Nonprofit organizations that provide services to the elderly received over $250,000 in grants awarded by Foundation for Roanoke Valley. As part of the Foundation’s Special Interest Grants process, nonprofit organizations were given the opportunity to apply to the Foundation’s Mary Louise Home Fund and Marion S. and Willie Z. Camp Fund for Eldercare, both which support services to the elderly.
“With the aging population in the Roanoke Valley comes an increase in demand for services to the elderly. The Foundation is thrilled to be a position to award such large impact grants in an attempt to meet the need,” says Michelle Eberly, FRV Program Officer.
The following organizations are recipients:
- Botetourt Resource Center received $20,000 to support its services to older adults. The Center offers services such as recreation, fuel assistance, co-prescription, home repair, basic needs as well as information assistance, referral to human resources, and advocacy to help balance the needs of older adults who struggle economically and socially on fixed incomes.
- Joint Resident Council, Inc. received $75,000 to provide eyeglasses and teeth extractions/dentures to those elderly living in the Council’s service area. The Joint Resident Council, Inc. serves residents who live in any property owned by the Roanoke Redevelopment Housing Authority.
- LEAP for Local Food received $6,000 for its Senior Incentive Program. “Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s grant will be instrumental for LEAP. Throughout the 2016 growing season, the LEAP Mobile Market will have a weekly on-site stop at a Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority property so that residents don’t have to travel to find fresh, healthy food. We will pilot a voucher program to help older adults on limited budgets afford local produce. We are excited to launch the Senior Fresh Foods Program; an innovative approach to tackle transportation, food access, and food affordability challenges for older adults in Roanoke,” said Maureen Best, LEAP Executive Director.
- Local Office on Aging received $25,000 to support its Chronic Disease Self-Management program. This series of workshops will help older adults develop skills and provide tools to empower them to manage their chronic health conditions with confidence and consistency.
- Mental Health America of Roanoke Valley was awarded $37,000 to continue supporting its Senior Extravaganza for the elderly, to host two Caregiver College workshops and a Mental Health First Aid workshop. The Senior Extravaganza is an annual event held in the Roanoke area and is well attended by older adults. There are health screenings, pharmacy consults, exhibits about health and safety issues, workshops, and entertainment. The Caregiver College workshops provide family and paraprofessional caregivers with practical information about illnesses that impact older adults, how to obtain the best care for their loved ones, and how to take care of themselves as caregivers. The Mental Health First Aid workshop will help participants increase their mental health literacy and understanding of mental health issues which impact older adults, decrease the stigma attached to mental health problems and those who struggle with them, learn to recognize early warning signs of mental health issues in older adults and develop skills to intervene and to guide them to treatment resources.
- Renovation Alliance was awarded $67,610 to support its Home Repairs for Older Adults program. This organization provides free-critical home repairs to low-income homeowners to ensure a warm, safe, dry, accessible, energy efficient, and healthy home. Currently, there are over 150 older adults on its waiting list. This grant will be used to decrease that waiting list.
- STEP, Inc. received $25,000 to expand its congregate meals program from four times a month to 20 times a month. “According to recent data, nine percent of all seniors are “food insecure” and that number is expected to double in the next ten years! Here at Solutions that Empower People, (STEP) we will not let this situation go unnoticed. Our recent Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment points out that more innovation, collaboration and food for those seniors-in-need will be required to solve the problem. With the support of Foundation for Roanoke Valley and the collaboration of our community partners, including the Franklin County faith based organizations, we will ensure seniors are provided with the food and support they need and deserve. We are forever thankful for the grant from the Foundation which will be used to expand our senior meals programs,” said Bill Loope, Executive Director of STEP, Inc.
Foundation for Roanoke Valley, the region’s community foundation, has served the Roanoke Valley for more than 27 years and currently administers over 300 named endowment funds established by individuals and families on behalf of the community. For more information about Foundation for Roanoke Valley, visit www.foundationforroanokevalley.org.
