At the April 19 Board meeting, The Shelby Foundation Board of Directors approved over $27,000 in community grants to local nonprofit organizations who serve Shelby and the surrounding areas. Not all grants are listed because some donors wish to remain anonymous.

The Domestic Violence Shelter received a $7,552 grant for their “Capacity Building Project.” A building, located adjacent to their current location, will be renovated and remodeled to relocate administrative and case management offices and provide male shelter space. The expansion will provide space additional space for their growing clientele and foster a more efficient administrative atmosphere.

First Lutheran Church Food Pantry received a $1,500 grant to purchase food and expand their food offerings. The grant will allow for a wider variety of protein and bulk quantities to be purchased. The goal is to provide needy families with the widest range of nutritious foods possible.

Junior Class After-Prom Committee received $1,000 for the SHS Junior Senior After-Prom. The recreational event at SHS offers our community teens an enticing, safe alternative to participate in fun and activities with 100% prohibition of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use on the premise. The Shelby Junior Class desires to provide students and their guests with an evening of fun, fellowship and memories in a safe place.

Richland Pregnancy Services received a $3,200 grant to assist with startup costs at their new satellite site at Shelby Help Line Ministries. Richland Pregnancy Services will provide low income expectant mothers in the Shelby community free medical services; provide education to and support services to teenagers to decrease the number of teen pregnancies; and deliver training regarding healthy relationships to schools and churches to help reduce dating violence, abusive relationships, and unplanned pregnancies.

Shelby Cancer Rally received a $500 grant to help with promoting the community event. Each year,hundreds pour into downtown Shelby to help raise awareness and funds to beat cancer. The grant will be used to purchase signs and other marketing materials to promote the event.

Shelby Middle School received a $5,000 grant for the Eighth Grade Class Trip to Washington D.C. The goal is to provide students with the chance to visit our nation’s capital, and, in turn, have the opportunity to gain an entirely different perspective on history, science, math, literature, music, and the arts. In essence, this trip will be like stepping into a history book, but our students will be a part of the text and they will experience education from an unparalleled perspective.

Shelby Police Department received a $2,500 grant to purchase police body cameras. The purpose of the cameras is threefold: #1. Evidence collection; #2. Transparency of the officers; #3. Protect the officers against false statements and complaints. The police department ultimately hopes to purchase 15 body worn cameras so each officer could have their own. This grant was funded by the Curry Family Community Fund of The Shelby Foundation.

Shelby Safety Town, a safety program for kindergarten age children, received $2,000 grant.  While pedestrian and traffic safety are emphasized in the Safety Town program, other important lessons for pre-school age children have also been incorporated to provide a well-rounded safety “primer” for these children regarding dangers present in everyday situations and to foster a spirit of good citizenship and etiquette at an early age.

The Shelby Foundation is a nonprofit organization that gives back to Shelby’s community and surrounding areas by providing donors an opportunity to positively impact Shelby’s future. It makes it as easy as possible for people to use their money to help this community.

The Foundation awards grant dollars to worthy nonprofit organizations and their programs that improve the lives of Shelby residents. The Foundation is dedicated to programs which enhance arts, culture and humanities, improve health, and welfare services. In essence, the Shelby Foundation assists the community where we live, work and love by simply making it better.

To become a donor or for more information about The Shelby Foundation, contact Carrie Kemerer, director, at 419-342-3686 or email to: carrie@theshelbyfoundation.org or visit www.theshelbyfoundation.org.