The Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama recently announced the distribution of $75,000 in grants from the Susie Parker Stringfellow Health Fund to area not-for-profit organizations in Calhoun County. Recipients of the grant assistance included: Sight Savers of America, grant to expand their wireless kid check technology for student health screenings. Screenings in the Piedmont City Schools have proven beneficial in identifying health needs in children. This grant will offer the program to other schools in the county; UPC Alabama Respite, assistance to provide respite care vouchers which will provide a brief rest period to individuals who care for loved ones with a disability or chronic illness on a full time basis in their home; Family Links, assistance to develop and implement a suicide prevention program called “Let’s Talk”. This program is aimed at increasing the awareness of services available to teens considering suicide. The Let’s Talk program will train local licensed professional counselors and social workers to conduct in-service trainings in the schools for recognizing the warning signs of a student with suicidal tendencies; Alabama Chapter ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) –supporting health care services for residents diagnosed with ALS. The direct, hands-on approach to patient care provides professional clinicians and/or social workers who serve as case managers for each patient in the program. Periodic home visits will be conducted with each patient and offer support, education and assistance and to the individual and ever-changing needs of the patient and their caregiver(s). The program also offers assistance with equipment and transportation; Hobson City Community & Economic Development Corporation, grant to assist with the purchase of playground equipment for the J.R. Striplin Park.

The deadline for the next grant applications is Sept. 1. Applications are accepted through its website, www.yourcommunityfirst.org and click on the Receive tab.