PARKERSBURG — The Sisters Health Foundation awarded grant funding to 34 nonprofit organizations in the Mid-Ohio Valley in support of its vision of “healthy people in healthy communities.”

At its most recent meeting, the Board of Directors approved a total of $387,500.

Nine organizations that provide direct services, such as food and emergency assistance, received a total of $33,000 from the Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program.

∫ Belpre Area Ministries, Belpre: $3,000 to purchase food and food vouchers for food pantry.

∫ Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Parkersburg: $3,500 for shoe vouchers for school aged children helped by their adopted families program.

∫ International Student and Faculty Services, Ohio University, Athens: $5,000 to support a relief fund for food and rent to help international students living in Athens County and unable to work due to immigration regulations during COVID.

∫ Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, Columbus: $2,000 lodging support for families from the Mid-Ohio Valley while their children seek medical treatment in the Central Ohio area.

∫ Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh & Morgantown, Morgantown: $2,000 Lodging support for families while their children are in the hospital.

∫ West Central Regional Drug Court, Parkersburg: $5,000 to assist drug court participants with clothing, toiletries, and rental assistance to help maintain safe, sober living.

∫ Wirt County Recovery Inc., Elizabeth: $5,000 to assist in health expenses for people in recovery.

∫ Women’s Care Center, Parkersburg: $2,500 for transportation assistance, cribs, and mattresses for their Sweet Blessings Mentoring Program for their mothers.

∫ Wood County Society, Parkersburg: $5,000 for the purchase of therapeutic tools for their assistive technology program serving people with disabilities.

A total of 25 organizations received support totaling $354,500 for their efforts addressing 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

∫ Boys & Girls Club of Pleasants County, St. Marys: $11,000 for operating support and physical activity equipment for the Triple Play Program.

∫ Boys & Girls Club of Washington County, Marietta: $20,000 to support the purchase and installation costs of the floor for their gym renovation.

∫ Lewis County Family Resource Network, Weston: $10,000 to support Try This minigrants for healthy lifestyle projects in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

∫ Live Healthy Appalachia, Athens: $4,500 to support their adult healthy cooking at home program.

∫ Washington County Health Department, Marietta: $5,000 to support the contract with an expert to guide the coalition in self-care, affirmative inquiry and other coalition-building strategies.

Thriving Neighborhoods Priority Area

∫ American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley, Parkersburg: $10,000 to support the purchase of a blood services vehicle.

∫ Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley Inc., Parkersburg: $15,000 to support the Resource Coordinator who connects participants to critical resources and services.

∫ Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio, Millfield, Ohio: $25,000 to support the purchase of equipment, tools, and training materials for their home repair and rehabilitation program that will train people experiencing employment barriers.

∫ Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, Parkersburg: $40,000 to support the Oral Health Coordinator and to purchase a new dental chair for their dental hygiene clinics.

∫ Nazareth Farm, Salem, W.Va.: $3,000 to assist in home repair projects for homeowners in Ritchie County.

∫ OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, Athens: $5,000 to support the purchase of children’s books featuring people of color as protagonists to enhance literacy as well as promote diversity and inclusion.

∫ Pilot Club of Jackson County, Ripley: $5,000 to support the costs of dental services for adults in Jackson County.

∫ Pregnancy Resource Center of Athens County, Athens: $1,000 to support educational programming on pregnancy and parenting.

∫ The Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley, Parkersburg: $5,000 to support the purchase of equipment for a cafe which will provide employment training opportunities for people with disabilities.

∫ Washington State Community College, Marietta: $50,000 to support the Success Coach for their EARN program which trains non-traditional students to become registered nurses.

∫ West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, Charleston: $5,000 to support tracking the implementation and outreach around the expansion of Medicaid dental coverage and for the production and distribution of factsheets.

∫ Wood County Schools, Parkersburg: $50,000 to support the costs of construction materials and labor fees to renovate the high school annex for a school-based health center.

Mental Health and Addiction

∫ Appalachian Children Coalition, Athens: $15,000 for capacity building support.

∫ Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Mid-Ohio Valley, Parkersburg: $3,000 to support their financial literacy program helping people in recovery.

∫ Fourth Circuit Public Defender Corporation, Parkersburg: $5,000 to support the Outreach Coordinator who assists attorneys in child abuse and neglect cases.

∫ Health Recovery Services, Athens: $4,500 to support the purchase of virtual reality headsets and tablets for treating adolescents with substance use/mental health disorders.

∫ Hope House, Ravenswood: $7,500 for operating support to increase the capacity of their recovery residence.

∫ Recovery Point of WV, Huntington: $5,000 to provide oral health care services to men entering the first phase of the long-term recovery program. This is in partnership with the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department.

∫ Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program, Athens: $20,000 to support the renovation of a space that will become a relational trauma center in Nelsonville.

∫ SW Resources, Parkersburg: $30,000 to support participants in recovery attending their training and employment program.

The due date for requests under the priority areas of healthy eating, active living; thriving neighborhoods; and mental health and addiction is Jan. 20, 2021. By midnight of this date, submit a full application for the Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program or a letter of inquiry for the Responsive Grants Program.

Nonprofits are encouraged to contact Sr. Molly Bauer, Senior Program Officer, at 304-424-6080 or mbauer@sistershealthfdn.org with questions about whether their grant request may be a good fit for the Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program. Letters of inquiry for the Responsive Grants Program may be submitted online at www.sistershealthfdn.org without scheduling a prior phone conversation.

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 $19 million in grants.