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Sisters Health Foundation gives $1M to 88 groups

Renee Steffen, executive director of the Sisters Health Foundation, speaks Friday at the 20th annual Grantee Luncheon at Grand Pointe Conference Center in Vienna. (Photo by Wayne Towner)

VIENNA — In 2019, a total of 88 local organizations received more than $1 million total in funding through the Sisters Health Foundation to support a variety of programs.

On Friday, the SHF, formerly the Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund, held its 20th annual Grantee Luncheon at Grand Pointe Conference Center to recognize and celebrate the efforts and successes of those organizations.

Attendees included representatives from grantee organizations, the SHF staff and board of directors, area constituents, and funding partners.

The SHF has been active for 23 years in helping organizations in eight West Virginia counties and three Ohio counties, the area once served by St. Joseph’s Hospital for over a century. The foundation serves Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler, Wood, Wirt and Roane counties in West Virginia and Athens, Meigs and Washington counties in Ohio.

“The luncheon is our way of saying thank you to our grantees for the impact they have made in people’s lives over the past year,” Renee Steffen, executive director of the SHF, said Friday.

A total of 88 organizations which received over $1 million in grant funding from the Sisters Health Foundation were recognized Friday for their work. (Photo by Wayne Towner)

During the luncheon, two organizations that SHF supported spoke about the work they do in the community. Marcus McCartney, agriculture and natural resource educator with OSU Extension of Washington County, spoke about launching junior farmers’ markets to fourth grade students in Washington County to encourage healthy eating and buying local.

Angela Domico-Cox, Title IX/Special Education Director with Wirt County Schools, spoke about how they are providing mental health supports to students and families in the school system.

“The theme of this year’s luncheon is collaboration,” Steffen said. “Collaboration and partnerships are essential to impacting health needs in our communities. The sky is the limit when we all work together.”

Organizations acknowledged for their completed grants included:

Responsive Grant Program

Oral Health

* Ely Chapman Education Foundation, Marietta, to incorporate dental health education into the after-school program.

* Hopewell Health Centers, Chillicothe, to equip and supply a dental operatory in the new dental clinic at Mary Hill Center in Nelsonville.

* Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, Parkersburg, to support the expansion of the dental clinic and services.

* Susan Dew Hoff Memorial Clinic Inc., West Milford, to assist veterans from the Mid-Ohio Valley with oral health care.

* WV Health Right, Inc., Charleston, to assist in providing oral health and harm reduction services for low-income uninsured and underinsured adults in Roane County.

Healthy Lifestyles

* City of Parkersburg, Parkersburg, to support the installation of an aquaflex surface for the Splash Pad at the City Park Pool.

* City of Ravenswood, Ravenswood, to purchase three AED (automated external defibrillator) devices to be installed at the Ravenswood city building, swimming pool, and police/fire station.

* Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Mid-Ohio Valley, Parkersburg, to support a financial literacy counselor to provide financial literacy services.

* Creed Collins Elementary School, Pennsboro, to purchase and install a secure playground structure for pre-school students.

* Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center, Wheeling, to support the implementation of a summer equine-assisted therapy program for children with disabilities.

* Fellowship Baptist Church, Vienna, to purchase an AED.

* Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Parkersburg, to purchase kitchen appliances to be used by the Last Sunday Supper program and the food pantry.

* Jackson County Commission on Aging Inc., Ripley, to renovate the deck/floor around the swimming pool and in the dressing rooms primarily used by senior citizens for therapy and rehabilitation.

* Latrobe Street Mission, Parkersburg, to purchase a refrigerator and freezer to enhance the capacity to store food and accept donations.

* Live Healthy Appalachia, Athens, to support the continuation and expansion of the children’s programming and for the evaluation of the children’s cooking program for the 2019-2020 school year.

* O’Neill Senior Center, Marietta, to purchase exercise equipment and a replacement AED.

* Old Man Rivers, Parkersburg, to purchase a commercial freezer.

* Pleasant Hill Elementary School, Grantsville, to resurface the school’s track which is used by the school and community for education and exercise.

* Pleasants County Public Library, St. Marys, to purchase a blood pressure monitor to promote a culture of health at the library.

* Ravenswood Development Authority, Ravenswood, to expand the Riverfront Park Wellness Path.

* Roane County Board of Education, Spencer, to support the installation of early learning playground equipment at Geary Elementary for children ages 3 to 5 years old.

* Rural Action, The Plains, to support the development of healthy food distribution and food access with collaborative partners such as Federal Hocking Local Schools, Athens County Public Libraries, and the Athens City-County Health Department.

* Sand Hill Child Care Center, Reno, to support Child Development Associate credentialing.

