2024 Grant Applications
Backpack Buddies
The Backpack Buddies Ministry began in 2012 with 30 students and has grown to 275 students in the Starkville Oktibbeha County School District. Teachers and counselors refer SOCSD students who they feel are not being feed properly over the weekend and come back to school hungry on Monday mornings asking for 2 breakfasts. Backpack Meals are purchased from Mississippi Food Network for $5.00 each. The BP Meals are non-perishable, requiring no refrigeration and can be open and used by a student in kindergarten. Each meal is made up of 2 breakfasts and 2 lunch/dinner items. Students must have parental permission and address food allergies before receiving a BP Meal on Fridays. BP Meals are discreetly put in a students
Backpack each Friday before they leave school. The BP Meals program provides meals for all referred students in grades K-8 th . BP Meals works directly with Starkville Church of Christ who provides meals for Grades 6th-8 th and Starkville Jr. Auxiliary who provides meals for 5 th grade. Remaining funds needed for grades K-4 th are raised through a variety of grants as well as group and individual donations.
The funding for Backpack Meals has become more difficult to raise due to the following:
· The number of students needing BP Meals is growing every semester.
· The SOCSD has gone to year round school increasing the number of
weeks that BP Meals will be given out.
· MFN has raised the cost of a BP Meal from $4.00 to $5.00.
· With the increase in the cost of food items sold, we can no longer pack a
BP Meal for less than we can purchase them from MFN. Based on 275 students, we are asking for a grant total of $5,000.00. Please see the attached budget for the 2024-2025 school year. Please note that 100% of the funds raised are used to purchase BP Meal Kits.
Request: $5,000
College Tours and Meetings with Financial Aid Counselors for High Schoolers
Our vision at the Boys & Girls Club is to provide a world-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every youth who enters our door. As the leading nonprofit out-of-school provider in this community, the Starkville Unit Boys & Girls Club of the Golden Triangle is part of a national movement that stands ready to see young people thrive in academic success, character and leadership, and arts. Over 95% of youth who attend the Boys & Girls Club of the Golden Triangle graduate high school and pursue a college education.
In the summer of 2023, we saw the need arise for our high school members to experience stepping on a college campus. Throughout the summer, we took members to seven different colleges and universities. These institutions included: Stillman College; Belhaven University; Mississippi State University; Mississippi University for Women; Jackson State University; University of Mississippi; and Tougaloo College. These tours allowed members to learn more about campus life, financial aid, and details about applying. These tours gave our members the firsthand experience of each college. Due to funding, the Club was forced to limit colleges to visit, and members had to purchase their meals during the tours.
With the help of 100 Women Who Care, we will be able to increase youth participation, expand our college tour across state lines, and provide meals as we tour each college. This project will shine a spotlight on diversity, equity, and inclusion by visiting different colleges. At the end of the Starkville Clubhouse Cultural College Tours, all participants will meet at the Club to discuss key components and fill out the necessary paperwork for the college of their choice.
Request $5,000
Expanded Teen Library Program
Libraries can play a productive role in the future trajectory of teens! The Starkville Public Library is dedicated to improving the lives of people in the community of all ages. An area that was identified as a way to impact our community was to offer teens a safe, friendly, and productive environment that they could use. Friends of the Library wants to obtain more books specific to teens, allowing them the opportunity to see themselves in a community context and learn about how they can improve their communities. The Teen Librarian (TL) has established a Teen Advisory (TA) which meets weekly. The TL and TA work together to gain understanding and suggestions for teen activities.
Goals and Objectives of Friends of the Library:
1. Increase the number of books available for the teens to check out and
use with activities.
2. Recruit more teens to participate in the teen programs offered by the library.
3. Plan and schedule increased number of teen activities conducted by the library.
4. Create a welcoming environment in the library and teen room for all teens.
Activities Planned
The TL with suggestions from the TA will compile a list of teen book titles to purchase and add to the current book collection. The TL with assistance from the TA will create a recruitment plan to encourage other teens in the community to participate in the teen activities. The TL with input from the TA will plan activities based on books that teens would enjoy and gain new understanding of their perspectives and a better understanding of their own and other communities. TL will feature books about teen issues each month and have teens share the books they have read. The TL and TA will use discussion and activities to reinforce the books and expand the outreach by sharing with other teens in the community. TL will create a safe welcoming environment in the library and in the teen room with signs, displays, and pictures.
Request $1,264.39
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Starkville Strong’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors event is every fourth Sunday of the month and for one afternoon the intersection of East Lampkin South Jackson comes alive with an opportunity for the community to feel seen and supported, both those in need and those who want to help. We hope to facilitate a welcoming space where community members can come together to show compassion, empathy and allow those in need to have access to basic necessities that will improve their quality of life. This also provides us an opportunity to conduct needs assessments and talk with potential Path to Prosperity clients. For more info on our Path to Prosperity program visit https://starkvillestrong.info/Path_to_Prosperity_Program
Through donations and sponsorships, we gather a wide array of items, ranging from essential perishable and non-perishable food items to hygiene products and household essentials. Additionally, we bring a selection of clothing, books, cleaning supplies, household items and various other life-enhancing items that cater to the diverse needs of our community members. Each attendee is provided sacks to fill with whatever they need, giving them freedom of choice to fit their immediate needs.
