Community Grants Report

Community Grants Report
December 2020

Immanuel Lutheran Church, “Caring for
the Community both Physically and Spiriturally”

Kansas Health Foundation Fund, $3,365, Awarded 10/1/2019

Project Summary: Immanuel Lutheran requests money to assist in
providing food for the Wilson Community Food Bank, shoes, clothing, and
school supplies for low-income students, quilt supplies, ingredients for
projects that the profit goes towards community service.

Use of Funds: To fund the following services; the Food Bank,’s Thanksgiving
meal and two soup suppers. Teacher’s Appreciation breakfast, a prayer
walk, and community clean-up.

Impact & Results: Immanuel Lutheran church has been actively doing
outreach into the community. We were limited somewhat by COVID-19
but alot of our activities happened before March. It was decided that the
money set-aside for quilt making and bierock bake-off would go directly
to the Wilson/Dorrance Food Bank where there was great need with the
pandemic. Our quilters used existing fabric for the 21 quilts that they
made this year.

For the first time ever all churches participated in the Prayer Walk
in Wilson. Uniting our Christian community is one of our goals. Our
appreciation school breakfast in last October for approximately 24
teachers and staff created a good and positive relationship. A church-
wide effort enabled the community to provide a free Thanksgiving meal
to low income residents. One-fourth of the meals were delivered to “shut-
in” senior residents. God’s Work our hands saw 15 persons helping clean
gutters, saw tree limbs and bushes, paint buildings, and help with general
yard clean-up for various elderly residents.

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Wilson Economic Development Corporation, Wilson
Community Cleanup partnering with the City of Wilson and
the Board of Health

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $4,800, Awarded 4/7/2020

Project Summary: The grant will be used to support a community wide clean
up. It will support clean up efforts by the Wilson Economic Development
Corporation, the City of Wilson and residents.

Use of Funds: Grant funds were used to pay the contractors assisting with
disposal of debris and tires collected during the cleanup. Remaining funds
were used for the approved extension for the painting project .

Impact & Results: The project has become an annual event and residents
are very appreciative and look forward to it. The community as a whole looks
better and people seem to be putting more pride into their properties. The
participation level in this annual project has been amazing and it would
probably not be possible without the financial support of Smoky Hill Charitable
Foundation. The approved extension was used to offer local businesses and
organizations an opportunity to use matching funds to purchase paint and
supplies to spruce up their store fronts and buildings. We only had two
participants which was below our expectations, but a lesson learned was that
a more aggressive marketing campaign was probably needed. The remaining
unused funds have been sent back to Smoky Hill Charitable of Salina.

Ellsworth County Historical Society, Please Fence Me In

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $1,200, Awarded 10/6/2020

Project Summary: The property line behind the Hodgden House would
benefit from a 6 foot fence along its 64 foot length. In addition, the lattice
work between the Hodgden House and the Livery needs to be replaced with
fencing pickets.

Use of Funds: Materials were purchased to build a privacy fence on the
southeast corner of the Hodgden House property. Included in that purchase
were materials to repair/replace parts of the fence that extends between the Hodgden House and the Livery Stable.

Impact & Results: The “before” scene that our guests viewed as they walked into the office was the backs of the
neighboring rental properties and perhaps a snarling dog or two. We feel that our guests are better off because they
see a more welcoming view and no dogs. The privacy fence is a fantastic addition. This grant provided the funding
to purchase the materials and we are thankful for our volunteers who erected the fence. There would have been no
fence without this funding! ECHS feels that any enhancement to our grounds is an accomplishment to be shared by
the whole community, since tourism locations bring guests to our local businesses as well as to our complex. Thanks
once again!

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Ellsworth County Fair Association,
Fair Enhancements

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund,
$3,625, Awarded 4/7/2020

Project Summary: Upgrades are needed to provide a better and
safer county fair. The sound system needs additional speakers to
enable attendees and exhibitors to better hear announcements. The
bleachers need to be repaired to make them safer for all spectators.

Use of Funds: We enhanced the fair experience for both spectators
and exhibitors by improving the sound system and repairing the
bleachers. We enjoyed the upgrades this year and will continue to
use them year after year.

