BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The Pallottine Foundation of Buckhannon has awarded 13 nonprofit organizations in Randolph, Upshur, Barbour, Lewis and Webster counties with grants totaling over $108,413 through its Healthy Communities Initiative.

The Healthy Communities Initiative supports funding requests up to $25,000 that address community needs relating to food insecurity, substance use disorder, tobacco prevention and cessation, health and wellness, spiritual and pastoral care, and capacity building.

“We are inspired by the passion of these organizations and their commitment to improving the health of people in our communities,” said Janell Ray, Executive Director of the Pallottine Foundation of Buckhannon. “We are especially grateful for their resiliency and ability to continue providing vital services given the challenges of the pandemic. These nonprofits have worked tirelessly to meet increased needs of the community and we are so pleased to partner with them.”

The following organizations have been awarded Healthy Communities grants:

• Barbour County Senior Center, Inc. ($10,000) – The Barbour County Senior Center will purchase fitness equipment for use by seniors at its sites in Philippi and Belington.
• Heart and Hand House, Inc. ($11,495.05) – Heart and Hand House will engage a consultant to assist with strategic development and team building. Heart and Hand House will also purchase fresh, local produce and market bags to host Kid’s Markets and nutrition education.
• Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council ($13,000) – The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council will provide mileage reimbursement for its Senior Companion program and Foster Grandparents program volunteers.
• The Committee on Aging for Randolph County ($10,000) – The Committee on Aging for Randolph County will purchase raw food to support the Randolph County Senior Center Nutrition Program.
• Brownton Helping Hands ($4,000) – Brownton Helping Hands will provide a weekly meal to approximately 50 seniors in the Brownton community in Barbour County.
• Catholic Charities West Virginia ($10,000) – Catholic Charities West Virginia will purchase $5,000 in food for each of the WellnessWorks food pantries in Elkins and Webster Springs.
• Highland Community Builders ($9,000) – Highland Community Builders will secure property to launch a warming shelter in Randolph County. The organization will also provide client transportation from several pick-up stops across the county to the warming shelter.
• New Vision Renewable Energy ($3,200) – New Vision Renewable Energy will convene a Healthy Focus Group to help strategically inform its program offerings. It will also provide financial assistance to clients accessing the behavioral telehealth program and transport community members to and from programs.
• Nicholas County Family Resource Network ($6,000) – The Nicholas County Family Resource Network, in collaboration with the Webster County Children’s Advocacy Center, will purchase the Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe abuse prevention education curriculum to provide outreach to children in kindergarten through fourth grades in the Webster County Schools.
• Upshur Parish House ($9,600) – The Upshur Parish House will provide community support to neighbors in need by supplying gas cards for medical appointments, assisting with dental and medical expenses, and providing hams for Christmas boxes.
• West Virginia Hemophilia Foundation ($5,000) – The West Virginia Hemophilia Foundation will work with the WV Oral Health Coalition to engage dentists to provide dental treatment to individuals with bleeding disorders. The program will include a continuing education course for the dentists, as well as financial assistance to individuals with bleeding disorders who are unable to afford their insurance deductible, copays, or other out-of-pocket dental care costs.
• West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster ($15,000) – WV VOAD will purchase female hygiene kits, male hygiene kits, and feminine hygiene products to distribute to health and social service agencies.
• YMCA of North Central West Virginia ($2,118.72) – The YMCA of North Central West Virginia will launch two wellness and community engagement programs in Lewis County for both youth and adults. 

For more information about the Pallottine Foundation of Buckhannon, visit www.pallottinebuckhannon.org.