Sportsmen’s Club Receives Grant for New Equipment

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Sportsmen’s Club Receives Grant for New Equipment.

The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund, a donor advised fund at the Elk County Community Foundation, recently made a grant award to the St. Marys Sportsmen’s Club.  The award helped fund a new riding lawn mower.  Recently, Paula Fritz Eddy, on right, Executive Director of the Community Foundation and Dr. William Conrad, on the left, Advisory member to the Stackpole Family Fund visited the Sportsmen’s Club to see their new equipment.   Jerry Olson, board director, standing and Dan Caskey operator of the mower and honorary director were anxious to show them the new Husqvarna mower purchased from Steve’s Lawnmower Sales and Service.

The Club was in need of a new riding mower to help maintain the 8 to 10 acres of lawn they cut.   Approximately 20-25 volunteer hours per week is spent mowing grass and maintaining the equipment and grounds. The Sportsmen’s Club was organized in 1935 for the promotion of all types of hunting and fishing sports, as well as shooting sports.   The club also encourages the promotion of conservation of fish and wildlife.    The Club is actively involved in local hunter safety classes, Conservation Leadership School and supports the Elk County Youth Field Day, Elk County Envirothon and maintains and excellent rifle range, trap and skeet field as well as renting the facilities to many other groups, organizations and individuals.

The mission of the Elk County Community Foundation is to strengthen our region through development, stewardship and grant making as donors achieve their philanthropic goals.  Its vision is to connect people who care with causes that matter.  The Foundation assists donors who have an interest in starting a fund to benefit nearly any charitable organization or cause that they have a vested interest in, whether as a named fund or in the memory of a deceased family member or friend. The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund is just one of 170+ funds.  Their next round of grant applications is due July 15th.  The information about their grant criteria can be found on the Community Foundations website; www.elkcountyfoundation.org. With the current needs of COVID related expenses for nonprofit agencies, the Stackpole Family will prioritize this round of awards to focus on the health care and education fields particularly serving the disabled, youth and the elderly population.   Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Foundation for more information either by calling 814-834-2125 or visiting its website.

 Pictured from L to R

Dr. William Conrad, Jerry Olson, Dan Caskey and Paula Fritz Eddy

Grants to Shade Tree Commission Fund Years of Growth

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ECCF: 20 Years: celebrating our past ~ inspiring our future

ECCF Grants Support Christian Food Bank since 2006

Grants to Shade Tree Commission Fund Years of Growth

Trees have a positive effect on many aspects of people’s lives, including their health, homes, businesses, recreation, drinking water and air quality. The Elk County Community Foundation has supported the work of the City of St. Marys Shade Tree Commission by awarded grants totaling $9,950 over the years.

A grant of $2,500 from the Elk County Development Fund in 2006 helped the Shade Tree Commission enhance the beautiful surroundings at Memorial Park; a $2,200 grant in 2013 provided shade trees for city parks; and $2,750 was awarded for the Erie Avenue tree replacement project in 2014. A $2,500 grant from the Harrison & Muriel Dauer Stackpole Fund in 2008 was utilized by the Shade Tree Commission to expand their programs.

The City of St. Marys Shade Tree Commission (STC), in existence since 1995, is committed to the planting and maintenance of trees, as well as removal of failing trees in order to beautify the City of St. Marys, making it appealing to the residents and visitors while ensuring St. Marys remains green. The city earned the prestigious recognition of Tree City USA status in 2005. The STC is an all-volunteer group, with 5 members appointed to their positions by City Council. Current members are David Larkin, chairperson; Gail Shturtz, vice-chairperson;  Stephen Bagley, Cly Hornung; and Lisa Sorg. Toby Herzing from DCNR serves as a consultant to the group. Larkin stated, “The Shade Tree Commission members are committed to maintaining the trees that help beautify our city. There are hundreds of lovely trees along city streets and in our parks for the visual enjoyment of our residents. The trees are also beneficial for health purposes.”

According to Cly Hornung, committee member, the Shade Tree Commission maintains from 600-700 city trees. A city tree is defined as a tree between the curb and sidewalk, or those in city parks and designated public areas. The trees were originally inventoried and recorded using GPS tracking by a Penn State student for a graduate studies project. The STC committee updates the inventory yearly and takes an annual tour of the city.

One of the signature projects of STC is their involvement in providing education to elementary school students in St. Marys, normally on or around Arbor Day. Each year educational materials are distributed to all of the students to teach them the importance of trees. The STC alternates elementary schools yearly with a program that provides a special lesson about trees to 4th graders, who are then each given a sapling to plant at their own chosen location. The following year the same students, now 5th graders, gather to help plant a tree in their honor somewhere in the city during a special program in celebration of Arbor Day.

