Community Development Grants Approved

Fourteen organizations applied to Morning Star Rotary for Community Development Grants, which we understand may be the most ever! This year’s rotating theme is “Health & Human Services”. Of the requested $18,000+ total requested, the committee reviewed and ranked the proposals to allocate the $8,000 budget. The board unanimously approved the committee’s six recommendations as follows:

1.    American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley.  $2,000 to assist service members, veterans and their families by helping provide healthy snacks and dinner vouchers for “Free Night Out to Reconnect”.

2.    New Bethany Ministries. $1,500 toward the establishment of a Reading Room to provide opportunities for educational advancement, intellectual growth, job skills enhancement and employment searches for clients of 3 of their programs.

3.    ShareCare. $1,000 for the recruitment and management of 5 new volunteers. ShareCare provides compassionate and practical services to the elderly and those with special needs.

4.    St Luke’s University Health Network. $1,500 to provide vision vouchers to 15 needy children in the Bethlehem Area School District. (Eye exam and pair of glasses at no cost to the family.)

5.    The Literacy Center. $1,000 for GED and ESL (English as a second language) texts and curriculum materials for educational instruction.

6.    Victory House of the Lehigh Valley. $1,000 toward the purchase of a portable AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to treat emergency cardiac arrest with a population whose lifestyles contribute to cardiac medical problems. This $1,000 supplements approximately $300 already collected for this purpose by member Janet Sipple to cover the entire cost of the unit.

The Allentown Band submitted an application requesting $1,200 to purchase new music to remain contemporary to its growing audience. This purpose does not fit the current theme, so the committee asked that a “Board discretionary” grant be considered. In thankful recognition of the Allentown Band’s contribution to 11 years of Morning Star Rotary’s “Salute the Troops” concerts, a $1,200 Board Discretionary Grant was unanimously approved.

Recipient organizations will be asked to present at future meetings to provide our members with a clear understanding of the projects being supported.