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Meet the Basic Needs & Safety Grant Finalists
We did it! It was a tough decision for the grant committee to select only three of our ten worthy grant proposals and now you get to hear the finalists and vote. One nonprofit will receive a grant for $7,500 and our other two finalists will each receive $2,500. Each of our finalists will present an overview of their organization and specific information about the project in their grant proposal.
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All members will receive a link to review the recordings as soon as possible after the gathering.
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All members will receive a link to vote between Nov. 9th -17th.
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Along with the announcement of the results, we will include info about the other wonderful applicants so members can also support those programs if they so choose.
Our Three Finalists Are...
HAVEN HOUSE
Mission: Provide food assistance with no income or housing requirements, create a welcoming place where people can ask for help without having to prove that their need is great enough. Located in Hamilton, MT on North 3rd Street, and is open Mon., Wed. and Fri.10am to 2pm and Wednesday evening 5pm to 7pm. They have been serving Hamilton and the surrounding area for over 30 years. Approximately 900 local individuals are served per month.
Grant Proposal: Funding would allow Haven House to intentionally support women and girls by purchasing, stocking and replenishing menstrual supplies over a 12-month period based on actual demand. The program would prioritize pads and tampons, panty liners and reusable menstrual cups.
Approximately 300 women and girls would be served with the grant funds enabling them to go to school and work.
LOADS OF DIGNITY
Mission: Provide free bedding and clothing laundry services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, housing instability or financial hardship. They also provide free feminine hygiene products to women and girls as well as laundry detergents, fabric softeners, quarters, adult hygiene bags, and specially assembled children’s bags. Their mission to “Restore Dignity one load at a time”, has a profound impact. By providing clean clothes and a sense of dignity, they are meeting an immediate need and fostering long-term benefits. Their services are offered Mon., Wed. and Fri.9am to1pm at the Washboard Laundromat in Corvallis. The program began in 2019.
Grant Proposal: Funding will help cover the costs of washer and dryer usage, laundry detergent, fabric softener, sanitizer, personal hygiene supplies and specially prepared activity bags for children.
Approximately 200 women and girls will be served with grant funds.
O'HARA COMMONS & SUSTAINABILITY CENTER
Mission: O’Hara has been creating a vibrant, sustainable local food system since 2015. Their program centers on increasing equitable access to fresh, healthy, local food while actively supporting and strengthening regional farmers. The Family Food Box program directly serves 60 local families.
Grant Proposal: O’Hara wishes to expand their Family Food Box Program addressing local food insecurity while providing direct economic support to small-scale local farmers.
This award would double distribution frequency for 10 existing families currently enrolled in the Program. It would allow enrollment of 10 additional new local families into the Program for the entire Program cycle, connecting households with fresh, locally grown food. 100% of families enrolled in the Family Food Box Program are women-led households. The small farm and food businesses they source from are majority or equally women-owned entrepreneurs.
With additional funding the project could benefit approximately 50-75 women and girls in Ravalli County.