BUCKHANNON — The Pallottine Foundation of Buckhannon has awarded 18 nonprofit organizations in five counties, including Barbour, Randolph and Upshur, with grants totaling more than $117,162 through its Healthy Communities Initiative.

The annual initiative supports funding requests up to $25,000 from nonprofit organizations in Barbour, Lewis, Randolph, Upshur and Webster counties that address a variety of community needs relating to health and wellness, capacity building, spiritual and pastoral care, food insecurity, substance use disorder and tobacco use prevention and cessation. 

“Our team is thankful for these organizations and their continued commitment to serving those in need,” Laura Boone, executive director of the Pallottine Foundation of Buckhannon, said in a press release. “They provide services and resources that are vital to the health and well-being of people living in our community and we look forward to partnering with them in the coming year.” 

Established in 2015 following the sale of St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Pallottine Foundation of Buckhannon strives to “continue the Pallottine Missionary Sisters’ legacy of caring for the spiritual, emotional and physical health of the community.”

A total of $9,000 in grant money will be going toward the West Virginia Alliance for Creative Health Solutions, which will be supporting the implementation of Appalachian Pulmonary Health Project’s CATCH My Breath evidence-based vaping prevention program across Barbour, Lewis, Randolph, Upshur and Webster counties for students in fifth through eighth grades. 

In Barbour County, the Barbour County Senior Center in Philippi will be receiving $5,656 that will go toward the purchase and installation of five new computers for administrative staff members.

In Randolph County, eight nonprofits have been chosen to receive grants, including:

The Elkins United Christian Community Center will be receiving $7,000 to purchase raw food and disposables for its Lunch with Neighbors program, which serves lunch to community members in need three times each week. 

Highland Community Builders in Elkins will receive $3,500 to build raised bed gardens at its YouthBuild location and incorporate gardening and nutrition education.

Meals on Wheels of Randolph County will receive $4,000 to purchase food for its senior nutrition program, which provides meals to homebound seniors in Elkins.

The Randolph County Senior Center’s Committee on Aging for Randolph County will be receiving $8,000 to purchase food for its nutrition program, which provides meals for senior residents outside Elkins.

Tyrand Cooperative Ministries in Mill Creek will receive $4,500 to purchase proteins for its annual holiday food packages for families in Randolph County.

West Virginia Caring, which is receiving $4,500, will establish a volunteer training program for its Randolph County facility to provide aid to family and visitors.

Wonder & Grow Mindful Nature Experience, in partnership with Randolph County Outdoors, is receiving $7,950 to provide activity days for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, so students can learn how to pair healthy activity with nature, mindfulness and cultural knowledge.

Youth Health Service, who is receiving $8,108, will purchase equipment for its Parent Child Interaction Therapy rooms at its Elkins and Mill Creek locations. These upgrades will enable therapists and parents to communicate and record sessions for more in-depth review. 

In Upshur County, four nonprofits have been chosen to receive grants, including:

Free Meals Appalachia Foundation will be receiving $4,000 to purchase food, equipment and packaging to increase the capacity of its community meal program, which serves Upshur County residents. The organization also will reimburse its volunteers for mileage incurred from meal deliveries. 

One Unique Recovery House in Buckhannon, which will be receiving $7,723, will purchase new beds and bedding for residents in its recently established men’s house. The organization also will purchase two new laptops, a desktop computer, and printer. These additions will help the organization satisfy requirements set by the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification.

The Upshur-Buckhannon Health Department will receive $6,000 to provide free vaccines, testing services and food handler cards to those experiencing financial difficulty. The organization also will use funding to support its community outreach efforts.

The Upshur Parish House in Buckhannon, who will receive $8,250, will purchase food items for break bags, which will be provided monthly to Head Start students in Upshur County.

In Lewis County, the Lewis County Senior Citizens Center in Weston will be receiving $7,000, to purchase audio visual equipment to begin live streaming its physical activity classes. 

In Webster County, the Catholic Charities West Virginia, which is also receiving $7,000, will be purchasing food items for its Webster Springs food pantry. The largest amount of grant money, $12,800, will be going to the West Virginia University Foundation to help them support the training of two nurses in Webster County to join WVU School of Nursing’s Faith Community Nursing program.

The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council will receive $6,000 to provide mileage reimbursement to its Senior Companion program volunteers.

To learn more about the Pallottine Foundation of Buckhannon, visit pallottinebuckhannon.org.