Grants awarded to relief agencies in McDowell

The McDowell Foundation is helping three nonprofit organizations provide recession relief with almost $10,000 in grants.
The foundation recently announced that $9,869 in grants would be given to local nonprofits.
The grants approved by The McDowell Foundation are as follows:
· McDowell Mission Ministry – $4,990 to purchase two commercial refrigeration units, increasing the capacity of two locations to accept perishable food items from Manna Food Bank, such as milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt, juice and produce
· McDowell County Department of Social Services – $2,518 to continue the Community Garden project. The effort provides a productive gardening activity for Work First recipients who could not find jobs.
· McDowell County Schools – $2,361 to provide food assistance to families in McDowell County in conjunction with the Family Resource Centers located at Old Fort, North Cove and Glenwood elementary schools. Parents will also participate in the Circle of Parents program that provides comprehensive, self-help services.
This second round of recession response grants was made possible by local donors: a $2,500 match offered by William E. Dover's daughters from the William E. Dover Endowment Fund and $2,000 from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC).
In April, CFWNC issued a $10,000 challenge grant to The McDowell Foundation for recession response relief.
"An outpouring of community generosity has allowed The McDowell Foundation to access all of the matching funds available through CFWNC and the Dover family," said Sharon Parker, chairwoman of The McDowell Foundation. "Since March, The McDowell Foundation has distributed almost $28,000 in critically needed support to nonprofits addressing crisis situations. However, needs are still great in our community and with another grant opportunity in September, continued contributions are needed now more than ever."
To help The McDowell Foundation continue to make grants for recession relief, donate online at www.cfwnc.org or by mail to The McDowell Foundation-RRF, P.O. Box 55, Marion, NC 28752-0055. Contributions of any size are welcome and make a difference. CFWNC has waived its administrative fees; all funds raised in McDowell County will be granted in McDowell County during 2009 for critical needs.
The next deadline for Recession Response Fund applications is Sept. 1. Local nonprofits, churches and governmental agencies are invited to apply for grants through an expedited CFWNC process targeted to support emergency relief services, including food, shelter/housing, utility assistance, medical/mental health and employment issues made worse by the recession. Agencies that have been funded previously are invited to reapply. Guidelines and downloadable application documents can be accessed at www.cfwnc.org.
The McDowell Foundation was established in 1995 as an affiliate of CFWNC by a group of local residents to be a permanent endowment and resource for charitable efforts that benefit McDowell County. The local volunteer board of directors works to raise funds to support nonprofits providing services in McDowell County. Current board members are Sharon L. Parker, chairwoman; W. Hill Evans, vice chairman; Laura Dover Doran, secretary; and Ellen "Bunnie" S. Burgin, Sim Butler, Arthur Campbell, Becky Cross, Sim Cross, Barbara W. Dark, Amy England, James S. Gibson, Albert C. "Bud" Hogan, Garland Norton and Joy Shuford.
For more information about The McDowell Foundation, contact Sharon Parker at 652-2441. To learn more about The Community Foundation, call (828) 254-4960 or visit www.cfwnc.org.