Marietta Welfare League awards grants to local groups
Alice Stewart, president of the Marietta Children’s Choir, and Vicky Wood, president of Washington State Community College, await the distribution of checks by the Marietta Welfare League during a luncheon at the Betsey Mills Club Tuesday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Cathy Harper listens to the descriptions of grant recipient programs during the annual Marietta Welfare League community grant reception at the Betsey Mills Club Tuesday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Marietta Welfare League Finance co-chair Susan Strauss listens as Diane Pfile talks about providing education to neighborhood children in Harmar through a new summer program at the Marietta Toy and Doll Museum. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Alissa Clouse explains how the Marietta Welfare League grant to Harmar Place will go to the ‘Opening Minds through Art’ program for residents of the assisted living home. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Alice Stewart, president of the Marietta Children’s Choir, and Vicky Wood, president of Washington State Community College, await the distribution of checks by the Marietta Welfare League during a luncheon at the Betsey Mills Club Tuesday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Cathy Harper listens to the descriptions of grant recipient programs during the annual Marietta Welfare League community grant reception at the Betsey Mills Club Tuesday. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Marietta Welfare League Finance co-chair Susan Strauss listens as Diane Pfile talks about providing education to neighborhood children in Harmar through a new summer program at the Marietta Toy and Doll Museum. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Alissa Clouse explains how the Marietta Welfare League grant to Harmar Place will go to the ‘Opening Minds through Art’ program for residents of the assisted living home. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
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MARIETTA -- Ranging in amounts from $250 to $10,795, the Marietta Welfare League gave a total of $90,645 in charitable funds Tuesday.
The league operates a coffee and gift shop within Marietta Memorial Hospital, which employs 11 staff supplemented by volunteers from its membership. Proceeds of that shop's business are then funneled back into local causes from residence hall assistance in domestic violence shelters to veterinary services for stray cats and for elderly pet owners.
"But rather than give out each individual check to these organizations at different times, what's special is getting them all in the same room. Putting all of these groups together I believe has just as much if not more impact," said Trisha Miller, past-president of the league and current publicity chair.
The majority of the funds distributed during a luncheon Wednesday were given to aid in food insecurity throughout Washington County.
Through either direct purchase of meat for nonprofits like the Harvest of Hope and Daily Bread Kitchen, the purchase of healthy children's' snacks or fruit and vegetables with GoPacks, Pioneer Pilots, Presbyterian Church of Beverly and the Right Path for Washington County, or for local food distribution centers to better store and extend the life of fresh foods for those in need with new refrigerators, a load of funds for food was contributed to 13 different programs.
Washington State Community College President Vicky Wood accepted a check for $2,000 to start a food pantry on the college campus for students in need, while both the Greater Marietta Food Pantry and the Newport Community Food Pantry said their checks would go towards preservation of produce.
"And these funds allow us to provide a healthy start to our new summer camp for Main Street West kids this year," said Diane Pfile, representing the Marietta Toy and Doll Museum. "We know that you can't learn if you're not properly fueled."
Pfile, a retired Harmar Elementary School teacher, said the museum has raised its efforts to provide educational programming for neighborhood children in the Harmar area.
Access to the arts for youth was also the focus of grants for the Mid-Ohio Valley Players youth program ($1,800), Boys and Girls Club of Washington County's upcoming recording studio ($2,500) and High Schools that Rock ($500).
"I have some good songwriters to send your way," said Mark Doebrich, founder of the High Schools that Rock program. "This money will help get some lighter equipment for our shows, amplify the sound, but keep us doing this a while longer."
Doebrich, who attended with his wife Lynn, the Marietta City Schools attendance officer and social worker, said he understood the range of grant dollars given was based on the needs the league tries to meet each year.
Lynn Doebrich received $2,000 for the Tabby's Clothesline project within the city school system to purchase underwear for needy students as well as lice treatments.
The Memorial Health Foundation received a check for $10,000 to upgrade from a six-slice CT scan machine at its Belpre campus to a 64-slice machine.
"It's an incredible help and very generous," said Deneka Hedges, executive director of the foundation.
For more information about the Marietta Welfare League, visit mariettawelfareleague.org.
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2020 Community Grant Recipients:
∫ American Legion Auxiliary Unit 389: Reading is Fundamental program.
∫ Belpre Area Ministries: Emergency assistance fund.
∫ The Betsey Mills Club: Automated external defibrillator and parlor restoration.
∫ Betsey's Learning Tree: Life vests for the swimming pool.
∫ Boys and Girls Club of Washington County: Upgrade fire detectors.
∫ Children's Toy and Doll Museum: Main Street West summer camp.
∫ Christ United Methodist Church: Afterschool tutoring program.
∫ Compassionate Animal Resources for the Elderly: Veterinary services for low-income elderly over 65.
∫ Daily Bread Kitchen: Meat/poultry funding.
∫ EVE, Incorporated: Residence hall assistance for pillows and DVD players.
∫ Friends of Forgotten Felines: Veterinary services.
∫ GoPacks: Childhood hunger program.
∫ Greater Marietta Community Food Pantry: produce cooler.
∫ Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley: Materials for House #108 in Veto area.
∫ Hervida 4-H Camp: Cooking stoves for camp.
∫ High Schools that Rock: Audio equipment.
∫ House of Hope: Funds toward the purchase of a transport van.
∫ Marietta Band Booster: Music stands.
∫ Marietta Children's Choir: Sheet music.
∫ Marietta Franciscan Community Meals: Provide meals to elderly and homebound persons.
∫ Marietta High School HPAC: Hygiene products for disadvantaged students.
∫ Memorial Health Foundation: Low-dose radiation CT machine for Belpre campus.
∫ Mid-Ohio Valley Players Theatre: Children's theater program.
∫ MOV Gift of Life: Assistance to local organ transplant patients.
∫ Newport Community Food Pantry: Refrigerator.
∫ Parents and Friends of the Hearing Impaired, Inc.: Hearing aids for low-income individuals.
∫ Pioneer Pilots: Afterschool program.
∫ Presbyterian Church of Beverly: Backpack program.
∫ Right Path for Washington County: Fresh food program with local farmers and students.
∫ Scholars on Fourth: Afterschool program.
∫ Southeast Ohio Youth Mentoring: Student tours of Marietta.
∫ Tabby's Clothesline at Marietta City Schools: Hygiene needs and lice treatment.
∫ United Church Homes, Harmar Place: Opening Minds Through Art program.
∫ Washington County Harvest of Hope: Ground beef.
∫ Washington County Historical Society: Archival storage.
∫ Washington-Morgan Community Action: Family packs for Headstart/WIC/seniors.
∫ Washington State Community College - First-generation nursing student assistance.
∫ WSCC Foundation - Campus food pantry.
Source: Marietta Welfare League.