Impact & Results: We added two new speakers to the sound system. This allowed us to project sound to more areas
of the fair barn so participants can follow the progress of classes and the spectators can hear the names of exhibitors
and the judges comments. Sound is challenging in our outdoor facility, but spectators were happy with the new
changes. Bleachers were repaired with new boards to ensure safety of spectators.

Without the funding, we would have continued to use our sound system with only two speakers. The bleachers
would have been repaired, but not as well as we would have been forced to do more patching and “getting by.”
With the modified fair this year, we had 110 exhibitors and estimate that over the week we had about 450
spectators. This number is lower than normal years, but we hope next year we can have a bigger, better fair with
more people invited. We typically have at least 1,000 visit the fair. The fair is a celebration of hard work, talents and
our communities. We were glad to be able to provide a chance to showcase these good things and do it in a way
that was comfortable for everyone.

Feeding the Children of Central Kansas,
Feeding the Children of Central Kansas

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $3,592, Awarded 4/7/2020

Project Summary: FCCK is expanding. We are requesting items to keep our
program in place. We need an ice machine, transport bags, deeper transport
pans, serving spoodles. We are required to organize our recipes with plastic
recipe covers in 3 ring notebooks.

Use of Funds: Grant money was used as allowed in the budget submitted for
the grant.

Impact & Results: In 2019 we did not reach our goal of 5,000 summer food
service meals. We served at four sites of two school dsitricts, in two counties.
When we applies for the grant we thought we would try to reach the 2019
goal again. However because of COVID-19 and schools were unable to serve
summer meals, in the summer of 2020 we served over 16,000 meals, 15 sites, three school districts, in six counties.
COVID- 19 waivers allowed by USDA meant we were able to serve grab and go meals instead of having youth come
into the building and sit to eat their meal. COVID-19 also meant we had to purchase extra sanitaion chemicals.

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Since we had a larger number to serve we needed more volunteers. More volunteers
meant we needed to purchase extra glvoes, aprons, chemicals, and other items. We
purchased an ice machine. This was very important becasue of the need to ice the cold
food items for delivery. The hand held spoodles made it easier to pack food since we
could have more volunteers help since we had the serving utensils. Office supplies were
used when expanded our filing system from five sites to 15 sites.

Feeding the Chidlren of Central Kansas was so lucky to be able to help a college
student. Not only did she learn with her work experience in her planned career but our
program benefited by having another staff person able to supervisor volunteers of all
ages.

Ellsworth County Historical Society, Two Projects Please

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $1,000, Awarded 10/1/2019

Project Summary: The restrooms at the Fort Harker Guard House and
Commanding Officer’s Quarters are in need of new toilets that are ADA
compliant as well as a new coat of paint in each restroom.
Special areas need to be painted on our newly rehabbed caboose.

Use of Funds: Three ADA compliant toilets were purchased and
installed at the Fort Harker Complex and paint was purchased to
repaint two of the three bathrooms. Also paint was purchased for the
lettering on the wooden caboose at the Ellsworth Complex.

Impact & Results: Many community members have commented on the new coat of paint on the caboose and the
impression the new paint makes on those who drive by it. So, it is hoped that we have changed the complexion of
the museum neighborhood from fading to bright!

As for the toilets, the change was a positive one in terms of accessibility for those who use them. One helpful aspect
was that a leak was discovered and repaired. Our water bill has since improved! Without the funding for this project,
the Society would actually have expended more funds in terms of the water bill. The Complexes were closed for
nearly two months this Spring, so we’re now enjoying the benefit of the improve restroom facilities

City of Kanopolis, Kanopolis Beautification 2020

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $3,763, Awarded 4/7/2020

Project Summary: The Kanopolis Strategic Doing Group wants to
continue the community beautification/clean-up events that were
started three years ago funded at that time by a Dane G. Hansen Clean-
Up Grant. Community beautification/clean-up is an ongoing process.

Use of Funds: The grant funds were used for dumpster delivery fees,
dumster fees, landfill fees, tire recycling fees and copy paper for flyers.

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Impact & Results: The Kanopolis Strategic Doing Group held a Community
Cleanup Event the week of June 24–July 6. Due to COVID-19 we mostly
depended on Kanopolis citizens to clean up and haul their own unwanted
items to the dumpsters.

