TOP PHOTO: The Rotary was packed on Tuesday with representatives from local non-profit profits and charitable organizations who were on hand to receive grants from the Campbell Enhancement Fund at Tuesday’s luncheon at the LaFollette Methodist Church.

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell Enhancement Fund awarded grants to 17 different organizations on Tuesday at the South Campbell County Rotary Club luncheon.

Representatives of area non-profit organizations packed the fellowship hall at the LaFollette Methodist Church.

The grants covered a huge range from local food pantries, to art and education, children’s organizations, help for seniors, pets and more.

A total of $22,500 was given away, according to Rotarian and Campbell Enhancement Fund Board Chairman Zach Sheets, who announced the grants recipients on Tuesday. 

“It was a tough process; we had way more requests than money. This year we had 21 requests, and it was incredibly hard to make decisions.” Sheets said.

The Campbell Enhancement Fund awarded 17 grants totalling $22,500 to local non profits and organizations at Tuesday’s South Campbell County Rotary Club luncheon. Bill Thompson with Sleep in Heavenly Peace thanked the Campbell Enhancement Fund fir the grant at Tuesday’s South Campbell County Rotary Club luncheon. Rotarian and chairman of the Campbell Enhancement Fund board Zach Sheets, right, announced the grants on Tuesday.

The following organizations received grants:

Bridges to Recovery, which is a female residential program for women struggling with addiction. It’s a nine month program that helps them get apartments, jobs and get their children back. According to representatives with Bridges to Recovery, this particular grant will be used for mental health services. 

Campbell County Children’s Center, which will use grant funds for the Darkness to Light child abuse awareness training program.

Campbell County Habitat for Humanity received a grant that will be used to build stairs at their Restore building in town so they can utilize the upstairs space 

Habitat shared the exciting news that they just broke ground on its 40th and 41st houses and will soon hold the dedication for house #39.

The Campbell County Rural Fire Service received a grant. The rural fire service covers 275 square miles in Campbell County and make about 450 runs a year, with about half of them listed as medical runs. They are using grant funds to help someone get through the EMT program.

The Campbell County Teacher Depot provides school supplies throughout the county school district and will use the grant to purchase crayons and other supplies. 

The Campbell Culture Coalition received a grant that will be used for community art and cultural programs in schools. This will go towards a nature walking trail for Valley View Elementary, as well as book donations to Valley View and to other school libraries in the county.

CASA of Campbell County received a grant.

CASA stands for Court appointed special advocates that help children as they go through the court system.

Community Health of East Tennessee (CHET) also received a grant that will be used for its Generation Hope program that goes into 4th grade classrooms and is a drug prevention program.

Food Life Services of Campbell County received a grant that will be used to buy Thanksgiving meals for Campbell Countians in need.

“This year some of our larger grants went to local food pantries,” Sheets said.

Open Arms Ministry also received a grant for food purchases.

The Jacksboro Police Department Shop with a Cop program received funds, which will be used to help them provide Christmas for kids.

The Senior Center’s Home Assistance Services received a grant that will be used to help with transportation services for elderly.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace will use its grant to help continue to provide beds for Campbell County Children.

Spay Campbell County Tennessee Pets will use the grant to help low income families with covering the cost of spaying their pets.

Woodland Community Land Trust will use its grant to offer craft classes and heritage skills classes for community members.

Caryville Elementary School also received a grant, as did Pinnacle Resource Center.

Brad Smiddy, center and Jennifer Hoffman, right, with the Campbell Culture Coalition said the Campbell Enhancement Fund grant would be put to use for purchasing books for area school libraries. Rotarian and chairman of the board for the Campbell Enhancement Fund Zach Sheets, left announced the grants on Tuesday.

The Campbell Enhancement Fund is an Affiliate Fund of East Tennessee Foundation and is an endowed fund for future needs, opportunities and challenges as well as a grant source for local Campbell County programs and services. 

According to the East Tennessee Foundation, the Campbell Enhancement Fund was established in 1999 through the generous gifts of time, vision, and resources by a group of Campbell County residents committed to strengthening communities and improving the quality of life in Campbell County.

Enhancement Fund grants support “programs and projects that build community goodwill, seek to solve community challenges, and produce results for the benefit of the Campbell County community.”

“We’re so glad to be able to award grants to all these worthy organizations. They do an amazing job, whether it’s the food pantries, CHET, CASA, Spay Campbell County or the others, they all provide a worth of riches to their communities and we’re just happy to do this. A big thank you goes to the Joint Economic Community Development Board who gives us the opportunity to be a pass through organization for these funds,” Sheets said.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/01/2023-6AM)

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