Community Foundation to grant record amount

The Mt. Vernon Area Community Foundation will celebrate Apple Butter Makin’ Days on Friday afternoon by handing out a record amount to 13 charities.
The $54,043 which will be presented this week betters last year’s total of $52,450.
It also brings the grand total awarded by the Foundation since 2006 to $168,275.
Steve Fairchild, president of the Foundation’s board of directors, noted that a donation of more than $1 million to the Foundation’s grantmaking account by the late R.C. and Pat Downing of Halltown has ballooned the amount of money given in the past two years.
Besides Fairchild, the Foundation’s board of directors includes vice-president Sherry Rouner, treasurer Joey Orr, secretary Bethany Patterson, and members Jim Parnell, Marie Short, Micki Turner and Max Springer.
The Foundation received 20 grant applications this year. Three members of the board, Turner, Rouner and Patterson, picked up and organized the applications, making it easier for the entire board to award the grants on Sept. 14.
The 2018 Community Foundations grants in the following amounts are being awarded as follows:
- Sycamore Community Center for playground equipment, $1,552;
 Lawrence County Shrine Club and transportation services to the hospital for children, $2,000.
Mt. Vernon Church of Christ for a clothing/blanket giveaway, $2,500.
Covenant Baptist Church for the Cleaning Closet, $5,000.
St. Susanne’s Catholic Church for its food pantry, $9,000.
Lifebridge Assembly of God Church for its meal program, $2,500.
Emergency Services for Children for its program for Mt. Vernon R-5 children, $6,141.
Halltown Fire Department for radios, $5,600.
Mt. Vernon Community Betterment for building a skate park, $2,000.
Miller Christian Service Center for its Christmas food baskets, $3,000.
Halltown Baptist Church for its King’s Renew car repair program, $5,000.
First Presbyterian Church for its Christmas meal program through Holiday Central, $6,000.
Mt. Vernon Church of Christ for its wheelchair ramp program, $3,750.
The local Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks in Springfield.
It operates the license bureau in Mt. Vernon.