The Shade Tree Commission also plants trees purchased by family members in honor or in memory of loved ones. Families can participate in the planting, and a recognition sign is placed near the tree.

Funding trees for Shade Tree Commission efforts is just one of the ways the Elk County Community Foundation is helping our communities grow. Since it was first established 20 years ago, the Foundation has invested over 5 million dollars into growing our community resources by funding grants for worthy projects, and scholarships to help our students further their education.

Elk County Community Foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization that provides grantmaking support for the needs of our local communities from funds that it maintains and administers on behalf of multiple donors. As a public charity, the Community Foundations also seeks support from the general public to help grow and maintain general community development funds. For more information visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org or call the office at 834.2125.

Photo: Eric Wolfe, ECCF Board member, Shade Tree members, Lisa Sorg, Cly Hornung, Gail Shturtz, David Larkin, and Tom Wagner, ECCF Board.

 

ECCF Grants Support Christian Food Bank since 2006

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ECCF: 20 Years: celebrating our past ~ inspiring our future

ECCF Grants Support Christian Food Bank since 2006

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) has been a steady supporter of the St. Marys Christian Food Bank (CFB) with over $114,000 in grants awarded from a variety of funds administered by the foundation since 2006. The food bank is greatly appreciated, well utilized, and generously supported by so many individuals and organizations in our community.

Over the years, grants from the Elk County Community Foundation have provided funding for various needs including holiday foods and special baskets, technology updates, and a storage shed. The organization also holds its own Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation that is available to provide them with assistance for operating expenses and other needs.

A majority of the Community Foundation grants, a total of $99,800, were awarded to the food bank from the Harrison & Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund. This donor-advised fund has provided dollars to many non-profit organizations for projects that benefit area residents since it was first established in 2003. In this pandemic year, the family is focused on supporting those agencies that serve children, the elderly, and those with disabilities, in both the education and healthcare fields. Agencies are encouraged to contact the foundation about their needs during this time.

The food bank is a vital organization within the community, especially during times like we are currently experiencing. Our area has been impacted by multiple layoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic. They are currently serving an average of 140-150 families each week through their drive-through distribution held on Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. The size of the food boxes distributed to families is determined by the number of persons residing in the household. To be eligible, families must reside within the St Mary’s area school district and meet federal income guidelines.

In addition to food donated from individuals, food drives and farmers, CNB purchases food locally from area grocery stores and from Second Harvest in Erie through the National Feed America Program. They gratefully receive food donations from Walmart twice a week, and once a week from Sheetz. Local churches, organizations, social clubs, businesses, and individuals contribute financially to help feed those in need. Many have stepped forward with generous donations during the past few months. These donations from the community are vital in keeping the food bank operating both now, and on a regular basis.

The organization is a charitable, non-profit corporation, founded in 1983 by a group of Christian women from the Saint Marys area. It is governed by a 15-member board of directors and is entirely operated by over 120 volunteers.

Volunteers are the wind beneath the wings of the Christian Food Bank. Georgia Wagner, Board President, stated, “Our volunteers are a very devoted, supportive group. They come ready to serve and have become like family to each other. Some of our great volunteers are also recipients who volunteer as their way of giving back. When they first started they were shy and quiet, but now you see them walking taller, knowing they are helping their community.”

The Board of the Christian Food Bank is made up of a diverse group of local residents.  Georgia said, “They are so amazing. Our board offers many talents ranging from a background in education, industry, and medicine, to finance and farming. They all have something special to offer in keeping the food bank running smoothly.”

Individuals who wish to support the Christian Food Bank through the Community Foundation can donate to the St. Marys Christian Food Bank Fund at the Elk County Community Foundation at PO Box 934, St. Marys, PA 15857. The Elk County Community Foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization that provides grant making support for the needs of our local communities from funds that it maintains and administers on behalf of multiple donors. As a public charity, the Community Foundation also seeks support from the general public to help grow and maintain general community development funds. For more information visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org or call the office at 834.2125.

 

$4,000 grant in 2011 brought electronic books to our area

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ECCF: 20 Years: celebrating our past ~ inspiring our future

Photo: In 2011, very few people in our area knew much about e-books. That changed when the St. Marys Public Library used a $4,000 grant from ECCF’s Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund to initiate this service in our community. Today, this popular method of reading is enjoyed by thousands of area residents that download their books to their electronic device compliments of our local library.

$4,000 grant in 2011 brought electronic books to our area

Just one decade ago, many people in our area were not familiar with e-books. In 2011, with a look to the future, the staff and board of the St. Marys Public Library requested and received a $4,000 grant from the Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund, a fund administered by the Elk County Community Foundation. This grant provided the needed dollars for a project that would bring free electronic books and audio downloads to the St. Marys Library. Currently, about 50% of St. Marys residents have an active library card. Library services are also available to Fox Township and Bennett’s Valley citizens.

