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Representatives from the 6 organizations that received a Community Grant today shared information about the programs our Grants help fund. 1. Rock River Charter School Cooking for Life program will educate students on cooking nutritious meals on a budget in the building they now own, thanks to the generoisty of Bob and Nancy Kimball. 200 students attend at any given time, with 300 throughout the School year. Student Packer said showing them how to cook vs. telling them was more beneficial. Student Danielle said having a kitchen to learn how to cook more than ramen noodles will be helpful and knows this will improve her life. 2. School District of Janesville Homeless Student Fund- Carrie gave the latest statistic that we have 440 identified homeless youth here. This fund provides meals, fess, transportation help to those in need. She talked about cases where the Fund paid for a School Field trip, equipment for an athlete, lice treatments, laundry...needs are basic and there is much need. She was asked how these students fare during summer break. She directs them to programs that can provide help, but "it is tough". 3. HealthNet Dental program. Ian is knowledgeable about Rotary after doing his dissertation on Polio. He has seen a 172% increase in the need for dental assistance, and this program means patients can have a pain free, more productive life. He thanked Drs Romanelli and Dickinson for their generous donation of time and skill at the clinic. 4. ECHO School Supplies Program. This is one of 4 seasonal services that ECHO has provided since 1969. Costs for supplies range between $30-50 per student, and they served 530 in 2016. Any left over supplies are donated directly to the JSD. 5. Community Garden Outreach volunteers work with the RECAP program to teach them horticulture and the satisfaction of donating the produce back into the surrounding communities. Josh is currently in the criminal education program and said that he's taken a lot from the community, now it feels good to give back. The Garden will have an open house on 8.23, a Farm to Table dinner on 8.16, and look for news on market times and dates. The Grant will be used to purchase raised beds for demonstration gardens. 6. Cancer Coalition. Many are familiar with the Thoms program that helps cancer patients. They were inspired to start this in 2011 when they realized the ACS couldn't directly help people in our community. Benefits to patients can now go up to $1000 while in treatment. To date they have raised and used $400,000 to help over 600 people. They asked that we help spread the word by liking them on FB. This is how the Community Grants Committee of Bob Cullen, Jodi Anderson, Hal Robb, John and Derek Wickhem, and Charles Clark allocated our funds this year. It feels good, doesn't it?
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