
The grant committee met in early February to review applications for the cooperative’s charitable giving program. It selected which applicants to fund from a pool of money that grows as co-op members voluntarily round up their bills to the nearest even dollar. SVEC assists with a corporate contribution.
Below is a list of the latest grant recipients, which will receive a combined $23,975.
Augusta County
Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta: To perform critical home repairs for a client living at or beneath 150% of the federal poverty threshold.
Rockingham County
Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley: To benefit its “Circles of Support” program serving clients, offering a comprehensive set of services to ensure people do not fall through the cracks of the health and behavioral health systems.
Page County
Arise: To offer emergency housing funds that supply area homeless with a safe place to sleep.
Page Alliance for Community Action: To offer free swim lessons at Hawksbill Recreation Park in Stanley and Lake Arrowhead in Luray.
Shenandoah County
Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter: To supplement the utility assistance program to lessen the long-term financial impact of the pandemic on local households.
Over $160,000 in grant funds have been awarded since Operation Round Up began in 2018. More information is available at www.svec.coop/ORU.
Winchester/Frederick County
Henry & Williams Evans Home for Children: To recarpet the main living room of the house and one of the parent units, improving the “home-life” feel and help to provide a safe, comfortable home for residents and staff.
Highland Food Pantry: To supplement the emergency financial aid budget, which covers expenses for utility bills, rental assistance and other everyday needs such as gas vouchers.
Literacy Volunteers: To expand its established reading curriculum and supplement it with classroom sets of level-appropriate novels and short stories.
Timber Ridge School: To improve the efficiency of utilities by purchasing three Energy Star-certified refrigerators for dormitories.
Wheels for Wellness: To provide free, door-to-door transportation to medical appointments and treatment for those in the region with no other means of transportation.
Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter: To provide two months of service for a temporary shower and toilet facility at the current site of the shelter in downtown Winchester.