The citizens filled eight regular dumpsters and two metal dumpsters during
that week. Eight tons of tires were collected to be recycled by Champlin
Tire Recycling Inc. Kanopolis Middle School students, faculty and staff were
scheduled to hold a “Give Back to the Community Day” in April in which we
planned to provide trash bags and bottles of water.

However, due to COVID-19 school was not in secession so the trash bags
and water were not purchased. Therefore we have a positive balance and
will return that amount to the Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation. The
community cleanup days have helped Kansopolis citizens become aware of
the importance of keeping clutter out of their yards in order to make Kanopolis
more attractive.

Ellsworth County Economic Development, Ellsworth County
Economic Development Non-Profit Leadership Boot Camp

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $1,000, Awarded 4/7/2020

Project Summary: Ellsworth County Economic Development is partnering
with KSRE and the Non-Profit Centre to provide tools to the non-profit
sector of our community by providing a training “boot camp” dedicated to
the non-profit sector.

Use of Funds: Grant funds were utilized to pay the facilitator fees for Rosey
Higgs to conduct the course.

Impact & Results: Due to concerns over COVID, we opted to conduct our series over Zoom rather than in person.
This also allowed non-profit directors and board members from across the state to participate and engage. We
hosted a week-long series over the lunch hour each day, for a total of 5 hours in the workshop. Seventeen non-
profit board members or executive directors participated in the series, with a wide range of geographical locations.
Participants were located in Ellsworth, Salina, Finney County, Lawrence, and Wichita. We had very little attrition in
the series, with nearly all participating for eahc day of the series. Topics of the series included strategies for board
recruitment and engagement, mission and vision, board evaluation, fiscal responsibility, policies, etc. I believe we
have empowered and strengthened the skills and strategies of the non-profits who attended our series, thereby
enabling them to succeed in their mission and serve their communities. This series would not have been possible
without the generous funding from SHCF, due to the limited budgets of non-profits.
Testimonials:
“TAKE IT! I think that this has been one of (if not THE) the best resources for becoming a better board member. I
honestly think that I could take it again and glean more information from it.”

“Definitely a worthy class to take!”

“It is a super introductory course for me; however, it would probably be a super refresher course for me a year from
now, too!”

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City of Ellsworth, Ellsworth Splash Park Shelter and Sidewalk Connection Project

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $1,0000, Awarded 10/1/2019
Project Summary: This proposed project request will complete the connection of city sidewalks to the Splash Park
sidewalks and add a covered shade structure adjacent to the splash pad and new restroom facility.
Use of Funds: The grant funds were spent to purchase two overhead shelters for the picnic area of the splashpad.
We spent $9,520 of the $10,000 generously donated by Smoky Hills Charitable Foundation.
Impact & Results: The two shelters help Ellsworth create a better customer experience for our Splash Pad users. We
are very thankful to the organization for assisting the City and our citizens in this venture.

USD 112, Robotics (EIN: 30-0630042)

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $2,736, Awarded 10/1/2019
Project Summary: We are requesting a grant for three robots and a CNC Laser
machine to help prepare students for their future careers.
Use of Funds: The grant funds were specifically spent on purchasing the robots
used in class. We purchased three VEX V5 robots.
Impact & Results: What has changed as a result from our robotics class is our
students are able to work with classmates effectively. There was time to discuss
how to properly speak to one another. All the students were able to become
self-motivated and problem solve without the constant aid of a teacher.
Students were able to speak up for themselves and let their ideas be known.
With the help of this grant I was able to have three to four students at a time
with a robot instead of having to place five or more students to a robot. There is no way to have a robot to student
ratio of 1 to 1 because they are so expensive and it does not allow for brainstorming and team building. If there were
too many students to a robot like 5 students to a robot it would leave too many students not being involved and
unengaged. 17 (7th graders) and 11 (8th graders) total of 28 students were reached in Wilson Jr. High School. All
7th grade students had a semester of a robotics class while the 8th graders had a nine weeks course. Students were
able to use science, technology, engineering, and math that was hands on and relevant. Students used a program
to learn how to code and manipulate their robot. There was time to drive their robots as well. All students were
engaged and involved with their robot.

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