* Voices for Children Foundation-CASA Program, Parkersburg, to support direct services to children who have been abused and neglected.

* Washington-Morgan Community Action, Marietta, to support the summer program which provides hot nutritious lunches to children in New Matamoras, Beverly and Lower Salem.

* Washington State Community College, Marietta, to support the purchase of equipment for the Physical Therapy Assistant Program.

* West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, to support the Community Coordinator in Wood County as part of the Integrated Community Engagement (ICE) project which seeks to work with school communities on goals related to child health and well-being.

* Wirt County Committee on Aging, Elizabeth, to purchase recumbent fitness bikes to be used by Wirt County residents.

* Wood County Alternative Transportation Council, Williamstown, to support a safety awareness campaign to increase bicycle safety.

* YMCA of Parkersburg, Parkersburg, for general operating support.

Healthy Equity

* American Friends Service Committee, Milton, to support a variety of efforts including anti-racism work, advocacy efforts to protect safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP, and to conduct a Listening Project to capture stories of how policy decisions impact people’s lives.

* American Red Cross, Parkersburg, expansion of services in the Mid-Ohio Valley to promote and maintain the well-being of veterans.

* Belpre City School District, one time funding to support the program that provides readiness skills for children with no preschool experience and addresses eye/motor issues before entering kindergarten.

* Center for Rural Health Development, Hurricane, to support cross-sector collaboration efforts in addressing health disparities and promoting policy, systems, and environmental change.

* Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley Inc., Parkersburg, general operational support to help families in Wood and Washington counties impacted by generational poverty.

* Columbus Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation Inc., Westerville, to provide breast health screenings to women in Meigs County.

* Community Resources Inc., Parkersburg, to purchase a camera system, strollers, and car seats for the Pleasants County Childcare Center.

* Crittenton Foundation Inc., Wheeling, to support the trauma-informed elementary school program.

* Echoing Hills Village Inc., Athens, to assist in purchasing a van to transport individuals with developmental disabilities for health appointments and community integration.

* Gabriel Project of West Virginia, Parkersburg, for purchase of Brain Under Construction Zone materials and client assistance items for individuals in Jackson, Ritchie, and Roane counties.

* Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley, Parkersburg, to help develop a volunteer engagement program.

* Harmony Mental Health Inc., Parkersburg, to support pre-school children in Wood County exposed to opioid use in the family and to build a children’s playground in Wirt County to be used during family therapy and visitation.

* Marietta College, Marietta, Nonprofits LEAD in support of capacity building for Mid-Ohio Valley nonprofits.

* Marshall University Research Corporation, Huntington, to develop sustainable employment for Community Health Workers serving high-risk diabetes patients in Athens and Meigs counties.

* Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, Parkersburg, to support exploration of national accreditation.

* National Church Residences, Belpre, to provide transportation for people with substance use disorders who reside in Washington County to necessary medical and court appointments.

* Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, to provide patients with medication, diabetes and hypertension management supplies, assistance with transportation, and other expenses for their free clinic.

* Parkersburg Area Coalition for the Homeless Inc. (House to Home), Parkersburg, to support the operations of a homeless day shelter.

* Public Defender Corporation for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, Ripley, to support the full-time recovery coach to connect clients with treatment services.

* Roane General Hospital, Spencer, to purchase additional exercise equipment to reduce patient wait times for machines and aid in availability to grow the pulmonary rehabilitation department in Roane County.

* Savannah’s Closet, Ripley, to provide clothing and other necessary resources to children in the foster care system in Jackson County.

* Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program, Athens, for operational support as they seek to support survivors who experienced sexual and domestic violence.

* Voices of the Streets Inc. (Essentially Yours), Parkersburg, to support operating expenses.

* Washington County Free Clinic, Marietta, to support the clinical nurse manager who interacts with patients and operates the clinic.

* Washington County Health Department, Marietta, to support the purchase of accounting software to expand public health services in Washington County.

* Watertown Volunteer Fire Department, Watertown, to purchase a battery-operated Jaws of Life hydraulic rescue tool to free people trapped in serious accidents.

* Westbrook Health Services Inc., Parkersburg, to support the Whole Health Action Management Training (WHAM) to encourage increased resiliency, wellness, and self-management of health and behavioral health among people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

* West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, Charleston, to support its campaign to protect Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, SNAP, and other safety net programs that assist the low-income population.

* WV Council of Churches, Charleston, to establish and support the Mid-Ohio Valley Re-entry Council as well as provide Building Community Bridges training.

* West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, Williamson, to assist Roane County families affected by the 2016 flood with home repairs, rebuilds, and bridge repairs.

* West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, Charleston, to support the regional coordinator in outreach efforts to educate the public and policymakers about the importance of protecting Medicaid and affordable health care.

