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PARKERSBURG — Forty-five non-profit organizations in the Mid-Ohio Valley were awarded grant funding in support of the Sisters Health Foundation’s vision of “healthy people in healthy communities.”

At its most recent meeting, the Board of Directors approved a total of $479,227.

“We had the opportunity to respond to a wide range of community needs this cycle with the highest number of requests in our Healthy Eating, Active Living priority area,” said Executive Director Renee Steffen. “It is great to see several organizations engaging youth in sustainable agriculture production including WVU at Parkersburg and Roane County PATCH. We also supported several organizations with flexible funding so that organizations can adapt and best meet community needs amid the changing external environment. Each of our grant partners is a shining light in the community.”

Eighteen organizations that provide direct services, such as food and emergency assistance, received a total of $51,850 from the Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program.

* Athens County Pantry; Athens, Ohio – $2,000 to purchase hygiene and cleaning products to distribute along with food at the pantry.

* Beechwood Presbyterian Church; Parkersburg – $3,000 for fresh food for their food assistance program.

* Bible Baptist Church; Parkersburg – $1,000 to purchase food for their pantry.

* Catholic Charities WV; Wheeling – $4,000 to provide utility and rent assistance as well as transportation and work-related support for income eligible households in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

* Emmanuel Baptist Church; Parkersburg – $1,600 to purchase hygiene items and other basic household items for their necessity closet.

* First Baptist Church of Parkersburg; Parkersburg – $1,250 for clothing and undergarments for their men’s clothing closet.

* Logan Memorial United Methodist Church; Parkersburg – $2,500 to assist Momma T and the Warriors street feeding program by purchasing and preparing food for hot meals for people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and/or substance use disorder.

* Ohio University Office of the Dean of Students; Athens, Ohio – $1,500 for the purchase of local fresh food for their choice food pantry.

* Old Man Rivers; Parkersburg – $5,000 to provide utility assistance and eye care services to individuals in need of assistance.

* Parents and Friends of the Hearing Impaired; Marietta – $3,500 to purchase hearing aids for low-income deaf and hard of hearing persons residing in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

* Right Path for Washington County; Marietta – $3,500 to support the purchase of food for their mini-farmers’ markets held in Washington County to foster healthy behaviors and connection among youth and families.

* River of Life Care Closet; Rutland, Ohio – $2,000 to support the purchase of food for their pantry.

* St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church; Elizabeth – $5,000 to assist Wirt County residents with utility payments and vehicle repair for medical appointments and employment purposes.

* The Plains United Methodist Church; The Plains, Ohio – $3,500 to purchase hygiene items to be distributed along with food at their pantry.

* Torch United Methodist Church; Coolville – $2,500 to purchase food for their pantry.

* West Central Regional Drug Court; Parkersburg – $4,000 to assist participants with purchasing household items, clothing, and rental fees to help transition into sober living.

* Westbrook Health Services; Parkersburg – $5,000 to assist clients overcome barriers in obtaining stable housing through addressing basic needs such as support for housing fees, rent, and household supplies.

* Wirt County Middle School; Elizabeth – $1,000 to purchase clothing and hygiene items for the Wirt County Middle School clothing closet.

Twenty-seven organizations received support totaling $427,377 for their efforts to address the health needs of their communities in the priority areas of Healthy Eating, Active Living; Thriving Neighborhoods; and Mental Health and Addiction.

Healthy Eating, Active Living Priority Area

* Appalachian Family Center for Autism and Disability Resources and Education; Athens, Ohio – $3,750 to support one session of swim lessons for children with disabilities through their swimming program.

* Calhoun County Committee on Aging Inc.; Grantsville – $10,000 to support their congregate meal program for seniors in Calhoun County.

* GoPacks; Marietta – $38,000 to provide multi-year flexible support for their operations and priority needs.

* Middlebourne Park and Recreation; Middlebourne – $15,000 to support the replacement of the playground surface and the upgrading of the swing set to create a more safe, accessible, and inclusive environment for all children.

* Roane County Family Support Center; Spencer – $2,000 to purchase a freezer and refrigerator for their pantry.

