has received funding from United Way many times over the years. And as is often the case, the grant funding this time around will underwrite FSA’s domestic violence and sexual assault program.

“Last year, we served 300 adults and 131 children just at our emergency shelter,” said Ciski. “That translates into 4,179 safe bed nights and 11,711 meals provided.”

Food insecurity is at a dangerously high level in Howard County. With the help of United Way, Food Finders Food Bank hopes to meet a portion of that need. Representative Katie Travis explained that more than 12,000 individuals – more than 4,000 of them children – do not know where or when they will eat next.

“And of those individuals, 55 percent of them do not qualify for SNAP which is the term we use for food stamps,” said Travis. “That's the gap that we're trying to fill.”

Narrow Gate Horse Ranch is a first-time recipient of United Way grant funding, and the organization will use it to expand its services. Narrow Gate takes at-risk, inner-city youth and introduces them to equine assisted learning; using horses to build emotional health and intelligence.

With the funding, Narrow Gate will hire its first full-time employee as an on-site ranch manager.

Food insecurity was a consistent theme among the United Way grant recipients, and Samaritan Caregivers was among those seeking to meet the need.

Jamey Henderson, executive director, explained that the grant money will allow them to increase the amount of food provided to the homebound seniors it serves.

“How would you feel if everything you got to eat was from a can or a box?” asked Henderson. “No Indiana cantaloupe, sweet corn, or watermelon. No bacon. No eggs. How would you feel about that? That is a reality for the low-income seniors that Samaritan Caregiver serves with our grocery program.”

Through the grant funding, these seniors will have access to fresh food options and will have freedom in selecting the types of food they receive.

The Turnabout Community Resource Center, based in Russiaville, has spent the past four years tackling the substance abuse crisis. According to representative Ned Sutherland, the United Way will assist Turnabout in reaching teens at Western High School and other schools in Howard County with its Focus program.

“This is for teenagers struggling with addictions,” said Sutherland. “The schools need help in that area, so we'll be doing a lot of counseling with that to help those struggling.”

Sutherland added that a portion of the funding also will be used to provide counseling to military veterans saddled with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental and emotional afflictions related to their time in service.

United Way serving Howard & Tipton Counties brings Howard and Tipton Counties together by providing advocacy, service, and giving opportunities that empower all people with health, education, and financial security. For additional information, visit www.howardandtiptonunitedway.org.