News Update
Plano: Commissioners Court gives grants to organizations in Collin County
By Heather M. Smith, Staff writer
Volunteers at the Collin County Committee on Aging prepared 1,200 Thanksgiving meals on Friday for senior citizens living in rural areas and because of a grant from Collin County they will be able to continue providing meals through the following year.
Collin County commissioners recently awarded grants totaling almost $200,000. Grants went to the Committee on Aging, Assistance Center of Collin County, Plano Children's Medical Clinic, Allen Community Outreach, Bridge Breast Network, Collin County Adult Clinic, Community Lifeline of McKinney, Frisco Family Services and the Geriatric Wellness Center.
“It’s visionary of the county to understand how important it is to support the senior citizens,” said Marilyn Stidham, executive director of Collin County Committee on Aging. “This grant enables us to take care of many people.”
The committee works in conjunction with the meals on wheels programs in the area to provide meals to citizens in rural areas. Stidham said that the committee works to prevent senior citizens from premature institutionalism. By providing senior citizens with good nutrition, it keeps them in their own homes longer.
The committee serves 750 meals daily. Stidham said there are more than 700 active volunteers with the committee and it takes 80 people per day to deliver meals.
Commissioners furnish county grants to nonprofits on an annual basis. Recipients of the grants must serve a cause that fits into the mission set forth by the commissioners. Stidham said it will take less money to provide the meals to seniors than the hospital visits that could ensue as a result of malnutrition.
In order to receive a grant, requests must be made to the county. Commissioners send written letters to the recipients along with a contract complete with strict rules. According to Stidham, if an organization receives a grant they must adhere to the guidelines in the grant part of which is that the people an organization provides for can’t also be funded by a different source.
Jackie Hall, executive director of the Assistance Center of Collin County, will be able to provide prescriptions to 164 underprivileged people this year because of the grant they received.
“We desperately need that money,” Hall said.
According to records, since 2003, when the grant program began, county commissioners have given $1.1 million to treat underprivileged patients. Agencies who receive grants have discretion over who is assisted with the county grants. The only county guideline is that patients must be in the country legally.
“We serve the working poor,” said Susan Shuler, executive director of the Plano Children's Medical Clinic. “Our main requirement is they have no health insurance.”
Contact Heather Smith at HSmith@acnpapers.com
Collin County commissioners recently awarded grants totaling almost $200,000. Grants went to the Committee on Aging, Assistance Center of Collin County, Plano Children's Medical Clinic, Allen Community Outreach, Bridge Breast Network, Collin County Adult Clinic, Community Lifeline of McKinney, Frisco Family Services and the Geriatric Wellness Center.
“It’s visionary of the county to understand how important it is to support the senior citizens,” said Marilyn Stidham, executive director of Collin County Committee on Aging. “This grant enables us to take care of many people.”
The committee works in conjunction with the meals on wheels programs in the area to provide meals to citizens in rural areas. Stidham said that the committee works to prevent senior citizens from premature institutionalism. By providing senior citizens with good nutrition, it keeps them in their own homes longer.
The committee serves 750 meals daily. Stidham said there are more than 700 active volunteers with the committee and it takes 80 people per day to deliver meals.
Commissioners furnish county grants to nonprofits on an annual basis. Recipients of the grants must serve a cause that fits into the mission set forth by the commissioners. Stidham said it will take less money to provide the meals to seniors than the hospital visits that could ensue as a result of malnutrition.
In order to receive a grant, requests must be made to the county. Commissioners send written letters to the recipients along with a contract complete with strict rules. According to Stidham, if an organization receives a grant they must adhere to the guidelines in the grant part of which is that the people an organization provides for can’t also be funded by a different source.
Jackie Hall, executive director of the Assistance Center of Collin County, will be able to provide prescriptions to 164 underprivileged people this year because of the grant they received.
“We desperately need that money,” Hall said.
According to records, since 2003, when the grant program began, county commissioners have given $1.1 million to treat underprivileged patients. Agencies who receive grants have discretion over who is assisted with the county grants. The only county guideline is that patients must be in the country legally.
“We serve the working poor,” said Susan Shuler, executive director of the Plano Children's Medical Clinic. “Our main requirement is they have no health insurance.”
Contact Heather Smith at HSmith@acnpapers.com
Copyright © 2012 - Star Local News