White Sulphur Springs, MT

The Meagher County 4-H Council and the Stevens Youth Center joined forces to clean up the Rodeo Grounds and a neighbor’s yard in connection with the Meagher County Community Foundation Cleanup Grants.  Thirty volunteers from the two organizations spent four hours in the drizzling rain picking up trash and clearing a neighbor’s yard of unwanted items that had accumulated over the years.  Altogether four truckloads of garbage were taken to the dump.  The two groups received a total of $500 for their efforts.  The 4-H Council will be using their portion of the funds to help defer the cost of ribbons, trophies and other awards associated with the 4-H Indoor and Outdoor Fairs.  The Fairs will take place on Saturday, August 9, 2008.  The Stevens Youth Center will use their portion of the funds to bring in visiting artists for summer workshops, open to all ages.  Look for further information on dates and locations and how you can join the fun.

The kids at the Stevens Youth Center were finally able to start planting their veggie garden.  They were given grant money to do so by the Meagher County Community Foundation in connection with the Horizons Across Montana program.  Master Gardener Melinda Vennard was kind enough to lend her expertise to the project.  We are in the process of building two more beds and hope that the gardening season will be kind to us this summer.  The food grown in these gardens will be used by the Youth Center summer program and the families of the kids who attend.  If we are able to produce enough food, we hope to get it out into the community to those who need it.  The Stevens Youth Center runs its free summer program for those going into K-6th grades every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 10 am - 12 pm.  Call or email Bethany with questions, 547-KIDS (5437) or stevensyouthcenter@yahoo.com.

Thanks again for your help with this project.

The MCCF partnered with the city and county to provide an additional clean up day this year!  The extra day resulted in almost DOUBLE the amount of trash being shipped out of our community.  The first day (which was sponsored by the city) generated 136 loads of trash, while the second day (sponsored by the MCCF) generated 131 loads of trash! 

Through the community visioning process, it was identified that getting trash out of town is a top priority.  This additional dump day has not only doubled the amount of trash removed from White Sulphur this year, but has also prompted local government to examine alternative means of keeping garbage collected and out of town.

Notice some new color in the community?  Several hanging flower baskets have been hung in the past week thanks to the Horizons beautification efforts.  These hanging baskets will be maintained this year through monies provided by Horizons.  Once the MCCF has a better idea of what it takes to maintain then baskets, we will look for funds to transition care and maintenance to a more permanent provider (city, county, or other organization). 

We are still investigating flower stands that can be placed on Main Street.  Our original plan was foiled, but we are hard at work to find a new solution.

meagher-county-community-foundation-minutes-051908.doc

Attached are minutes from the May 19th MCCF Board meeting.

The first self-help rehabilitation housing project is ready for a fresh coat of paint!  The home is receiving two new energy efficient windows, a new roof, a new faucet, lead-based paint mitigation, and new GFI outlets.  The next step is to paint the exterior of the home.  Local youth, under the leadership of Gene Richeson, and several members of the MCCF board have agreed to meet at the home on May 29th to tackle the painting. 

The youth program is a genesis of study circles.  During study circles, the need for help around the community became clear.  A city council member suggested that youth who have been assigned community service should be able to help do work in the community.  The local coordinator of the youth community service program, Bj Hawkins, teamed up with Gene Richeson to provide supervision of youth who do work in town.  They do a number of projects in the community and are a great benefit for those in need.

meagher-county-community-foundation-minutes-041908.doc

Hit the following link to review the minutes from the April 29th MCCF Meeting.

The Meagher County Community Foundation awarded two $500 grants on May 19th, as part of the Community Clean Up Challenge.  The grants go to support two civic organizations that, in return for their help in cleaning up the community, will receive monies to support their organizations.

The Meagher County 4-H program/Stevens Youth Center joint application was the first award.  These youth have offered to clean up the local rodeo grounds - a summer draw for visitors to our community, who take part in the 4th of July Ranch Rodeo, the Labor Day Rodeo, and the 4-H fair.  These youth will also help a citizen in town to clean up the area around their house.  The youth plan to use their $500 to pay for expenses related to the 4-H fair, and also to bring some visiting artists to the Youth Center this summer.

The second grant was awarded to Smith River Health Ministries.  This group will clean three yards of citizens who would struggle to get their lawns, gardens, and flower beds cleaned up this summer.  In addition, this group plans to clean sidewalks, alleys, and other areas of town.  They will use their funds to pay for gas to take senior and disabled citizens to medical appointments out of town, for services that are not available locally.  The ministry notes in their application, “Many of our clients do not have cars, or are unable to drive.  We will use this grant money to assist with the cost of gas to drive out of town.  Many of our elderly clients are not able to afford to pay for gas, especially as prices are so high.  When a person is unable to pay for the gas, the Health Ministry assists them with the cost.”

The MCCF is thrilled to help these two organizations in their work to support our community, and looks forward to seeing the great clean up work that they complete.  These groups will be completing their projects in conjunction with the Clean-Up Days of May 31 and June 7, 2008.

The Meagher County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the 2008 Meagher County Clean Up Grant Program.  This program is designed to help clean up and beautify our community AND to help your service organization to be more successful by providing cash for the work that you do to help clean up! 

The Meagher County Community Foundation has allocated $1,000 in grant dollars for cleanup efforts in the community.  There is no minimum or maximum award.  This means that you could do a small project and get a little money to help your organization, or you could do a lot of work, and get a bigger piece of the pie! Projects should be done in conjunction with the tentative City/County clean up days of May 31^st and June 7^th.  You do not need to do the clean up on these days, but do need to have any trash that is generated from your clean up at the transfer station on these days. Applications are due by May 15, 2008.  

The Meagher County Community Foundation board will meet to review applications and will allocate the funds according to the matrix that is provided at the end of this application.  You will be notified of your application’s award by May 23^rd, 2008. 

The Meagher County Community Foundation reserves the right not to fund any application.  Any Meagher County organization can apply.  Funds will be released on completion of the work that you identify in your application.  Funds will not be released if you fail to complete the work that you describe. 

We hope that you will use this opportunity to help clean up the community and do great things for your organization!  We look forward to reviewing your application!

The Meagher County Community Foundation and the Stevens Youth Center are pulling together to develop a small community garden.  The MCCF is donating $500 of capacity building funds to the Center to develop the garden.  The MCCF board and the youth center discussed developing a large garden, but given our very short growing season and the struggle to get things to grow when your community is a mile high, we decided to start small and build the concept.

 For now, the garden will be located behind the Youth Center.  The Youth Center kids will have a portion of the garden and will lease out plots to interested community members.  All produce will be donated to either the center or the food bank.  A full 50% of the youth who use the Center are from impoverished families.  This project will not only provide community garden space for the community, but will also allow kids to learn about growing food and being outside!

 Here’s to a good start on a great project!  Thanks to Bethany Steinken and the Youth Center Board for helping to make this project a reality!