A total of fourteen area non-profit groups will benefit from grants from the Wayne A. Shore Endowment Fund facilitated by the Clemmons Community Foundation.
The $122,682 in Shore Community Grants is a new program offered through the endowment. The programs and services will take place within the next year. All applications were reviewed initially by volunteer teams of local community leaders, foundation board members, and the family of Wayne A. Shore. The final grant recommendations were approved by the foundation’s board of directors.
Shore was born and grew up in East Bend and spent his last 10 years at his East Bend home. Upon his passing, left a generous gift that is now benefitting Yadkin County through the Shore Scholars Program, the Shore Community Grant Program, and soon to launch, a Yadkin County Schools middle school program called Z UP. His homestead is also under renovation by Love Out Loud Yadkin to serve as a community gathering place. The home renovation, property maintenance, and program support of the facility has also been made possible by Mr. Shore’s generous gifts.
The following organizations received grants for programs that will aid the community:
American Red Cross – $5,000 – To help support the Disaster Services program of the American Red Cross which provides sheltering and recovery assistance to meet disaster victim’s immediate needs.
Boonville Business and Downtown Development Association – $6,000 – To help purchase equipment for the children’s park in downtown Boonville. The park’s other recent renovation projects include its restrooms, picnic tables, and WIFI access to help students during remote learning due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Not included in the total is up to $6,000 in a matching grant for the program.
Cancer Services – $5,000 – To support the Patient Advocacy Program in Yadkin County. The program reduces barriers to accessing cancer treatment support by connecting cancer patients with in-kind medication assistance programs and direct financial assistance for emergency unmet treatment needs.
Children’s Center of Northwest North Carolina – $12,000 – To support the Children’s Center’s Shelter program, which provides safe and nurturing care for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, and at-risk environments. The sheltering and tutoring services have increased during the current pandemic.
Compassion Care Center – $3,296 – For JEWYL, Just Earn While You Learn; a program that provides classes on prenatal care, pregnancy, and life skills. In response to COVID-19, the Center has offered online and DVD versions of their courses in English and Spanish called BrightCourse in order to reach anyone regardless of transportation or health constraints.
Hands of Hope Medical Clinic – $9,000 – To support the increased operating hours with a bi-lingual practitioner in response to the COVID-19 to better serve the County’s Hispanic population.
Magnify Ministries – $9,000 – To support the Impact Yadkin program, which provides supplies and labor to address the repair needs of a home for families in difficult situations.
N.C. Cooperative Extension, Yadkin County Center- $2,310 – In partnership with Yadkin County Women, Infants, and Children, the Cooperative Extension has started a community garden to reduce food insecurity in the community. The grant will expand the garden and its educational programs in home gardening and nutrition.
Surry Community College – $12,000 – To provide equipment and supplies for the Central Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician course, a new program at the Yadkinville campus. The course leads to a certification in a medical field with demand increased by the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Town of East Bend – $12,000 – To help build the town’s first playground in its first park. The park will provide developmentally beneficial play for children, relaxation for adults, and a sense of community for the entire town.
Yadkin Arts Council – $5,675 –To support the continuation of the Council’s “Page to Stage” program. Working with Yadkin County Schools, the program produces live-theater for school aged children using high school students as its cast.
Yadkin County Rescue Squad and EMS – $11,401 – The grant will purchase a more powerful boat motor and two emergency radios that will ensure a greater capacity to provide water-based rescues along the Yadkin River.
Yadkin Riverkeeper – $10,500 – To support an initiative between Yadkin Riverkeeper and Yadkin County emergency response agencies to develop maps and signage to assist emergency personnel when responding to incidents on the river. A second grant for $7,500 will be used to create a network of small farmers in Yadkin County to address infrastructure needs to help assist in more profitable and sustainable operations. The project will address food insecurity and environmental concerns of both the consumer and producer.
YVEDDI Yadkin County Senior Centers – $12,000 – The full grant will be distributed evenly between the three Senior Centers in Yadkin County. The East Bend Senior Center will receive $4,000 to support the Never Too Old to Play activities program that provides physical health classes, entertainment, and supplemental supplies to the area’s senior citizens. An additional $4,000 will help the Yadkin County Senior Center combat social isolation in its aging population by providing monthly dinners, day trips, and other forms of entertainment as feasible and safe. The Yadkin Valley Senior Center will receive the remaining $4,000 to create a monthly Senior Fresh Pack Program offering fresh produce, activities, and self-care items for the area’s seniors. The fresh packs will be sent along with the Center’s existing food programs.