Joplin Rotary Club supports 7 nonprofit groups with Community Fund

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4 hours ago

The Joplin Rotary Club handed out awards from its Community Fund on Thursday to seven nonprofit organizations involved in local causes.
Scott Belden, chairman of the Rotary Club's Community Fund Board, said this meeting was the one that he makes sure not to miss every year.
'It's fun to just give away money but especially for the nonprofits that are really invested in our community,' Belden said after the noon meeting at the Joplin Elks Lodge. 'It's a wide range of things we're able to support, and it's fun to be able to do that.'
Rotarians gave away $20,300 to seven groups:
• Area Agency on Aging Region X, represented by Kacy Lankford, received $2,000 for its food delivery service to homebound seniors.
'This goes to our homebound meal program, where we have a rural area and sometimes this is the only food seniors on the route are able to get,' Lankford said. 'They are very dependent on it. This goes toward those emergency meals that we're able to put together when we're not able to reach them.'
• A $2,000 award went to the Aspire Grant Program, represented by Crowder College Joplin Campus director Melissa Smith.
'This will allow us to fund several scholarships for part-time and full-time students and help reduce barriers to education,' Smith said.
• The Children's Center of Southwest Missouri received $2,000 to remodel one of two interview rooms at the center.
'It's a space for them to share their story and for us it's very important that that space is comfortable and age appropriate,' said Betsy Mense, representing the center. 'This will allow us to remodel one room."
• Rotarians gave $10,000 to the Community Clinic of Southwest Missouri, represented by Director Stephanie Brady.
'We know how much the support of the Rotary Community Fund does for us and this is going to help us with our clinical needs,' Brady said. 'We appreciate the support.'
• The Creative Learning Alliance, represented by Neely Myers, received an $800 grant for a new playground kit.
'I want you to know Rotarians that by investing in this transformative play system you have invested in our future builders, tinkerers, architects, engineers, etc.,' Myers said.
• Joplin NALA, or Neighborhood Adult Literacy Action, received $1,500 to replace an outdated testing system.
'This program is going directly to really make sure that all of our students get the best education possible,' said Kaden Propps, representing NALA.
• The Life Choices Network, represented by Karolyn Schrage, received $2,000 for new software that helps educate new parents.
'I love the fact that you all are investing not just in Life Choices but in the young families across our communities,' Schrage said.