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Maria Bancroft
or
Caitlin Jones
PULASKI COUNTY—Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) awarded the Salvation Army of Pulaski County with a $500 grant for The Helping Hands for Those in Need program. The checks were presented at MRCF’s March meeting at MRPC in St. James. This year, the MRCF board reviewed a total of 19 grant applications, requesting a total of $9,500 and representing projects in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. Salvation Army of Pulaski was one of three projects selected for funding.
The Salvation Army intends to use the funds to purchase twenty $25.00 prepaid credit cards to help those individuals and households with dire circumstances.
“The Salvation Army organization of Pulaski County Mo would like to express their greatest appreciation for being awarded a $500.00 MRCF Grant,” said Debbie Fraski, a caseworker with the Salvation Army. “The Salvation Army strives to do the most that it can to assist individuals experiencing an unforeseen emergency need. The receipt of this grant will allow our organization to assist twenty individuals with the transportation cost of car gas to attend their needed medical appointment. Thank you for helping us meet the needs of others.”
The other recipients were the Belle Community Betterment Association for its welcome to Belle sign landscaping project and Hope Alliance of Missouri for direct cost support.
MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and is an affiliate of Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) in Springfield. The regional affiliate was formed in 2010. Its 12-member board includes representation from each of the eight Meramec counties and from MRPC. Jared Niederer of Gasconade County serves as chairman of MRCF.
Currently, MRCF has 50 funds totaling over $4.1 million.
CFO is a public foundation serving the Missouri Ozarks. The foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the region through resource development, community grant-making, collaborations and public leadership. Formed in 1973, CFO has since grown to include 53 affiliate community foundations and more than 3,500 charitable funds totaling approximately $375 million in assets, as of June 30, 2022.
MRPC, in addition to establishing the regional foundation and providing the initial investment to create a grant program, provides staff support to MRCF.
Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Steve Vogt, representing the city of Belle, serves as chairman of the board. A professional staff of 33 offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.
To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.
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Cutline: Meramec Regional Community Foundation Chairman (MRCF) Jared Niederer (right) presents a $500 community grant to Debbie Fraski and Jeannie King with the Salvation Army of Pulaski County for its Helping Hands for Those in Need program. The Salvation Army is one of three organizations to receive a 2023 community grant from MRCF.