* Roane County PATCH; Spencer – $20,000 to develop a year-round vegetable growing system with shipping containers to create sustainable access to fresh produce for schools and the surrounding community.

* Roane General Hospital; Spencer – $66,000 for multi-year flexible support for their comprehensive Prescription 4 Your Health program.

* Rural Action; The Plains, Ohio – $22,000 to support the capacity and expansion of their children’s healthy eating and cooking program targeting youth primarily in Athens and Washington Counties.

* Southeast Ohio Youth Mentoring; Athens, Ohio – $5,000 to support their rock climbing program for youth in the area to foster mental health and emotional resilience.

* Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living; Lancaster, Ohio – $14,627 to support the purchase of sport wheelchairs and other program costs for their Athens-based adaptive sports program for people with disabilities.

* The Wirt County Missional Group; Elizabeth – $5,000 to support the purchase of a cargo trailer for their food pantry.

* Village of Beverly; Beverly – $5,000 to support the design and building of their natural playground.

* Washington-Morgan Community Action; Marietta – $5,000 to support their summer program which provides hot nutritious lunches to children in Belpre, New Matamoras, Beverly, Lower Salem, Lowell, Vincent, Marietta, and surrounding areas.

* Waverly Activity Center; Waverly – $10,000 to support the development of a walking track at their center.

* WVU Parkersburg; Parkersburg – $15,000 to support stipends for Mid-Ohio Valley high school students participating in their Farm to School Agrication Program which teaches sustainable agriculture and food production.

Thriving Neighborhoods Priority Area

* American Friends Service Committee; Milton, W.Va. – $5,000 for general operating support to carry out advocacy efforts, including leadership development and coalition-building in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

* Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine; Athens, Ohio – $20,000 to support the free clinic in offering essential health services to under and uninsured patients, such as laboratory tests, diagnostic screenings, providing diabetes supplies, covering costs of medications, chronic disease management, and addressing transportation barriers.

* Parkersburg Area Coalition for the Homeless; Parkersburg – $11,000 for electrical improvements to their building to ensure smooth daily operations at their drop-in shelter for individuals who experience housing insecurity.

* Ritchie County Integrated Family Services; Harrisville – $5,000 to support respite services to individuals.

* WVU Foundation; Morgantown – $15,000 to train and support nurses in the Mid-Ohio Valley in faith community nursing to deliver holistic, community-centered care.

Mental Health and Addiction Priority Area

* Hope House; Ravenswood – $20,000 to support the operations of their sober living home for women and substance use disorder outreach activities.

* Inspiring Dreams Network; Hurricane, W.Va. – $5,000 to provide youth development trainings for staff of the Pleasants County Boys and Girls Club.

* My Sister’s Place; Athens, Ohio – $20,000 to support the case manager, who meets with each adult in the domestic violence shelter and provides wrap around services and referrals.

* North Star Child Advocacy Center; Parkersburg – $35,000 to provide one-year flexible funds to support the expansion of their facilities.

* SW Resources; Parkersburg – $30,000 to support a training and employment program for people in recovery.

* Washington County Homeless Project; Marietta – $20,000 to support the operations of their drop-in center which assists people experiencing barriers to stable housing.

For the upcoming grant cycle, the due date for requests under the priority areas of mental health and addiction; thriving neighborhoods; and healthy eating, active living is by midnight on July 16, 2025. Nonprofits interested in submitting a Basic Needs/Direct Service grant application should contact Associate Director Marian Clowes at mclowes@sistershealthfdn.org or 304-424-6080 to begin the process. For the Responsive Grant Program, letters of inquiry may be submitted online at www.sistershealthfdn.org without scheduling a prior phone conversation.

The foundation serves 11 counties in the Mid-Ohio Valley in West Virginia and southeast Ohio: Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, and Wood counties in West Virginia; Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties in Ohio. For more information on grantmaking and eligibility requirements, visit the website www.sistershealthfdn.org.

The Sisters Health Foundation promotes healthy and sustainable communities by providing resources, strengthening collaborative relationships and supporting initiatives that impact people in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Since 1996, the Sisters Health Foundation has awarded over $24 million in grants.