Apr 7, 2014 2 min read

Grants totaling $5,500 will be distributed to three nonprofit agencies in Greene County that provide services to the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless as part of the Observer-Reporter’s “No Place to Call Home” yearlong series.

Launched last year, the series was intended to bring awareness of homelessness in Greene and Washington counties. As part of the reporting project, the newspaper coordinated a fundraising initiative, generating more than $23,000. Charitable funds were established at the Community Foundation of Greene County and Washington County Community Foundation. Donations totaling $5,500 were contributed in Greene, while $18,183 were received in Washington.

A committee composed of members of the newspaper series project team reviewed the Greene County proposals. Washington County grants were announced last month.

Grants will be distributed to the following Greene County agencies:

• Southwest Training Services Inc. will receive $2,500 for its Making A Connection project. The program is intended to provide a support system for at-risk youth, and includes various counseling services, including independent living and financial literacy skills; career awareness and exploration; tutoring, and related support services.

• Salvation Army, which will receive $1,500 for its Greene County Service Center to support its Emergency Direct Assistance program. The grant will help fund meal vouchers, personal hygiene kits, blankets and duffel bags for people displaced from their homes or who are unable to secure housing due to insufficient income.

• Greene County Human Services Department, which will receive $1,500 for emergency necessities. The grant will be used to buy gas cards to transport clients to shelters; restaurant gift cards for those in emergency motel shelters; gift cards for the purchase of necessities such as dishes, linens and toiletries for the homeless who are being assisted with housing, and to purchase furniture from Hidden Treasures Inc.

In addition to receiving donations from individuals and businesses, including Washington Hospital, the Observer-Reporter held several fundraisers, including a purse auction in October that generated more than $10,000.

A similar fundraising initiative linked to the newspaper’s yearlong series on Alzheimer’s and dementia will be announced next month. The first installment appeared March 30, and the next part will be published April 27.