|
Volume CXXXIII, Number 19 |
 |
Students distribute $10,000 to non-profits
A Bowdoin College student committee has awarded seven Common
Good Grants, totaling $10,000, to local non-profit organizations. The
grant money came from a restricted gift from an anonymous donor, intended
to create a program in which Bowdoin students could learn about grants
and philanthropy while building a relationship with non-profit organizations
in the greater-Brunswick community.
Over 50 applications were received and reviewed by a committee
of twelve Bowdoin students, led by community service resource center intern
Kate Leach '04, and advised by Lydia Bell, coordinator of student community
service programs.
The following is a list of the grant recipients and a description
of the projects to be funded by the grant:
Habitat for Humanity Bath-Brunswick: $725 to purchase supplies
for residents of a small community in Bath, Maine, to build raised beds
for vegetable gardens. These raised beds will allow families in the community
to grow vegetables that are pollution free, strengthen community ties,
and teach generations of residents how to grow sustainable food.
Flying Changes Center for Therapeutic Riding, Topsham: $1,400
to purchase a small pony (named Bowdoin) and a cart to add to their fleet.
This new cart and horse will be used to teach carriage driving to children
with disabilities who participate in the horse farm's activities.
OASIS Health Clinic, Brunswick: $2,500 to purchase medicine to begin an "in-house" pharmacy. OASIS is a free clinic, currently open once a week, providing health care at no cost to members of the Brunswick community.
Staffed by area doctors, the OASIS clinic will use the funding
to begin the "It's in the mail" program. Many patients receive
free prescriptions, but because of the required government paperwork,
it takes 4-6 weeks for the prescriptions to arrive by mail. The grant
will allow the clinic to keep medicines on hand, so patients can immediately
receive a month's supply from the clinic. When the prescriptions arrive
by mail, they will replenish the clinic's stock.
Home to Home Program, Brunswick: $1,400 that will fund two
facilitators for "Caught in the Middle" workshops for parents
in the Home to Home program. Home to Home provides a safe place for separated
or divorced parents to peacefully exchange their children for visitation.
Home to Home has had a positive influence on children from high-conflict
families throughout the midcoast area.
Harpswell Neck Fire and Rescue Department: $975 to fund
an MCI (multi-casualty medical) kit. The kit will assist the small Harpswell
Neck volunteer rescue department, which has only one ambulance, to respond
to multi-casualty calls. While the ambulance is transporting some patients,
the kit will allow other patients to receive care while waiting for back-up
emergency vehicles coming from Brunswick or Bath.
Friends of Cox Pinnacle, Brunswick: $500 contribution toward
the purchase of a piece of undeveloped land for community use. A group
of Brunswick residents is working through the town to purchase the plot
of land, which is perfect for outdoor recreation. They need to raise $125,000
in two years (which the town will match).
Freeport Middle School, Martial Arts Program: $2,500 to
pay for martial arts classes and transportation for 15 at-risk 8th graders.
This program allows students to participate in martial arts and build
their self-confidence, self-control, and discipline. The program also
has a tutoring component.
Awards will be presented to representatives of these organizations at
Bowdoin's annual Community Service Banquet Wednesday, April 3.
-Courtesy of the Office of Communications