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Foundation distributes grants

Center for Suicide Awareness receives $25,000

By Robert Cloud


The Waupaca Area Community Foundation gave nearly $121,000 in grants to area civic and charitable organizations on Oct. 2.

WACF awarded its $25,000 Community Enhancement Grant to the Center for Suicide Awareness.

The grant will help hire a part-time staff member to lead community education in the Waupaca area.

Headquartered in Kaukauna, the center will work with the Waupaca County Suicide Prevention Coalition to bring its programs to the local area.
Barb Bigalke, the center’s executive director, spoke at the WACF event.

In addition to educational workshops, Bigalke said the Center for Suicide Awareness will promote Hopeline, a text-based emotional support service.

WACF also provided a $7,500 grant to Oxford House, which will open a peer-recovery residence to help men trying to overcome heroin and opioid addiction.

A second house for women will open later.

Vicki Poeschl explained the Oxford model.

She said the residents pay rent to live there, and each of them has specific duties in the house.

The grant from WACF will allow Oxford House to start a rental assistance fund.

The Waupaca Community Garden received a $7,500 grant to support its move from the present location near Waupaca High School to the Chain Exploration Center for the 2019 growing season.

The Waupaca Community Garden has been delivering thousands of pounds of produce to area food pantries, nursing homes and senior centers.

Pat Phair, who has helped lead the garden since its inception in 2006, said the community garden is making the move to shift its focus slightly from production to education.

“Many young children have no idea what a garden is like,” Phair said. “Many adults do not know what a brussels sprouts plant looks like.”

Other grant recipients
• Bethany Home – $5,000 to upgrade trail.

• Big Brother Big Sisters – $5,000 to continue community-based mentoring program.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters – $2,500 to pilot a school-based mentoring program.

• CAP Services – $5,000 to support the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

• CAP Services – $7,500 to support skills enhancement training for working poor.

• Catalpa Health – $7,500 to add a part-time front desk clerk at Waupaca clinic.

• Fox Valley Literacy Council – $5,000 to support operating costs for providing adult literacy services in Waupaca.

• Girl Scouts – $3,000 to bring Girl Scout experience to at-risk girls in K-12.

• Living the Waupaca Way – $2,800 to fund a part-time Americorps nutrition educator.

• Mission of Hope House – $2,000 to provide onsite counseling to shelter residents.

• NAMI Fox Valley – $7,500 to fund a part-time Waupaca program coordinator.

• Opera for the Young – $1,500 to support two opera performances in Waupaca schools.

• Rawhide – $5,000 to provide ongoing support for About Face community outreach.

• Shepherd of the Lakes – $7,500 for Project Backpack, which sends food to children in need each weekend.

• Tomorrow’s Children – $4,187 to provide children with emotional and behavioral challenges with Chrome Books.

• Waupaca County Suicide Prevention Coalition – $5,000 to provide operating and program support.

• Waupaca Historical Society – $5,000 to paint the Hutchinson House exterior and attach gutters.

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