Greater Edwardsville Area Community Foundation Awards Grant to Senior Services Plus Meals On Wheels Program
ALTON- The Greater Edwardsville Area Community Foundation recently presented a check to the Senior Services Plus Meals on Wheels Program for a grant awarded to them to help support homebound seniors in the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area on January 14.
The GEACF gives a recent grant for the Senior Services Plus Meals on Wheels Progam
The Greater Edwardsville Area Community Foundation (GEACF) awarded a $2,240 grant to Senior Services Plus. “We are very grateful to the Foundation for their support,” said Jonathan Becker, Executive Director of Senior Services Plus, “Because of the generosity of organizations like the Greater Edwardsville Area Community Foundation we were able to serve over 154,000 meals for 1,963 seniors and individuals with disabilities through our Meals on Wheels Program in 2009.”
A charitable trust that receives, manages, and distributes tax-deductible charitable contributions; the GEACF is committed to providing the community with options for donating their money locally. The Foundation receives contributions from private citizens, local businesses and other organizations interested in funding the charitable needs of the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area.
The recent grant awarded to the Senior Services Plus program will go directly to supplying seniors in the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area with meals. Nearly 45 seniors will benefit from this grant daily.
Chairman of the Greater Edwardsville Area Foundation’s Board of Directors, Donna Bardon, said the GEACF Board was pleased to support a program like the Senior Services Plus Meals on Wheels Program. “Our organization is impressed with how Senior Services Plus serves so many needy seniors in such a large area. Particularly in light of the economy and more people needing these services, we felt it was important to do our part to support them.” Bardon said.
GEACF Grant Committee Chairperson, Patty Thiede added, “Personally, I was impressed with the community garden program Senior Services Plus has implemented at their facility. They explained to us how a portion of that food helps not only the Meals on Wheels program, but also goes to Catholic Charities to help with the needy there as well. What a great idea.”
The Greater Edwardsville Area Community Foundation is committed to providing grant money to help organizations that serve the District 7 area. “This program was something we felt strongly about supporting, especially since Senior Services Plus has been supporting those in need in our community for many years.” Thiede said.
Senior Services Plus has been delivering meals to the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area for 15 years, and delivers 600 meals a day throughout Madison and St. Clair Counties. “Most people are shocked to learn that 92% of those who receive a meal through our Meals on Wheels program are classified as living at or below 125% of the poverty level,” said Karen Adams, Meals on Wheels Coordinator for Senior Services Plus. “Our mission at Senior Services Plus is to end senior hunger. We are committed to this effort, and are very grateful to organizations like the Greater Edwardsville Area Community Foundation for their support.”
“We also want the public to know that we don’t turn anyone down who is in need. If you call us, we will provide a meal to you. Most of our clients are seniors, but we won’t turn anyone down. Just call and let us help.” Becker said.
Located in Alton, Senior Services Plus is a resource for seniors in need of different types of assistance. Services they provide include the Meal on Wheels program, help with Medicare Part D, low-income home energy assistance, income tax preparation, senior health programs, and more.
To find out more about the services Senior Services Plus provides contact Jonathan Becker at 465-3298 or jbecker@seniorservicesplus.org. You may also visit them online at www.seniorservicesplus.org.
GEACF Receives Grant Money From Quercus Grove Rural Club
The Christmas spirit abounds this year as the Greater Edwardsville Area Community Foundation (GEACF) was chosen as one of nine recipients of the Quercus Grove Rural Club fund.
Thanks to a recent grant awarded to the GEACF by the Quercus Grove Rural Club, not only will the memory of the Quercus Grove school and its students live on, but it will help to fund community projects throughout the District 7 area.
The Quercus Grove Rural Club Awards Grant To GEACF
After being in existence for nearly a century, the Quercus Grove Rural Club is entering into its final chapter. The club began in the early 1900’s as a group of neighbors who began buying food and staples in bulk. The group would meet periodically, gathering at one of their homes, providing an opportunity to visit while dividing the food.
In 1914, the Quercus Grove Rural Club, Inc. was founded and chartered. The Club’s initial mission was for educational purposes but also expanded its purpose to include supporting charitable, religious, and scientific purposes as a non-profit organization.
Over the years, the club membership grew and meetings were held in the Quercus Grove School House, where many of the members had once attended school. The Quercus Grove Club purchased the one room schoolhouse in 1984, using it as a meeting place for the citizens of the Edwardsville/Hamel community to use for social and educational gatherings. Hundreds of people attended functions in the building and grounds for birthday parties, baby and bridal showers, picnics, meetings, and family reunions.
In September 2007 a fire completely destroyed the schoolhouse and the Quercus Grove Rural Club elected to sell the property. According to Club by-laws, proceeds of the sale were given to non-profit charitable organizations and the club began accepting applications from organizations throughout the community. The proceeds of the sale were then allocated to nine local non-profit organizations, the Greater Edwardsville Area Foundation being one of them.
Donna Bardon, Chairman of the Greater Edwardsville Area Community Foundation, said the Foundation was pleased to be the recipient of such a grant. “The Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the environment, the arts, community development, education, and health and human services.” said Bardon. “The funds from the Quercus Grove Rural Club will be used in a manner that will be in line with the original values of their Club. We are incredibly grateful to them and look forward to putting the money to good use in the District 7 community.”
Several artifacts from the Quercus Grove Schoolhouse, including the school bell, interior items, and the 1937 school cornerstone, were salvaged from the fire in 2007 and are now housed at the Madison County Historical Society, located on Main Street in Edwardsville.
“Although the Quercus Grove Rural Club has decided to dissolve, we hope that the memory of the Club and the schoolhouse will continue for generations as a result of the donations that were given to the nine chosen organizations,” said Bob Kappler, member of the Club. “It was an emotional decision for all of us, and one we didn’t take lightly. We are hopeful that the Club will be able to continue doing good in the community as a result of disbursing the funds the way we did.”
The Greater Edwardsville Area Foundation is a charitable trust, established in 1997, that receives, manages, and distributes tax-deductible charitable contributions for the benefit of the Greater Edwardsville / Glen Carbon area. GEACF receives contributions from individuals, businesses and other organizations interested in funding the charitable needs of the local community.