Local News

The PACF presented $209,056 in grants through its Community Action Grants Program to organizations within its 11-county service region, including Wood, Wirt, Ritchie, Doddridge, Mason, Calhoun, Gilmer, Roane, Pleasants and Jackson counties in West Virginia, and Washington County, Ohio.

Of this total, the foundation’s Ritchie County Community Foundation affiliate awarded $2,890; the remainder of grants came from PACF funds.

Some of the grants went to support programs designed to address food insecurity and provide healthy food choices. Others supported parks and recreation facilities, programs addressing substance abuse and access to oral health care, equipment needs for volunteer fire departments and projects in education, arts and human and youth services.

“At our annual meeting this past January, several speakers highlighted the problem of food insecurity in our state,” said senior program officer Marian Clowes. “Hunger is a real issue, as is access to healthy foods. We are excited that these grant-funded programs will help bring healthy food to children, families and seniors on our region.”

Grants awarded through the PACF’s Community Action Grants Program are made possible by individuals and businesses that have established a charitable fund with the PACF.

The PACF grants are:

* Adolescent Health Initiative, Region 5 — $7,000 to support the “Developing Star Leaders” program, which engages students from the Mid-Ohio Valley in developing individual and team leadership skills.

* Calhoun County Family Resource Network — $7,120 to support the Calhoun County Nourishing Network’s efforts to improve access to healthy, whole foods for youth, resource-limited families, and seniors.

* City of Parkersburg — $10,000 to purchase and install an aquaflex surface for the new splash park at the City Park pool.

* Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Mid-Ohio Valley — $5,000 to support financial education programs across the Mid-Ohio Valley.

* Doddridge County Elementary School — $600 to plant trees and to teach students about the life cycles of plants.

* Doddridge County Farmers Market — $5,000 to enable the market to participate in the SNAP “Double Up Bucks” program and to promote the market to the public.

* Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department — $7,250 to purchase turnout gear for firefighters.

* Ely Chapman Education Foundation — $5,183 to repair and replace downspout at the facility.

* Faithlink/Community Resources — $2,150 to support the purchase of a vehicle for the new Senior Ride Link program.

* Family Crisis Intervention Center — $10,000 to support operating expenses for the Kids First Program.

* Fourth Circuit Public Defender Corporation — $4,000 to support the cost of transportation for clients admitted to substance abuse treatment facilities.

* Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department — $1,210 to purchase firefighting nozzles and a fire hose.

* Horizons Center for Independent Living — $5,000 to build an ADA compliant ramp to the facility.

* Little Hocking Fire and Rescue Inc. — $6,396 to purchase scuba diving masks for the rescue diving team.

* Little Kanawha Area Development Corporation — $2,000 to purchase security cameras to be placed in Wirt County to combat an increase in crime.

* Lubeck Elementary School — $4,845 to purchase playground equipment for Pre-K students.

* Lubeck United Methodist Church Lunch SAK Program — $6,650 to help supply, on weekends, school holidays and summer break, food for children from Lubeck Elementary School, to expand service to Blennerhassett Elementary School, and to assist Blennerhassett Middle School with its food and hygiene pantry.

* Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council — $2,300 to repair and/or replace sewing machines used by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program to sew items donated to agencies throughout its communities.

* Minnie Hamilton Health System — $11,600 to assist with the purchase of medication carts.

* NFS Ministries – Latrobe Street Mission — $7,500 to purchase bed frames and mattresses for the women’s dorm.

* Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Department — $7,000 to assist with the replacement of rescue tools.

* Ritchie County Family Resource Network — $1,000 to create a Necessity Closet, to provide hygiene items for those in need.

* Roane County Commission — $7,200 to purchase bunk beds with safety railings for the Roane County 4-H Camp.

* Rotary Club of Parkersburg — $1,500 to support the Drug Free Clubs of America program at Parkersburg High School and Parkersburg South High School.

* Schrader Youth Ballet — $4,000 to purchase a vinyl marley floor to be used at performances.

* Smithville Elementary School — $610 to create hands-on science experiments for the Pre-K through 5th grade classes.

* Town of Reedy — $7,500 to purchase and install a coin-operated bulk water machine to serve citizens who must haul water for use in their homes in Roane, Wirt, and Jackson counties.

* United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley — $2,500 to install a security system.

* Voices for Children CASA Program — $9,000 to provide operating support.

* Voices of the Street/Essentially Yours — $1,000 to provide operating support.

* Washington Bottom Community Building Association — $4,500 to provide flooring and upgraded lighting in the community building.

* West Virginia Health Right — $2,500 to purchase dental supplies for the mobile dental clinic serving Roane County.

* West Virginia University Extension Service Family Nutrition Program — $10,000 to provide pop-up farmers markets at schools in Wood County to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables by children from families with limited income.

* West Virginia University School of Public Health — $1,500 to provide students with practical learning experiences by undertaking community health projects in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

* West Virginia University Foundation/Energy Express — $3,552 to provide take home books to children enrolled in Energy Express in Calhoun, Gilmer, Roane and Wirt counties.

* West Virginia Symphony Orchestra Parkersburg — $5,000 to support operations and programming.

* Wood County 4-H Leaders Association — $12,000 to purchase a stove and kitchen equipment for the Wood County 4-H Camp.

* Wood County Parks and Recreation Commission/Mountwood Park — $15,000 to replace the roofs on cabins at the park.

Ritchie County Community Foundation grants:

* Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department — $1,650 to purchase firefighting nozzles and a fire hose.

* Smithville Elementary School — $1,240 to create hands-on science experiments for the Pre-K through fifth grade classes.