Alex Paul
For The New Era
Seven area projects received grants totaling more than $15,000 Thursday morning from the Sweet Home Community Foundation.
Foundation board member Jon Wittwer said that over the past three years, the group whose goal is “to make Sweet Home a self-sufficient, economically and socially prosperous community” has awarded some $45,000 to needy organizations.
Much of the Foundation’s endowment is generated each year by a donation of 10 percent of the net proceeds from the Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home, said Ron Moore, president of the Sweet Home Economic Development Group, Inc., which sponsors the event.
SHEDG has also been a strong supporter of the community beautification committee’s efforts, especially the median stripe enhancements on Highway 20. The project is considered important to help attract businesses and industries to the community.
Moore said money given to the Foundation and the beautification committee can be traced directly to the nearly 400 volunteers who help make the Jamboree operate and with a profit.
“We don’t say ‘thank you’ often enough to those people,” Moore said. “What they do is important and it pays off in so many ways.”
Max Thompson made the presentation of grant certificates. Actual money will be dispersed as each project needs. Thompson said the number of requests jumped from 11 seeking $25,000 last year (8 totaling $16,200 given out) to 25 this year seeking $48,000 (seven awarded for $15,000.)
Projects and the grants awarded included:
Save Weddle Bridge Project: $2,500, presented to Alex Paul on behalf of Karla Burcham. This project focuses on renovation and repair of Weddle Covered Bridge. This grant will kick off Phase I of the restoration, funding rental equipment and supplies and materials needed for the most immediate repairs to the roof to prevent further damage to the bridge floor. The funds will also be used to repair and remove dry rot on the understory of the bridge.
Senior Companion Program: $2,000. Samaritan Pacific Health Services. Suzette Boydston, program director. This grant will augment an already existing program. The program is designed to provide extra non-taxed financial support to low-income seniors over 60 by way of a small hourly stipend, mileage and meal reimbursement. These seniors apply their life experiences to meeting the needs of more frail elderly or disabled people thus allowing them to remain in familiar surroundings much longer.
Senior meals program: $2,000. Cascades West Senior Services Foundation. Kristi Murphy, Foundation Coordinator. The Senior Meals Program serves nutritious meals in the Sweet Home Senior Center three days a week, delivers meals to those in need, and provides frozen meals for those who cannot get out of their homes for days when the meal site is not serving meals. This grant will be used as a one to one match for Medicaid funds creating an opportunity to serve an additional 833 meals in the Sweet Home community.
Little Promises Children’s Programs: $2,500. Anita Hutchins, director. The funds from the grant will enhance the current level of safety and security by providing two storage units and an audio/video security system.
East Linn Musuem Metal Sculpture: $2,000. Gail Gregory, president. The funds from this grant will be used to replace the current wooden statues displayed on the museum lawn with a metal sculpture. The sculpture will reflect Sweet Home’s historical heritage.
Senior Center storage unit: $2,000. Sweet Home Senior Center, Helen Ramsdell, manager. The grant funds will be used to purchase a 22 X 7 storage unit attached to the kitchen. This will free up space in the dining rooms, making it more attractive to renters and community users.
Skateboard project: $1,500. Kiwanis Club of Sweet Home. Ben Dahlenburg, chairman. This grant will provide gap funding for the project due to unanticipated increases in material costs for the concrete pad. Kiwanis has $10,000 dedicated to this project.
For more information about the Sweet Home Community Foundation, call Tracii Hickman at 367-2249.