BUCKHANNON — Attention, Upshur County residents: This month, you can do your part to assist a local nonprofit in helping Upshur County Schools’ students get their basic needs met, which will improve learning outcomes.

The Foundation for Better Schools in Upshur Schools has been selected as one of the top 200 finalists in the ‘Go Wild … Feed a Child’ State Farm Neighborhood Assist backpack program grant for $25,000. The Foundation finished in the top 200 out of 2,000 competitors nationwide.

What’s more, the Foundation for Upshur County Schools was the only West Virginia finalist to make the cut.

The $25,000 grant application was written on behalf of the ‘Go Wild … Feed a Child’ back back program. The top 40 candidates will receive $25,000 for their campaign. This time around, the top 40 winners will be selected based on popular vote, and the window to vote opens Wednesday, Aug. 18. Residents may vote up to 10 times a day throughout the 10-day period, which ends Aug. 28.

Anyone who wants to vote must make an account to show you’re not a robot or an AI.

The link will not go live until Aug. 18, but more information about how to vote can be found here. Voting opens at 12:01 a.m. ET Wednesday.