Our mission is more than simply distributing resources; it's about fostering deep and meaningful connections. Those in need, as well as our regular clients, are invited to come and "shop" from the items we've laid out. This model encourages conversation and interaction, building bridges of understanding and empathy. We believe that being in touch with the real struggles of our neighbors strengthens the social fabric of our community.
Together with various members of the community, we aim to amplify this mission of outreach, reinforcing the belief that when we help our neighbors, we are essentially building a stronger, more compassionate community. This event is an effort to take action toward the common good. We believe that by assisting and connecting with those in need, we are not only uplifting individuals but also contributing to a more inclusive and supportive community.
Request $5,000
Teen Job and Intern Conference
Our community and the JL King Center recognize the importance of preparing adolescents aged 16 to 20 for the workforce. With the rapidly evolving job market. It is crucial to equip them with essential skills such as CV writing, interview techniques, and financial responsibility. To address this need, we propose organizing a Summer Job and Intern Conference aimed at empowering young individuals to navigate the job market effectively. The workshop will provide an opportunity for social support and encouragement and a unique opportunity to focus on financial security in some of the most formidable moments in their adolescent days.
Our objectives with the Summer Job and Intern Conference are:
1. Provide a rotation of comprehensive workshops on CV writing, interview skills, and financial responsibility tailored to adolescents aged 16 to 20.
2. Facilitate networking opportunities between local employers and young job seekers with the hopes of providing internship opportunities and employment.
3. Foster confidence and readiness for employment among participating adolescents.
4. Equip adolescents with the tools to make informed financial decisions as they enter the workforce.
We hope to achieve the following:
1. Increased confidence and proficiency in CV writing and interview skills among participants.
2. Enhanced understanding of financial concepts and responsible money management practices.
3. Greater awareness of available job and intern opportunities within the community.
4. Strengthened connections between local employers and young job seekers.
5. Empowerment of adolescents to take proactive steps towards their career goals.
Request $2,450
Completion of a Habitat Home in Kelly Estates
Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization dedicated to ending substandard housing in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman, and child has right to safe, decent housing. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for these funds as we continue to strive to fulfill our mission of eradicating the problem of substandard housing in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. Since our founding in 1986, Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity has built 74 houses in Oktibbeha County. These houses provide safe, adequate, and affordable housing for hard-working, low-income families.
Starkville Habitat has been active in our area long enough now to see the generational benefits of stable housing. Children and, increasingly, grandchildren of Habitat homeowners enjoy these houses and reap the benefits of homeownership. It has been well documented that safe, stable housing has a positive effect on grades in school, work performance, and family relationships. Children who grow up in an owner-occupied home on average have higher grades, lower drug use, and are more likely to continue their education past high school than children who do not grow up in owner-occupied housing. Adults who own their own home have been shown to have greater job stability and more stable personal and family relationships than renters. The equity that accumulates with long-term homeownership contributes to generational wealth in families and helps lift people out of poverty. Homeownership also strengthens the local economy through the payment of property taxes and spending on related services. We firmly believe that homeownership is an important factor in both personal financial security and neighborhood stabilization and in our Christian and civic duty to help those in need.
Oktibbeha County has a poverty rate of 23.5%. According to HUD, more than 80% of Oktibbeha County residents, regardless of income level, are considered “rent cost burdened”, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. High rent and real estate prices are especially burdensome to the working poor. In Oktibbeha County we have a population of low-income, hard-working people who benefit greatly from programs such as Habitat for Humanity that make adequate housing affordable to more people. Our homeowners fall between 60-80% of the Oktibbeha County median income for their family size. They pay a 20 year, no interest mortgage that covers the cost of construction. There is a second mortgage that covers the difference in the cost to build and the appraised market value of the house. For example, if the house costs $100,000 to build and appraises for $150,000, the first mortgage will be $100,000, payable over 20 years with no interest, and the second mortgage will be $50,000 forgiven at 10% a year for 10 years. If a homeowner stays in the house for 10 years, the second mortgage is totally forgiven. The forgiveness of the second mortgage and zero interest rate are two things that make Habitat houses more affordable. A third thing that significantly reduces our cost to build is the use of volunteer labor. However, there are certain jobs for which we feel it is better to hire a licensed professional. These include installing the foundation slab and driveway, plumbing, electrical, and installation of the HVAC system.
In the summer of 2022, Starkville Habitat began infrastructure work on a new subdivision of Habitat houses called Kelly Estates. We are now completing the second house in Kelly Estates and will begin construction on the third and fourth houses in March 2024. The third house in Kelly Estates and the 75th Habitat house in Oktibbeha County will be the home of Twana Hubbard and her brother, R.D. Coleman. Twana is the primary caregiver for R.D., who has Down Syndrome. Twana has been a cook at Starkville High School for 19 years. The foundation is a critical component in the stability of a house. If the foundation is not done directly, over time the entire structure will show the consequences, if not fail altogether. Starkville Habitat uses slab foundations for our homes. These foundations can be very practical and durable, but work must be done on the front end to make a stable, long-lasting product. We start with a three-foot-deep dirt pad to provide a stable base for the concrete and prevent shifting and settling. Plumbing lines must be installed before the concrete is poured. We also treat our slabs for termites.
The total cost to build a quality foundation is over $35,000. This includes the dirt work, termite treatment, materials for the slab, and preliminary plumbing work. We would like to request $5,000 in funding from 100 Women Who Care to offset these costs however we will gratefully accept partial funding. Any amount will help!
Request $5,000