CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
Huntington, W.Va. — The Pallottine Foundation of Huntington has recently announced the recipients of its 2023 Healthy Communities Initiative grants. A total of 98 nonprofit organizations in the Tri-State area have been awarded over $1.5 million in grants to address health and wellness challenges. Several of the recipients serve Martin and Mingo counties.
Janell Ray, CEO of the Pallottine Foundation of Huntington, highlighted the significance of the Healthy Communities Initiative in meeting the diverse needs of people in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. Ray commended the innovative and dedicated nonprofit organizations for their commitment to providing services and resources that empower individuals to overcome obstacles and lead healthy and happy lives.
The 2023 Healthy Communities recipients cover a broad range of areas, including food assistance programs, child advocacy centers, mental and behavioral health programs, senior centers, health departments, family resource networks, substance use recovery programs, community centers, and shelters for individuals experiencing domestic violence or homelessness.
ABLE Families plans to utilize their $2,411 grant to purchase food and supplies for their summer camp, catering to children aged 5 through 14 from the Kermit PK8 school in Mingo County. Appalachia Reach Out has been awarded $15,000 to support monthly food pantry costs and provide additional healthy options. The organization will collaborate with Family Resource and Youth Services Centers to stock summer food pantries in five Martin County schools.
ARH Tug Valley Health Services, with a grant of $91,604, will initiate monthly diabetes support groups in Floyd, Johnson, Pike and Martin counties. These sessions will offer diabetic supplies, medically tailored food boxes, and healthy cooking education. BackpackBuddy.org has secured $17,340 to expand its summer delivery program, ensuring students in Kanawha and Boone counties in West Virginia and Martin County in Kentucky receive essential food and personal care items.
Big Laurel Learning Center will implement the “Resilient Minds, Active Bodies Program” in partnership with Kermit PK8 school in Mingo County, thanks to a grant of $7,500. The funding will support hiring a cook, engaging guest instructors, providing staff training, and procuring food for the summer camp. The University of Kentucky Research Foundation, in collaboration with the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, will establish a comprehensive, community-based vaping prevention program in Floyd, Johnson, Martin and Pike counties in Kentucky.
Widow’s Mite Food Pantry in Williamson has also been awarded $3,500 to purchase additional healthy food items, such as meats and produce from local growers, to supplement their monthly food boxes.
The complete list of the 2023 Healthy Communities Initiative grant awards is on the Pallottine Foundation of Huntington’s website: pallottinehuntington.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2023-HCI-Grant-Awards.pdf
The Pallottine Foundation of Huntington was established with the proceeds from the sale of St. Mary’s Medical Center and continues the legacy of the Pallottine Missionary Sisters in caring for the spiritual, emotional, and physical health of individuals in the region. The Foundation’s focus areas include food insecurity, mental and behavioral health, substance use disorder, tobacco cessation, capacity building, and health and wellness. The service area encompasses multiple counties in West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.