Short for electronic book, an e-book is a book published in an electronic format. It allows for instant access to a book by downloading it over the Internet. The book can be read on a computer, e-reader (e.g., the Amazon Kindle), Ipad, smartphone, or tablet. Audiobooks can be listened to on your electronic device or in your car.

According to Leslie Swope, St. Marys Public Library Director, the library normally has 6,000 e-books and audiobooks that circulate. Since Covid19 closed the library to the public, they have added 4,000 more e-books to their collection to answer the demand for reading material. Recently their Seneca Library District (Elk, McKean, Forest, Cameron) added a new feature, joining with the Oil Creek Library District (Jefferson, Clarion, Venango) to share books and offer even more of a reading selection.

Leslie stated, “E-books and audiobooks are actually about four times the cost of a print copy of a book since they must be purchased through one of only a couple platform vendors. But the convenience is definitely worth the cost.” With e-books, you can customize how you read, the book layout, and lighting. You can carry hundreds of books with you on something thinner than most magazines. It’s possible to download a book anywhere and anytime, and you can adjust the font size and style to your liking which is a huge advantage to anyone who would benefit from a large print type of book.

In addition to their electronic books, the library has many things they offer that most people are unaware of. Leslie encourages people to explore their website at www.stmaryslibrary.org. The website includes complete instructions for joining the library and downloadable instructions for signing up to access e-books on your device. The library welcomes emails to library@stmaryslibrary.org with any questions on library services.

The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund was established by the family to support the philanthropic causes that were important to both Harrison and Muriel. This donor-advised fund has provided dollars to many non-profit organizations for projects that benefit area residents since it was first established in 2003. In this pandemic year, the family is focused on supporting those agencies that serve children, the elderly, and those with disabilities, in both the education and healthcare fields. Agencies are encouraged to contact the foundation about their needs during this time.

The Elk County Community Foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization that provides grantmaking support for the needs of our local communities from funds that it maintains and administers on behalf of multiple donors. As a public charity, the Community Foundations also seeks support from the general public to help grow and maintain general community development funds. For more information visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org or call the office at 834.2125.

 

Women Who Care Grant Gives a Lift To Grieving Children

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ECCF: 20 Years: celebrating our past ~ inspiring our future

This is the 6th in a series of articles on the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) during its 20th anniversary year, highlighting its history and impact in the community

St. Marys, PA

Women Who Care (WWC) is a woman’s philanthropic organization that brings women from diverse backgrounds together to combine their philanthropic leadership and strengthen the Elk County community through the power of collective giving. Since its beginning in 2019, WWC, a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, has awarded nearly $225,000 to local non-profit organizations that serve women and their families. In 2011, one of their first grants was a $2,500 award to the Community Nurses to help expand Camp Flutterbye, a camp for children who are grieving the death of a loved one.

Camp Flutterbye is offered in a relaxing, beautiful environment with fun activities structured to help kids, K-12, understand that grieving the loss of a loved one is healthy and normal. The camp is offered twice a year, normally a two-day camp in the summer and a one-day event in late fall to prepare the children for dealing with the holiday season. Along with Community Nurses staff and volunteers, Dickinson Center, Inc. staff and summer workers offer their expertise, time and talents to the Camp Flutterbye program.

Research indicates children who experience a loss through death are at a much greater risk for depression, suicide, poverty and substance abuse. Untreated grief in children can have a significant impact on their wellbeing as an adult. Joanne Straub, MSW, Community Nurses Social Worker, stated, “The goal of our grief program is to make available to families the resources they need to deal with their grief. It’s essential that we address the grief needs of children. Flutterbye gives them the opportunity to understand their feelings and gives them the tools to work through grief in a healthy and positive way.” There are no fees charged for bereavement programs and services.

The over 240 members of Women Who Care award grants each fall to worthy projects like Camp Flutterbye that make a difference in the lives of women and their families. A member of WWC can be any philanthropic woman seeking to support community needs in Elk County. Membership is on a yearly basis with women making a membership donation each year. All donations are pooled together and awarded in the form of grants at their annual meeting to local non-profit organizations. New memberships are still available for this granting year. Membership dues are due by the end of June to allow members to vote on grant awards at the 2020 fall annual meeting.

For more information on Women Who Care and Elk County Community Foundation funds and programs visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

Photo: Camp Flutterbye, a project of Penn Highlands Community Nurses, lifts the spirits of children who are grieving due to the death of a loved one. In 2011, Women Who Care, provided a $2,500 grant to expand the camp and provide more services to the kids and their families.