Community Grants Report

Community Grants Report
November 2019

Smith County, Smith County Focus on Wellness

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $1,375, Awarded 12/12/2018
Project Summary: The Gardner Wellness Center in collaboration with the Smith County Health Department have
recently joined forces to promote the overall health and wellness of Smith County residents.
Use of Funds: Grant funds were used to purchase folding tables, stackable chairs, a handicap accessible scales, and
an oximeter, to be utilized in the teaching of a chronic disease self-management workshop.
Impact & Results: Community members that attended the six week workshop voiced that at the end of the
workshop they had learned valuable tools to change their lifestyle and behaviors. This workshop gave them the
knowledge and some skills needed to eat healthier and exercise more to help prevent chronic disease, or to help
improve upon their current condition. Many participants joined the wellness center or another exercise facility upon
completion of the workshop. This project would not have been able to be as effective as it was if it were not for this
grant funding. This funding allowed for the purchase of supplies that could be utilized to show the participants
that they were truly making progress with their goals and objectives, such as by utilizing the digital scales that
were purchased with these funds. While there were only 8-10 participants each week, because that is all that the
curriculum suggests, many other people had reached out and showed interest in attending the next workshop that
will be held. Another example of the success of this program was that there were two participants that attended
every week that were from another County. This is a great example of how this program can help people no matter
where they live because health and wellness affects everyone.

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City of Kensington, Roadside Park RV Receptacles

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $2,300, Awarded 5/15/2019

Project Summary: The City of Kensington requests grant funds to be used for
the installation of two RV electrical hookups at the roadside park to encourage
visitors to our park and community.

Use of Funds: Electrical, trenching, labor, and parts. Payment drop box supplies,
tree trimming, and asphalt millings for parking pad.

Impact & Results: What a wonderful addition to our city park! These RV
camping spots have been used already for the exact purpose they were intended. As soon as they were installed,
two campers were parked there for two night, the owners were attending a 90th birthday party being held for a
family member here in Kensington. Even though the party was held elsewhere, the family also gathered at the park
for fellowship. They were able to enjoy the park while they were visiting our community. A short time later the spots
were reserved for family members who were coming to Kensington to attend a wedding reception at the American
Legion. If not for the camping spots at the park, it would have been necessary for them to drive out of town to a
motel or an RV park in another community. As a result, these visitors who use the RV camping spots in the park stay
in the community and patronize our local businesses.

This is a project that we have considered for the last couple of years and thanks to SCCF, we are finally able to see it
to fruition. We were able to get the electrical receptacles installed for less than our original bid, so the excess funds
were spent on adding asphalt millings to firm up the parking/driving area and trimming back the dead tree limbs
that posed a hazard to the campers parked beneath them. The result is a park that looks tidy and well-cared for and
a camping area that is inviting and easy for campers and vehicles to access.

USD 110, Projection Promotes Prominence in Learning

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $2,047, Awarded 5/15/2019

Project Summary: We are looking to purchase a user friendly projection
and sound system that would enhance the visual and auditory quality
of the message and presentations that take place in the middle school
cafeteria.

Use of Funds: A Viewsonic projector 1080p with 3500 Lumens DLP
3D dual HD, Aurum Ultra series high speed HDMI cable with ethernet,
Bose L1 model II System with B2 bass and T4S mixer, and two adapters
digital AV and VGA adapters were purchased with the funds.

Impact & Results: With the new system we are able to have lessons in the cafeteria for students and instructors to
be completed. Being able to see and hear is a much needed improvement to the “old” setup/system. Lessons were
few and far between as setup was not practical and when the system was setup it was difficult to see and hard to
hear. This new system has positively impacted our staff, students, and community. With the new projector and
sound systems friendly setup process we are able to setup in minutes, allowing time and ease for presenting lessons
about character ed., in-service day instruction, as well as outside organizations joining to share the programs with
school and community. This grant funding is ongoing as our district SITE council is currently running a matching
funds campaign with the community and the Smith County Community Foundation.

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USD 110, No More Recess Blues

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund,
$341, Awarded 5/15/2019

Project Summary: Imagine recess without fun equipment,
add to it a rainy day when you have to stay inside the
cafeteria to play... recess blues! I am requesting funds to
purchase some new indoor recess equipment for the
students at Thunder Ridge Elementary, K-3.

Use of Funds: We were able to purchase all the games we wanted through Amazon. Our board secretary
purchased them for us with your grant. After searching for the best price for the items, the order used nearly every
penny! Fortunately, we didn’t have to pay shipping.

Impact & Results: We have just started a new school year, but the kids have seen the boxes of games and are
anxiously waiting for an “indoor recess day”! Until the weather turns cold or rainy, we will have outdoor recess.
However, when the rain and cold weather returns, we will excitedly get out the indoor games of corn hole, bean
bag toss, headbandz, guess who?, velcro catch, giant dominoes, giant connect four, zip line football catch and all
the other fun, interactive games for the students to enjoy. They will get to work together to share games, learn
different rules/games and team up to play! We teachers can’t wait to have a “new bag of tricks” for our energetic
students that will offer them new and exciting activities to share during our indoor recesses for years to come!
We have 43 students K-3 and their indoor recess time will now be exciting and new, offering them new games to
experience and learn. Our parent/teacher organization, The Steering Committee, also joined our efforts in this goal
of making indoor recess enjoyable. They gave a donation to purchase containers to hold the games and shelves to
organize the containers.

