Columbus’ Exchange Club distributed a total of $6,000 in grants Thursday at Lion Hills Center to 11 charitable organizations that aim to improve the lives of local children.
A member from each charity attended the meeting and accepted a check on each organization’s behalf. All members spoke briefly of their organizations’ missions and plans for the donated funds.
This year, Exchange Club distributed checks to the Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts Troop 1, Columbus Arts Council, Contact Teleministry (Contact Helpline), Father’s Child Ministry, HEARTS After-School Tutoring, the “Mother Goose” Endowment Fund, My Book, Safe Haven, and the “Uncle Bunky” Children’s Fund.
The only partner organization that did not receive a check was Camp Rising Sun because Exchange Club contributes directly to the camp through food donations and volunteers.
Exchange Club President Fred Kinder said the service club sends applications to a number of local organizations that help area children. Those organizations return completed applications, and the Exchange Club executive board reviews the applications to determine to which charities it will provide funds.
“There are so many in need,” Kinder said. “But you have to dwindle it down because there’s only so much money to go around.”
Kinder said Exchange Club donated to two more organizations than last year. The club raised money for the grants through community fundraisers, including its annual cheese sale around Christmas, a raffle at Market Street Festival and a 10K and 1-mile “fun run” held in March.
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