CHILLICOTHE— Recently, the Non-Profit Funding Committee met to review applications from local nonprofits requesting money from the city. During this meeting they heard four presentations.
The committee is made up of Michael Maughmer, Andrea Holmes and Lisa Johnson. The group listened to presentations and reviewed applications. Together they will decide if a funding request should be referred to the Chillicothe City Council.
While these projects were not formally presented to council members during the meeting several were in attendance to learn more about the needs in the community and what some organizations are doing to help.
The following organizations made presentations about their requests:
Ross County Community Action
In December of 2023, Community Action opened the local resource center and shelter open 24 hours a day to those in need in the community. The building offers cots to sleep in, lockers, showers, a place to eat and access to local resources to help find housing, jobs and more. The center takes in families and pets. Since opening the center has served over 500 people and found over 80 households permanent housing. Executive Director Julie Bolen asked the committee for $100,000 to help fund the operation of the shelter for a number of months.
Ross County Humane Society
The Ross County Humane Society helps take in and rehome unwanted pets in the area while also working to help people keep their animals through different programs, like the low-cost spay and neuter clinics. During the presentation, Executive Director Jenn Thomas said around one-third of the dogs in the shelter come from within the city limits. The organization asked for $100,000 to help with costs surrounding the new shelter and a commitment of $50,000 annually.
3rd Shift Warming Cooling Center
This warming center is a pilot program presented to the city by Jasmine Garnes Franklin who is already running two centers in Columbus. It would focus on giving homeless individuals kicked out of traditional shelters for whatever reason a place to stay from November to March. The shelter would be open 24 hours and would not require individuals to leave during the day. The project is asking for at least $378,401 to start up a center in a local Chillicothe church.
Hope Partnership Project
The Hope Partnership Project has been working for several years with different organizations in the county to help reduce and ultimately stop overdose-related deaths. Recently, the group celebrated two weeks of no overdose-related deaths in the community and while it did not last long they are hoping to reach that milestone again by continuing to support various efforts. The organization is asking for $40,000 to enhance and expand support for individuals in recovery.
