Habitat for Humanity, Second Harvest Food Bank, Warren YWCA among awardees

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley today announced grants totaling $113,000 to 22 nonprofit organizations in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

The largest grant, $12,500, is for Habitat for Humanity, which plans to open a new ReStore, a nonprofit home-improvement center, in Trumbull County.

Store proceeds help cover operating costs and build Habitat homes in Trumbull County. The grant was provided by the First Place Community Fund and the Kennedy Family Fund.

Also among the grants is $10,000 for the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley’s roof-replacement project through the Kennedy Family Fund. The work will ensure safe storage and distribution of food at the food bank’s 23-year-old Youngstown building on Salt Springs Road.

The foundation also approved $10,000 for the Warren YWCA’s monthlong summer day camp for middle-school girls. The camp features a STEAM curriculum (science, technology, engineering, arts and math).

Other grants include:

$7,500, Beatitude House’s House of Blessing in Youngstown: The transitional-housing program provides 12 apartments for homeless women with children whose income is at or below 35 percent of the area median income; also helps women access post-secondary education, job training and other services with a goal of helping them escape poverty and being homeless. (Kennedy Family Fund).

$6,500, Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority’s Youth Build program: It provides young people with on-the-job training while repairing residential properties for low- and moderate-income residents. (First Place Community Fund and Kennedy Family Fund).

$6,000 for the Oh WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology in downtown Youngstown: The funding will be used to offset discounts the center offers to schools and organizations. The center expects more than a third of its visits this year to be from field trips or outreach projects (First Place Community Fund and Kennedy Family Fund).