Goosefoot has announced this year’s recipients of its annual community grant program, awarding $101,000 to 21 non-profit organizations that serve the South Whidbey community.
Goosefoot’s executive director, Sandy Whiting, said that 36 worthy organizations applied for funding, and it wasn’t an easy task for board members to choose among the range of community projects presented.
“We just wish we could fund everyone that applied,” she said in a press release.
The recipients are Citizens Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse (CADA), Clinton Community Hall, Coupeville Farm to School Program, Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund, Healthy Island Youth Initiative, Hearts & Hammers, Helping Hand, The Hub Youth Central, Island Senior Resources, Leadership Whidbey, Master Gardener Program, Mother Mentors, Orca Network, Organic Farm School, Readiness to Learn, South Whidbey Commons, South Whidbey Historical Society, South Whidbey Tilth, Whidbey Homeless Coalition, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and Whidbey Veteran’s Resource Center.
So far this year, Goosefoot has distributed a total of $247,000 to 26 local organizations. Recipients of funds outside the community grant program are South Whidbey School Farm, South Whidbey at Home, Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Whidbey Island Nourishes and Whidbey Watershed Stewards. These organizations received funds as part of a multi-year grant given before Goosefoot’s Community Grant Program began in early 2017.
Bayview Community Hall’s “Paint the Hall” campaign will also receive funds from Goosefoot. Currently, Goosefoot has pledged $25,000 in a community matching grant for the campaign. Goosefoot has stated it will match up to $15,000 in cash donations and up to $10,000 in donated supplies and labor.
The community grant program’s first official grant cycle was in 2018, awarding about $88,000 in grants. Profits from the The Goose Community Grocer have allowed the organization to distribute $630,000 in the past four years to South Whidbey nonprofits.
Goosefoot is now in its 20th year of serving Whidbey.
• More information about the grant program can be found at www.goosefoot.org/grants.
