UF distributes chili money

The Wabash County United Fund distributed a total of $10,000 on Feb. 21 to six local non-profit organizations. The funds were part of the 2022 Annual Campaign conducted by Wabash County United Fund. This is the 11th year for the United Fund matching partnership with the Wabash Cannonball Chili for Charity, bringing the total partnership commitment to $110,000.

“The $10,000 Partnership is one way United Fund assists local families who struggle to make ends meet,” stated Steve Johnson, executive director for UF.

“United Fund leverages donor contributions by partnering with Chili for Charity and other organizations to create even greater impact in our communities.”

The organizations who received this year’s monetary awards include:

Blessings in a Backpack –Wabash

Blessings in a Backpack – Wabash serves pre-K through 6th grade students in schools in the Wabash area. Chili for Charity funding is used to purchase nutritious food for students to take home for the weekend. This Chili for Charity Partnership funding will help the organization meet the increased need for weekend nourishment for qualifying students.

During the fourth quarter of 2022, Blessings in a Backpack – Wabash distributed 5,615 bags of food for students to take home over the weekends. Food bags consist of items like Cup of Noodles, Mac n’ Cheese, granola bars, applesauce, cookies, crackers, gummy snacks, juice, cereal and oatmeal. They also provide options for students with food sensitivities.

Growing Grounds

The primary mission of Growing Grounds is to support women transitioning out of incarceration. In recent years, the organization has also focused on assuring shelter for the housing insecure. Outreach to cover this need is often enhanced by help with other necessities such as transportation, food, furniture/household items, utilities, quality childcare opportunities, and more.

As active members of HAWC (Housing Action Wabash County), Growing Grounds prioritizes working with individuals and families in times of crisis and transition to make sure they are housing secure.

F.I.S.H. (Friends in Service Here)

F.I.S.H. provides food for families and individuals in need, provides encouragement and assistance in obtaining permanent help, and serves as a referral agency to other helpful resources. Since moving into its new location at 123 W Canal Street, F.I.S.H. has seen a dramatic increase in the needs of people in the community. The Chili for Charity Partnership funds will help them purchase additional food items for distribution at the pantry.

The F.I.S.H. pantry is open Tuesday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m.

Honeywell Foundation

Honeywell Foundation Educational Outreach provides curriculum-based, arts-in-education opportunities to students in Wabash County and beyond. EOP supplements arts programming in the schools and teaches students critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills that take them successfully beyond the classroom and into the real world.

EOP focuses on key educational issues including College & Career Readiness and early childhood literacy.

EOP’s impact is felt by students throughout the region. They have provided nearly 49,000 learning opportunities to students in 80 schools in 14 counties.

Wabash County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

CASA’s mission is to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court system. Specially trained volunteer advocates represent these children in the courts and help promote a safe, permanent, nurturing home for each child.

CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to be a voice for these children in court. It is the CASA vision to provide a volunteer for each abused and neglected child who needs one.

Wabash County Cancer Society

Wabash County Cancer Society provides local cancer patients with supportive equipment, supplies assistance, and transportation and prescription reimbursement. The goal of the organization is to help relieve some of the financial burden of cancer patients while they are fighting this disease.

Wabash County Cancer Society raises funds and promotes initiatives to serve people in need who have cancer. They are striving to raise public awareness about cancer-related issues. All funds and donations collected are used exclusively in Wabash County.

Wabash County United Fund invests in programs that have a positive impact on the quality of life for residents of Wabash County.

United Fund focuses on three main funding initiatives: Education, Health and Income/Financial Stability.

Wabash Cannonball Chili for Charity and Wabash County United Fund are locally governed non-profit organizations dedicated to providing financial support to qualified non-profit organizations serving Wabash County. For more information about Chili for Charity, please visit www.chiliforcharity.com. For more information about Wabash County United Fund or ways you can be involved with United Fund, please call the office at 260-5636726 or send an email to steve.johnson@wcunitedfund.org.