MOSCOW – Over the past year, the Moscow Rotary Club has worked to provide grants that totaled $19,900 to nine local non-profits that better the community. On Monday, August 14, each recipient presented to Rotarians what their organization would do with the funds.
This community grant project was spearheaded by a committee within the Rotary Club consisting of past President Joy Lunsford, and members Nancy Lyle, Dave Ostrum, Jan Levengood, and Jackie Coan. With the carryover funds from the previous year growing to numbers they had never seen, Lunsford and her team jumped into action to give back to the community in a way the club had never done before.
Current President Tim Thompson explained this experience has been great for Rotary Club members and stated he is incredibly thankful for all the hard work put in by the committee members to ensure the success of this project.
The grant recipients are listed as follows:
The Moscow Rotary Club granted the Adventist Community Service Non-Profit Thrift Store $4,000 to make essential building updates. June Minor, the recipient of the funds, said she is beyond thankful to the club for providing this opportunity to the store and allowing them to continue their work providing for the community.
Mark Boehne, past president of the Moscow Lions Club explained his club will use the $3,500 to restore the fairground picnic shelter. As the old shelter is currently starting to lean and sink into the ground, his club will work to restore the essential cover at our well-loved fairgrounds to ensure community members for years to come can enjoy the area.
The Friendly Neighbors non-profit received $3,200 to continue their free food service to elderly community members in the Moscow area. Bill Terrio, the recipient of the funds, explained his team will bring food to anyone 65 and over who is in need.
The parent-run Moscow Day School received $2,400 to provide enrichment programs like yoga and music classes to their children. The school works to provide exceptional child care at a low cost. Mandi Harley, who spoke on behalf of the school, explained playing, learning, and having a great time is essential to child development and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring outside resources in to provide new programs funded by Rotarians.
Thea Fuhs with Milestone Decisions explained they are thankful to be granted $2,300 from Rotarians to help create a community garden for their clients, families, staff, and the entire community to enjoy. Milestone Decisions provides care support to kids with developmental and intellectual disabilities. This garden will provide their clients with an accessible place to gather and experience the beauty of nature.
Rotations also granted $1,600 to the Juliaetta-Kendrick Heritage Foundation to repair the roof of the historic building. Unfortunately, the piping under their building has recently caused them problems as well. So, to stay afloat, they will be slating the roofing project for a year and will start working on their piping as soon as funds permit.
The Moscow Renaissance Fair was granted $1,600 to purchase a new storage unit. Currently, they store all items at a board member’s property. However, as that member is moving out of state, the items were needing a new home. The Renaissance Fair just finished its 50th year in Moscow celebrating the start of spring each year.
Julie Everest, from the First Presbyterian Church of Moscow, spoke to the club next on how they plan to use the $800 for their “Food at Noon” program for Moscow High School students to elevate stress and have a warm meal and good company to count on each week.
Lastly, the organization that runs the 1912 center named Heart of the Arts received $500 for pens used during their interactive education system that takes students back to 1912 with an interactive historic curriculum. Jenny Kostroff stated this experience is something they have wanted to provide for years as it does not just educate the students who participate, but the families who get to learn from their children after the day is complete too.
The Moscow Rotary Club gets a majority of its funds each year from selling Kettle Corn at the Moscow Farmers Market. All funds the club receives they put back into the community by donations to various organizations and grant programs like this.
If you are interested in learning more about the service organization, stop by one of the Rotary Club’s weekly Monday meetings at the Best Western University Inn at noon.