Heartland Community Foundation awards over $35,000 in Rooks County

HAYS, Kan.— The Heartland Community Foundation, which serves Ellis, Rooks and Trego Counties, recently awarded over $110,000 in spring grants to area organizations across the three counties.

In Rooks County, funds were distributed to the following organizations:

• Plainville Fire Department, $2,942 to help purchase Hypersight Camera System to help fully equip their fleet from the Rooks County Disaster Relief Fund.
• Plainville Community Foundation, $5,000 to help pay for the fabrication and installation of the walking bridge at the Plainville Ambassador Club/Andreson Memorial Park.
• City of Stockton, $5,000 to help fund the speaker system project for Stockton Main Street.
• RoCo Arts Council, Inc., $1,000 to purchase materials for Barn Quilt Painters at the Rooks County Free Fair.
• Main Street Development, Inc., $1,000 to purchase materials, marketing collateral, ads and other supplies for the Restoring Our Main Street Buildings Awareness Campaign project.
• Damar Community Foundation, $1,500 to help fund the “Bench Seat Project” in Damar.
• USD 271, $2,536.56 to purchase 2 round metal picnic tables with benches for the playground area.
• Codell Community Service Club, $5,000 to help update the community building restrooms.
• Fusion Christian Youth Center, $1,592 to help pay for the curriculum, staff members, and other equipment to be used at the Fusion Christian Youth Center.
• Rooks County Free Fair, $4,000 to help pay for chairs to increase seating at the fair.
• City of Stockton, $2,000 to purchase six handheld radios for the Rooks County ambulances and EMS personnel from the Rooks County Disaster Relief Fund.
• City of Stockton, $4,500 for the purchase of a 75-gallon UHP Skid for the Stockton Fire Department from the Rooks County Disaster Relief Fund.
• USD 271, $2,000 to purchase furniture to create collaborative workspaces in the junior high classrooms.
• City of Stockton, $2,592 to help purchase the equipment and furniture needed in the designated room for resident ITV medical and educational opportunities.
• Main Street Christian Church, $2,000 to help with the property improvement at the church.
• USD 270, $4,500 to help fund a digital trophy case and kiosk.

This round of grants was made possible by the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, which focuses on improving quality of life throughout the county; the Ellis County, Rooks County, and Trego County Legacy Funds; the Heartland Area Action Fund; the Stockton Community Fund; and the Kansas Health Foundation Fund for Heartland Community.

The foundation’s next grant cycle opens September 15, with online applications due November 15, 2023. For more information, visit www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org