* Wirt County Schools, Elizabeth, to support the on-site mental health professional at Wirt County School to address students’ behavioral and mental health needs.

Basic Needs/Direct Service Grantees:

* Adams House Ministries, Middlebourne, for fresh produce for Tyler County residents.

* Alexander Local School, Albany, to support the second grade healthy cooking classes.

* Belpre Area Ministries, Belpre, to purchase non-perishable food for the pantry.

* Calhoun County Committee on Aging Inc., Grantsville, for food and nutrition expenses for seniors and veterans.

* Caring Connection, Marietta, to assist Washington County residents with emergency utilities.

* Catholic Charities WV, Wheeling, for basic needs, rent, and utility assistance for families in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

* Community Resources Inc., Parkersburg, for a hydroponics station and refrigeration equipment at the new choice food pantry.

* First Lutheran Church, Parkersburg, for nutritious food for backpack and food pantry ministries and for garden equipment to be used at their community gardens.

* GFWC Parkersburg Woman’s Club, Parkersburg, for nutritional snacks for children’s weekend brown bag program at McKinley Elementary and Emerson Elementary.

* Grantsville First Baptist Church, Grantsville, to purchase food for individuals and families in Calhoun County.

* Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Spencer, for direct assistance to primarily Roane County residents with immediate utility, lodging, medical, and transportation expenses.

* Lubeck United Methodist Church, Washington, to provide supplemental food for the weekend lunch SAK program benefitting Blennerhassett schoolchildren and their families.

* Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio, Worthington, for non-perishable food and fresh produce to support their mobile food pantries in Athens and Meigs counties.

* Nelsonville Food Cupboard, Nelsonville, to purchase fresh eggs to be included in every monthly Food Cupboard distribution to client families in Athens County.

* Ohio State University Extension of Washington County, Marietta, to provide fresh produce vouchers to fourth graders for a school-based farmers market in six Washington County schools.

* Parkersburg Urban Ministries Inc., Parkersburg, to assist with utilities, prescriptions, transportation costs, and emergency needs for Wood County households.

* Roane County Helping Hand Inc., Spencer, to purchase food for its pantry serving Roane County residents.

* Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh & Morgantown, Morgantown, for lodging support for families from the Mid-Ohio Valley while their child is receiving care at the hospital.

* St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church Mobile Outreach, Elizabeth, to provide hygiene and cleaning supplies to Calhoun, Roane, Wirt, and Ritchie county residents in need.

* South Parkersburg United Methodist Church, Parkersburg, to provide children with healthier options for weekend meals.

* Stout Memorial United Methodist Church Backpack Ministry, Parkersburg, to purchase food for at-risk children in Wood County and to help with ministry operations.

* The Salvation Army of Parkersburg, Parkersburg, to assist with food costs for the Soupline meals in Wood County.

* Washington County Harvest of Hope, Marietta, to purchase chicken for the food pantries in Washington County.

* We Have Your Six Inc., Parkersburg, to assist homeless veterans in Wood County obtain clothing, food, shelter, and transportation.

* West Central Regional Drug Court, Parkersburg, to assist Drug Court participants with rental assistance and housing items as they maintain a sober living.

Hocking Athens Perry Community Action, Glouster, Ohio, a collaborative grant among the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville, OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, and the SHF to support the Southeast Ohio Foodbank and member pantries through the food purchase program. The Mid-Ohio Valley pantry grantees were:

* 3C Food Pantry, Cutler, Ohio

* Athens Catholic Community Food Pantry, Athens, Ohio

* Athens County Food Pantry, Athens, Ohio

* Basic Needs Ministry, Albany, Ohio

* Belpre Church of Christ, Belpre, Ohio

* Beverly Waterford Food Pantry, Beverly, Ohio

* Feed My Sheep Food Pantry, New Marshfield, Ohio

* Golden Harvest, Long Bottom, Ohio

* Lowell Area Mission Basket, Lowell, Ohio

* Lutheran Social Services Mobile Food Pantry, Lancaster, Ohio

* Marietta Church of God Food Pantry, Marietta, Ohio

* Marietta Community Food Pantry, Marietta, Ohio

* Nelsonville Food Cupboard, Nelsonville, Ohio

* New Matamoras Food Pantry, New Matamoras, Ohio

* Newport Community Food Pantry, Newport, Ohio

* River of Life Care Closet, Middleport, Ohio

* The First Baptist Church of Nelsonville, Nelsonville, Ohio

* The Salvation Army of Athens, The Plains, Ohio

* Torch United Methodist Church, Torch, Ohio

* Tri County Food Pantry, Lower Salem, Ohio.

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