Medina County Community Fund awards $33,000 in grants
Grants support local causes that enrich the quality of life for all Medina County residents.
The Medina County Community Fund of Akron Community Foundation recently awarded $33,000 to nine local nonprofit organizations. This round of funding brings the fund's cumulative grantmaking total to nearly $650,000.
This year's funding includes a $6,438 grant to Operation HOMES, to provide shelter, food, and essential services to homeless individuals in Medina County.
By rotational partnering with local churches for shelter, food and the administration of life skill programs, Operation HOMES provides opportunities for individuals to become independent, both personally and financially.
"This grant couldn't come at a better time," said Nancy Abbott, treasurer of Operation HOMES. "Even though stores, restaurants, and businesses are starting to open, our partner churches are still not able to host our homeless guests. This grant will allow us to continue to provide shelter, meals, and services to the homeless in Medina County."
The fund also awarded $2,000 to Leadership Medina County, to support its diversity and inclusion program, a public event to build cultural awareness and inclusivity in Medina County. The program will feature diverse speakers, breakout sessions, and activities to represent all-encompassing viewpoints within the community.
"We are thrilled and thankful to have been awarded a grant from the Medina County Community Fund," said Colleen Rice, executive director of Leadership Medina County. "These funds will enable us to provide opportunities for our community to learn more about diversity and inclusion to challenge and overcome prejudices, stereotypes, and discrimination."
Other grants from the Medina County Community Fund this year will support local causes that enrich the quality of life for all Medina County residents. The following is a full list of organizations receiving grants in 2021:
Forever Amber Acres Animal Shelter, to provide free, equine-assisted psychotherapy to help treat first responders and military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related mental illness, $2,500
Leadership Medina County, to support the diversity and inclusion program, a public event to build cultural awareness and inclusivity in Medina County, $2,000
Love INC of Medina County, to provide financial and basic needs assistance for families and individuals faced with economic hardship, $3,000
Marian's Closet, to purchase feminine hygiene products for low-income women in Medina County, $5,562
Matthew 25 Coalition, to support the transportation assistance program, providing auto fuel vouchers, vehicle repairs, assistance with insurance fees and more services for underserved Medina County residents, $4,000
Medina Cares, to support Medina County residents with temporary financial assistance during medical crisis situations, $5,000
Operation HOMES, to provide shelter, food and essential services to homeless individuals in Medina County, $6,438
Project: LEARN of Medina County, to provide remote learning resources and technology to students in Medina County, $2,000
Recovery Center of Medina County, to offer crisis services, classes, and programming to those who are in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, $2,500