Project Hope grants will positively impact Martinsville community

Have you ever had a great idea that would help your community, but weren’t sure where the money would come from to do it? A nonprofit organization in Martinsville, The Harvest Foundation, helps positive community intentions become realities though a grant funded effort, Project Hope. 

Each year, the nonprofit opens an application period for charitable organizations, community engagement groups, volunteer groups, and more to submit ideas on ways to beneficially impact the Martinsville-Henry County (MHC) area. If chosen, the group receives funds to go toward implementing their idea in the community.

This year, the foundation funded nine ideas, totaling more than $91,200. 

“Hope is at the core of what we do at Harvest—it drives us to serve our community, and it motivated [the 2023] grant recipients to put their hope into action,” Kate Keller, president of The Harvest Foundation, said in a media release. “We are excited to see the hope that builds in our community from this year’s Project Hope grantees, and we anticipate [the grant] announcements will inspire others to share their hopes and dreams with us.”

The funds from the nine grants will go toward the beautification of the MHC area, promote intergenerational involvement, and highlight diverse communities. 

From The Harvest Foundation, the list of 2023 Project Hope recipients include:

The City of Martinsville received $5,000 for “Arts & Cultural Community Projects.” The Arts & Cultural Committee of the City of Martinsville will work with volunteers (estimated 15) to focus on crosswalk design and painting projects.

Bee City USA – Martinsville, VA received $4,000 for its project, “Bee City Martinsville’s Bee Flight/Earth Day Festival.” To honor and celebrate Martinsville Bee City Month (April), Earth Day (4/22), and the beginning of Virginia Historic Garden Week (4/20), the Martinsville Bee City Committee is partnering with other business and nonprofit organizations along Starling Avenue to host a “Bee Flight Festival” from Friday, April 19, to Saturday, April 20, 2024.

Henry County Food Pantry received $9,750 for its project, “Treatment Team Integration.” The project will expand services to include a separate hygiene and clothes closet for referrals and provide part-time job opportunities for select participants as they work through recovery.

Hope Box Builders received $15,000 for its project, “The Hope Box.” Pantry-like boxes will be placed in strategic spots throughout the community that include non-perishable food items, hygiene products, job postings, and other information about resources in the community.

Just Call Granny received $4,450 for its project, “Grandfamilies Common Table.” The project will sponsor events for grand-families to connect and share resources, as well as promote the program and recruit new volunteers.

Spencer Penn School Org. received $15,000 for its project, “Spencer Penn Community Garden.” Spencer-Penn’s Community Garden would provide two large 8’x24′ garden beds for anyone in the community to work and harvest from. Included in the garden would be four ADA-compliant raised garden beds that could be used by a single individual for a growing season each year or shared among a group of people.

Uptown Partnership received $12,000 for its project “Revitalizing Uptown—A Blossoming Endeavor to Eradicate Blight & Cultivate Community Serenity.” The project will rejuvenate the uptown planters, remove decaying trees, and incorporate new seating options in uptown. It will also include volunteer-led power washing and sprucing projects in uptown.

Carver Road Ruritan Club received $11,087 for its project, “Carver Road Neighborhood Gateway Sign.” The grant will fund three gateway signs into the Carver community to welcome visitors and residents.

Hope Center Ministries will receive $15,000 for its project, “Heightened Hope.” Grant funding will revitalize the baseball/softball field on Compassion Church property in Axton (formerly Irisburg Elementary School). They will use the facility for youth and families to come together for safe and healthy activities, including tournaments, jamborees, potlucks, and outdoor services.