City of Kensington, Spirit Task Force Main Street
Revitalization Bench Project

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $930, Awarded 5/15/2019

Project Summary: The Spirit Task Force, volunteers working with
city government, is requesting grant funding from the Smith County
Community Fund to aid in the purchase of heavy-duty all-weather
benches for placement on Main Street Kensington.

Use of Funds: Grant funds were spent on the purchase of benches for the Main Street Revitalization Bench Project.

Impact & Results: The benches were assembled by volunteers and placed in specific locations on Main Street just in
time for the annual Old Fashioned Saturday night celebration. The benches provided a comfortable viewing venue
for the evening’s entertainment which included a little girls’ dance routine, high school dance and cheerleading
routine, as well as, other hometown entertainment. In addition to the convenient seating provided by the benches,
individuals remarked how nice they looked and what an improvement they were to the downtown area.

Since the installment of the new benches, work has begun on an empty lot on Main Street. The lot is being
upgraded and improved to make a Community Memory Garden. Two of the new benches have been placed in
the Memory Garden allowing for one to sit and reflect on the joys and blessings of rural living, as well as, provide
convenient seating for one walking on Main Street. The benches appear to have provided a ‘trickle-down affect’
causing other volunteers to make subtle improvements to the area. Individuals are consistently expressing gratitude
to the City for the improvement. Without the generosity of the Smith County Community Foundation this
project would not have been completed.

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Gaylord Housing Authority, Windows for 9 & 10

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $3,750, Awarded 5/15/2019

Project Summary: We are requesting to replace old windows for new ones in
two apartments that house families.

Use of Funds: Installed seven large windows and labor for installation.

Impact & Results: Residents that move into the apartment where new
windows were installed will be greatly affected.

There is no more drafts for dirt or bugs to come into the apartment. And
the residents reported they no longer hear all outside noises including wind
storms. The number of people that are affected by this project will be as
many that move in and out of the apartment.

City of Lebanon, Welcomin’ walk in

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $3,000,
Awarded 5/15/2019

Project Summary: Our entry area has badly stained carpet, installed when the fire station was converted into a
library nearly two decades ago. We want a modern and welcoming entrance to our facility. We wish to replace the
carpet with vinyl on the west half of library.

Use of Funds: Llinoleum done in June. Invoice of $2,959.03 paid. Remaining $40.97 can be accounted for as follows:
extra helpers were unavailable so though the board helped with heavy lifting in remove & replace furniture, I did in
13+ off clock hrs/ by law pd.

Impact & Results: Everyone who comes in notices and praises the change. Many even remark on “the new paint job”
which of course is simply the visual change made by the brightening effect of the linoleum. Already the library has
received a donation of an institutional sized mop bucket from some patrons’ parents.

We purchased the institutional sized mop along with a smaller mop with scrubbie surface to help keep it clean.
Huffman’s provided the glue remover as well as came back later at no charge to buff the seam. In addition, the
complete emptying of the room triggered a rearranging of the computer banks and Pop a Squat marker board
table which allows more privacy to patrons as well as an increased open feeling upon arrival. We received a gift of
two Lazy Boy recliner chairs which are situated by the front entry.

The magazine rack was relocated to the north wall, allowing a “mud room” area for inclement weather days. This
gives the antique straight chair a purpose and location. Our patronage continues to grow, not only because of this
recent grant, but definitely because of the Pop a Squat grant. The tots gravitate toward the marker board table
and the teens and tweens gravitate toward the west bank of computers. Adult patrons utilize the charging port on
marker board/technology table as well. Our magazine area is utilized by several elderly patrons, though we have not
heard snoring from there yet. The rearranging also caused covering back of storage cabinet at a cost of $15.51.

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SunPorch of Smith County, SunPorch of Smith
County Hair Salon equipment & floor vacuums

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund,
$4,400, Awarded 5/15/2019
Project Summary: The projects seeks to purchase
equipment for the hair salon and floor vaccums to meet
the personal hygiene, quality of life and the environmental
cleanliness for elders living at SunPorch of Smith County.
Use of Funds: The funds were spent as planned:
three vaccum cleaners, hair salon station with sink and
installation, a salon chair, hair dryer on wheels, sales tax
and freight on these items
Impact & Results: Due to this grant award SunPorch of
Smith County will provide hair salon services to our 30+ resident elders. This service is vital to the health and mental
well being of everyone and is especially important and appreciated by our residents. It is important to note that this
award is significant regarding our compliance with KDHE regulations, in that SunPorch is required to provide hair
salon services to it’s residents and having this salon equipment on campus allows our team to provide the service in
the most efficient and convenient manner possible.

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