Everyday, we see the critical work to meet the needs of our neighbors across West Tennessee. From the difference our donors, volunteers, and funds make to the services and support provided by our nonprofit partners, we get to witness the impact on individuals and families in our community.

Here are three examples of how Community Impact Grants are touching the lives of children and adults in our region:

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1. Funding for RIFA’s Snack Backpack program helps fight hunger for elementary students.

Last August, our staff volunteered for two activities with RIFA Jackson to see behind the scenes of their Snack Backpack program. During their annual Pack the Bus event, RIFA received 15,000 pounds of donated food for the program.

Inside the RIFA warehouse, we helped sort and pack the items donated. Each Snack Backpack contains easy-to-prepare meals and snacks for children who are at risk of facing hunger over the weekend. Examples of items packed for students include pop-tarts, ramen noodles, apple sauce, oatmeal, and macaroni and cheese. A full list of needed donations can be found here.

“Through this ministry, RIFA provides Snack Backpacks to over 1,000 children at 14 elementary schools each week during the school year (36 weeks). Each Snack Backpack provides a child with six meals and two snacks and costs approximately $5.44. The yearly cost per child in the Snack Backpack program is $196.”

RIFA received a $10,000 Community Impact Grant to support the children in Madison County fighting hunger.

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2. WRAP provided 7,000 updated information cards to Jackson Police Department to assist victims of domestic violence.

Wrapping West Tennessee in Support is a campaign by WRAP (Wo/Men’s Resource and Rape Assistance Program) to raise awareness in the community about domestic and sexual violence and start a conversation about how we can work together to prevent it, address it, and make ending this type of violence as a priority.

A piece of this campaign was creating updated victim information cards for patrol officers to provide on-scene to domestic violence victims. Previous cards had not been updated in decades and were missing crucial information for victims. The new cards have information about victims’ legal rights, warrant procedures, the Safe Hope Center, and WRAP’s 24/7 helpline.

WRAP received a $3,000 Community Impact Grant to create toolkits and resources for businesses and individuals in our community to spread awareness, supporting the victims of domestic and sexual violence.

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3. The grant helped Habitat for Humanity complete critical repairs for 7 homeowners and their families.

Habitat for Humanity’s Aging in Place program aids older adults with home repairs, modifications, and services to allow them to stay in their home. This not only creates a safe environment for those individuals, but it also directly impacts their quality of life.

“Habitat Jackson has been able to complete critical repairs for 7 homeowners and their families in Madison County, resulting in a $78,496 impact for 8 individuals. The repairs included key accessibility modifications, such as the installation of a ramp and handrails to enter and exit the home safely, chair-height toilets, new backsteps, and grab bars, as well as the reduction of trip hazards through new floor supports.”

Habitat for Humanity Jackson received a $10,000 Community Impact Grant to fund life-changing repairs for low income, older homeowners.

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These people are The Faces of Our Community.

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Community Impact Grants were created in 2016 to serve as funding opportunities for local nonprofits and funds of the Community Foundation to help make an impact in our area. Since its inception, we have awarded over $272,000 back into the community through these grants to fund a variety of programs and initiatives. Previous organizations awarded have been in the arts, education, healthcare, legal services, and more.

Do you have an exciting project or initiative to benefit our friends and neighbors across West Tennessee? We are currently accepting applications for our next cycle of Community Impact Grants. The deadline to submit proposals is April 12, 2024.

Learn more about our grants online or schedule a meeting with our staff to chat about our grant process.

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Resources:
2022-2023 Community Impact Grant Reports
Habitat for Humanity, Aging in Place, https://www.habitat.org/our-work/aging-in-place
RIFA Jackson, Snack Backpack, https://www.rifajackson.org/ministries/snack-backpack/
WRAP TN, Wrap Partners with JPD to Support Victims, https://www.wraptn.org/post/wrap-partners-with-jpd

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Author:

Haley Fortune
Community Outreach Associate

Haley joined the Community Foundation team in October 2020. She manages community relations, events, marketing, and public relations for the organizations and coordinate special programs, like Community Impact Grants.

haley@cfwtn.org | (731) 984-2146

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