HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Rally Reno Campaign handed out another $14,300 to five nonprofit agencies through the Hutchinson Community Foundation.
The money comes from a $110,000 pool funded by donors of the United Way of Reno County and the Hutchinson Community Foundation. The grants are aimed at expanding local nonprofits’ capacities to continue providing services during the COVID-19 crisis. The fund is now depleted. Donors who would like to help make more grant dollars available should contact Hutchinson Community Foundation President and CEO Aubrey Abbott Patterson or United Way of Reno County Executive Director Lisa Gleason.
A panel of community leaders awarded the following grants:
Park Place Christian Church-Bread & Cup Ministry — $3,000: Funds will be used to feed individuals who have been impacted by coronavirus and others normally served by this ministry. Cleaning supplies and paper products for carryout meals necessary during this time will also be purchased.
Children’s Emergency Shelter Home — $2,300: Funds will be used to continue to pay staff to be on-call during this difficult and unpredictable time.
Et Cetera Shop & Ten Thousand Villages — $2,000: This grant will be used toward adaptations necessary to allow Et Cetera Shop to continue accepting donations and making sales during the COVID-19 crisis. Possible expenditures include media manager wages and/or purchase of a laptop and/or donation bin.
St. Vincent de Paul — $5,000: All grant funds will be used to assist community members in need as they struggle to afford enough food and to pay rent and utilities after the current grace period expires.
The Salvation Army — $2,000: Additional funds toward The Salvation Army's partially-funded initial request will help with staff salaries and utilities during a time of lost revenue, allowing the organization to continue serving community members with immediate needs.
“Reno County nonprofits have experienced lost revenue plus increased needs for the clients they serve — a big hit to the bottom line,” Patterson said. “We anticipate that the need for emergency grants to fill the gap will continue for many months and we will need further support from our very generous community.”
Patterson may be reached at [email protected] or 620-200-0175. Gleason may be reached at [email protected] or 620-669-9329.