A total of $111,994 will be disbursed among 27 nonprofit programs in the Lower Shore region by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. The programs funded address a broad range of community needs, including environmental protection, youth programs, senior programs, healthcare, pro-bono legal counseling, and more.
The awards are made possible through the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Community Needs Grants program. The program award grants twice a year to local nonprofits.
“It is exciting to see new and emerging community programs develop each year,” notes Erica Joseph, CFES president. “Through grants such as these, we can help our area become a place where all can live, grow, learn, and play, which is the heart of our work at the Community Foundation.”
Grants were awarded to support the following nonprofit programs:
Assateague Coastal Trust – Scholarships and program supplies and costs for the Coast Kids summer camp and year-round environmental education program.
Bay Area Center for Independent Living - To expand the Durable Medical Equipment Loan Closet program, which allows Lower Eastern Shore residents to borrow needed medical equipment at no cost.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore - Support to create a pilot program with the Big Hope Network to provide services to children with incarcerated parents.
Brown Box Theatre Project – For theatre productions of “As You Like It” and “Mox Nox (Soon Comes the Night)”.
Christian Shelter - Funding for critical repairs and upgrades for the shelter’s homeless kitchen.
Delmarva Public Radio – Financial assistance for the online and broadcast programming of the 2018 National Folk Festival.
Epoch Dream Center – Support for the educational summer youth programs for 40 underserved children, which includes healthy meals, reading and math tutoring, swimming lessons, and an overnight field trip.
Garland Hayward Youth Center – Funding for summer youth programs which include tutoring, mentoring, field, and recreational activities for Princess Anne area children.
Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County – Financial assistance for the Affordable Home Project in Salisbury.
Habitat for Humanity of Worcester County – Funding for the Critical Repairs Program in Worcester County which assists at-risk families with emergency home repairs.
Libraries Without Borders – Support for The Legal Literacy Initiative which brings legal resources directly to under-served Haitian immigrants in Salisbury.
Lower Shore Enterprises – Assistance for a collaborative community garden project with the Maryland Food Bank.
Lower Shore Land Trust – Funding for environmental education and outreach programs to inform and engage community members and volunteers. Programs will encourage care for natural resources.
MAC, Inc. – For the implementation of a data management system that will allow MAC to better serve clients.
Maryland Center on Economic Policy – Partial funding for a demographic and economic analysis study to aid in legislative policy recommendations and solutions for Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Maryland Coastal Bays Program - Support for educational programs which provide hands-on activities in the watershed, guiding residents and visitors to a well-rounded knowledge of the watershed and how best to protect area resources.
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service – Funding for the Cyber Clinic Program which allows Eastern Shore residents in need of legal services to meet with volunteer attorneys for free or reduced fees via video conferencing and in person meetings.
Minds in Motion Children's Museum – Funding for a feasibility study of a new children’s museum in Salisbury with STEM based exhibits for children ages 6 months to 12 years to explore, discover, and create through interactive exhibits and provide an educational program and field trip opportunities.
Salisbury Urban Ministries, SUM – Support for the Salisbury Urban Ministries Kid's Café program for underserved youth.
Sea-renity Family Resources Inc. – Funding for parenting programs that encourage, educate, and empower families with parenting resources in Wicomico County.
Smith Island United – Financial assistance to reopen the Smith Island Dental Clinic- the only dental clinic on the island. The clinic had been previously closed due to dated and broken equipment and lacked funding to make the needed upgrades
Town of Ocean City – Financial backing for bike lights for the "Lights for Bikes" safety campaign in Ocean City to help reduce the amount of night-time bicycle accidents.
United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore - To support Imagination Library, delivering free books to Eastern Shore kids.
Wicomico Public Libraries - Partial funding to support the Salisbury Book Festival.
Worcester GOLD – Financial assistance to support an emergency food program in Worcester County.
Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services – Partial costs of a summer youth program teaching low income adolescents career and life enhancing skills including interview skills, business attire, career planning, resume writing, grocery shopping, meal preparation, home budgeting, financial literacy, and using public transportation.
Wor-Wic Community College Foundation - Financial assistance for students attending the Summer Scholars program which allows gifted and talented students entering grades 3-9 to participate in summer enrichment activities on the college’s campus. The program offers more than 45 courses, mostly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas.
The semi-annual Community Needs Grant (CNG) Program benefits organizations serving the Lower Shore of Maryland with a $5,000 maximum award per nonprofit. Applicants must be 501c3 nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations providing non-sectarian programs, or eligible programs within government agencies serving citizens on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. The next deadline for CNG grant applications is August 1, 2018. For additional information visit CFES.org or call 410-742-9911
Services at MAC Inc. help area senior citizens.
Summer programs through Assateague Coastal Trust teach area children about the local environment through hands on experiences.