CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
The Pallottine Foundation of Huntington has awarded $2.5 million in grants to 172 organizations across West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio through its 2026 Healthy Communities Initiative, funding projects aimed at improving health, nutrition, housing stability, recovery support and quality of life throughout the tri-state region.
The annual initiative provides grants of up to $40,000 to nonprofit organizations and agencies addressing health and wellness challenges in the foundation’s service area. This year’s recipients include food pantries, health care providers, senior centers, youth programs, recovery organizations, domestic violence shelters and legal aid groups.
“Each year, we’re inspired by the creativity and diversity of proposals from our Healthy Communities applicants,” said Laura Boone, chief executive officer of the Pallottine Foundation. “These organizations are deeply committed to the people they serve and continually adapt to meet emerging needs. We’re excited to partner with this year’s recipients, including 46 organizations receiving funding from us for the first time.”
Several organizations located in or serving Eastern Kentucky and the Tug Valley received funding through the initiative.
Among the local recipients, ABLE Families in Kermit received $26,850 to provide shoes, socks, underwear and haircuts for children through its back-to-school program; support cooking and nutrition classes; provide oral health supplies and incentives; and host a summer water-safety event for children.
Appalachia Reach Out in Inez received $29,397.25 to purchase food for its pantry and support its Summer Food and Fun Route, which provides weekly home-delivered meals and enrichment activities for families with school-aged children.
The Martin County Senior Citizens Center received $6,753 to purchase hot- and cold-food storage equipment and exercise supplies and to provide shelf-stable meals for participants in its home-delivered meal program during periods of inclement weather.
Regional organizations serving multiple Eastern Kentucky counties also received funding.
Big Sandy Health Care won $31,750 to support its FarmRX program, which provides healthy food vouchers, nutrition education and financial assistance to patients with chronic diseases in Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin and Pike counties.
The Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky received the maximum grant award of $40,000 to expand medical-legal partnerships and provide legal services and outreach in Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, Martin and Pike counties.
God’s Pantry Food Bank received $30,000 to support its Health Care Pantry Program, which distributes emergency food boxes through health care providers in Floyd, Johnson, Martin and Pike counties.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Lexington got an award of $14,000 to provide case management and short-term utility and rental assistance for families in Boyd, Carter, Floyd, Greenup, Johnson, Lawrence, Martin and Pike counties.
Hand in Hand Ministries received $25,962 to supplement monthly food distributions in Floyd County and construct wheelchair ramps for residents with limited mobility in Floyd, Johnson and Martin counties.
Additional grants in the region included $35,000 to the Johnson County Public Library, $26,364 to Johnson County Senior Citizens, $17,500 to the East Kentucky Dream Center in Pike County, $15,000 to Grace Community Kitchen in Pike County, $7,500 to the Floyd County Health Department, $21,600 to the Lawrence County Health Department and $21,253 to Williamson Health & Wellness Center in Mingo County.
The Healthy Communities Initiative supports organizations working to address food insecurity, access to health care, substance use recovery, housing instability, transportation barriers, senior services and other factors that affect community health and well-being throughout the foundation’s service area.
To view the full list of awards, visit bit.ly/4oBIGS5.