Agencies getting federal money
These agencies received money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2015 Community Development Block Grant program:
• Atlantic Area CASA, Petula Gomillion, executive director
Child advocacy: $6,876
Represents abused and neglected children in judicial proceedings.
• Hineshouse Project Inc., Debra Williams, executive director
After-school and summer program: $4,619
Provides adult supervision and meals to youth participants after school and during summer vacation.
• JC Vision and Associates Inc., Dana Ingram, executive director
Foreclosure prevention: $6,876
Provides services designed to promote financial stability and economic sustainability for homeowners who are facing foreclosure caused by economic hardships.
• Mary Lou Frasier Foundation for Families Inc., Sherry Somerville, CEO
Counseling services: $4,619
Provides individual, family and group counseling services to child victims of abuse or other traumas in an effort to provide supportive healing, reduce the symptom of trauma and minimize the long term impact of child abuse.
• Senior Citizens Inc., Patricia Lyons, president
Elderly support services: $10,000
Provides meals to homebound seniors and adult day-care services to frail seniors and operates a senior center where individuals gather for socialization, scheduled activities and meals.
The Hinesville Fire and Police departments are seeking grants from the Wal-Mart Foundation Community Grant Program to improve children’s quality of life.
Erica Usher, grant writer for the city’s Community Development Department, presented before City Council a request to submit grant applications on behalf of the departments. Council approved the request during its meeting Thursday afternoon.
“Under the Wal-Mart Foundation Community Grant Program, it allows recognized government entities that are eligible to apply for money to support the needs of their local community,” Usher said.
The fire department is seeking funds to purchase child-safety seats, and the police department wants to provide backpacks full of school supplies to children in need.
Two applications will be submitted for the fire department to two stores — one for the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 751 W. Oglethorpe Highway, and the other for a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market that is under construction at 1422 W. Oglethorpe Highway. Each application is to purchase 61 child-safety seats at $39 each, and 60 foam pool noodles at $2 each. Both applications total $4,998 for 122 car seats and 120 noodles.
A council member asked how the foam pool noodles are used.
Hinesville Fire Chief T. Lamar Cook said, “We cut them in pieces and duct-tape them together to make sure that we install the child-safety seat property.”
The pool noodles help to achieve the proper recline angle for the car seat.
HFD has a child-safety seat program that shows people how to properly install a child-safety seat and gives the seat, free of charge, to low-income families with young children. However, to receive a car seat, one must be a resident of Hinesville and have a referral from the police department or Liberty County Health Department.
HPD’s grant application will be submitted to the Wal-Mart Supercenter for 50 backpacks and school supplies, including binders, folders, paper, glue, pencils, pens, colored pencils, crayons, markers, rulers and highlighters.
The backpacks containing school items will cost $50 each, for a total of $2,500. They will be given free to children who are need to support their education, and the program also would further HPD’s goal of strengthening its relationship with the community.
Also during the council meeting, public-service agencies selected to receive funding for the 2015 program year, were announced.
Donita Gaulden, assistant director at the CDD, informed the council on which organizations of the Sub-recipient Program were given funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program. Five service agencies were chosen to receive a total of more than $32,000. The agencies use the money to provide assistance to city residents.
For example, the Atlantic Area Court Appointed Special Advocates, which represents abused and neglected children in judicial proceedings, received $6,876. JC Vision and Associates Inc. also was granted $6,876 to help people facing the threat of having their homes foreclosed. Senior Citizens Inc. received the most money, $10,000, for various elderly support services such as adult day care, activities and meals.