Poplar Bluff Regional Giving Circle awards grants to three charities

Three local charities recently were chosen as first-time recipients for the annual grants given by the Poplar Bluff Regional Giving Circle.

This year, the Giving Circle had $5,500 to allocate to charities, said Charley Harper, president of its Board of Directors.

Grants were awarded to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, United Cancer Assistance Network and Foster Adopt Connect.

The money for the grants, Harper said, comes from the $50 annual membership fee paid by those joining the Giving Circle.

“Whatever we get, we give away,” Harper said.

The Giving Circle, Harper explained, began receiving applications in August and September from area charities for its 2019 grants.

“We had nine different charities apply for grants,” said Harper. “We are always looking for new applicants. We have some repeat applicants in the eight years we’ve been doing this.”

Harper said the board then met in October to go over the applications and look at the available money.

The board then presented the membership with several grant options during its annual meeting held earlier this month, and the members voted on which applications to fund, Harper said.

“We awarded to all three of these recipients who (submitted) first-time applications,” Harper said.

The bulk of the money, $3,500, went to a brand new charity in Poplar Bluff, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Harper explained.

“They build beds for children who have no beds,” Harper said. “Evidently, there are lots of children sleeping on floors and sofas.

“ … All of that money will be used on one of their build days” to buy the lumber and mattresses.

Harper said $1,000 grants were given to Foster Adopt Connect and UCAN.

Foster Adopt Connect, according to Harper, is a group that provides support to adoptive and foster parents.

“That money was to be used to buy car seats and fire extinguishers,” Harper said. “When grandparents suddenly have to take in their own grandchildren in foster situations, those two items are required before bringing children into their home.”

UCAN, he said, is going to use its money for fuel and other expenses related to the vans that are used to transport cancer patients two and from treatment, Harper said.

“Every year we have more requests than we have money,” Harper said. “It would be great to have enough money to fund all the applications.”

As the Giving Circle prepares for its 2020 membership drive, Harper encourages “more people to join.

“If we get more members, more money is collected and more is given away,” Harper said.

Anyone wanting more information about the Giving Circle or to join can do so online at pbgivingcircle.org .