Sertoma Club awards $1000 to Noyes Home, Second Harvest and Scouting America
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- One of the longest-standing service clubs is spreading the wealth from a recent grant to support an array of non-profit and youth organizations.
Members of the Sertoma Club of St. Joseph gathered with local community leaders Tuesday to present $1000 awards to the Noyes Home for Children, Second Harvest Community Food Bank and Scouting America of St. Joseph.
The Sertoma Club was awarded a $5,000 grant from Sertoma International in April in honor of 111 years of service to St. Joseph, opting to use newfound funds the way they know best: supporting the community.
Donations and support for businesses and donors are critical for privately funded non-profits like the Noyes Home for Children, according to director Chelsea Howlett, helping them ensure they can meet the needs of more than 200 children they serve every year.
"They've been an amazing supporter as long as I've been with the Noyes Home and many years before that ... from taking our kids shopping around Christmastime, back to school shopping," Howlett said. "I'm so grateful they were willing to include us."
The award comes as Noyes Home gears up for its largest and most impactful annual fundraising event on Sept. 13 at Missouri Western called "Take A Seat: Light the Way."
For Chad Higdon, CEO of Second Harvest Community Food Bank, the award means an additional 3000 meals will be able to be distributed to the community.
"For every dollar donated, we can turn that into about three meals," Higdon said. "Especially in the summer when school's out ... and the work we're doing with senior boxes and families through our mobile pantry program and partnerships ... it really does mean a lot."
Sertoma Club participates in and sponsors numerous efforts and events each year in support of the community and local organizations, including the annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot and placement of American Flags throughout St. Joseph in honor of 9/11 and other holidays.
With large groups of scouts coming from more than a dozen states to visit Camp Geiger each summer in St. Joseph, Pony Express Council District Director Erik McGuire said the award will not only help with infrastructure improvements but open the door for aspiring scouts to attend.
"We really need the support to keep our camp looking good and and have all the infrastructure that it needs and to support camperships for scouts to be able to attend who have more modest financial means," he said.
