The Lane County Lions Club was awarded a $1,000 CoBank Sharing Success Grant to enhance their signature program of providing meals to the youth and homebound adults of Lane County. The program was originally created to provide healthy meals for youth during the weekend when they might not have healthy choices available when not in school. The program has grown since it’s conception, and now provides meals for homebound adults as well and provides meals every week instead of every other. The success of the program demonstrates the need for it in the community. In addition to their signature program, they hold community events for the youth and their families and collect eyeglasses that are recycled and given to people in need within the community.
The Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center was also awarded one of the $1,000 grants. The center serves the 34 counties of Western Kansas including almost all of Lane-Scott Electric’s service area and is part of the first response when a report of child abuse comes in. They provide a safe, child and teen friendly atmosphere while the forensic interview is done, gives the children a safe place to talk about the trauma, and continues to provide advocacy, mentorship, and therapy. The mission of the Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center is to heal the trauma of abuse to children and families through prevention, support, and services. The grant will be used to help purchase education and prevention resources to help the children and families heal from the trauma of abuse. Some of these materials include books written from survivors and their journey of healing are a vital resource to help heal from the trauma of abuse.