Friday, May 08, 2009
Array of grants sown in Roanoke Valley
Have you heard?
JoAnne Poindexter
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Several Roanoke Valley agencies and organizations recently have received donations of money and services from benefactors that include the Komen Greater Roanoke Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Wal-Mart Foundation and U.S. Cellular associates.
The Roanoke Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross will purchase and stock four shelter trailers and recruit and train volunteers with its $49,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation's $5 million Disaster Readiness and Capacity Building Grant Program.
The Roanoke chapter is one of 128 Red Cross chapters to receive grants.
Amy Whittaker, public relations director, said the trailers will be strategically placed throughout the chapter's coverage area: Roanoke, Botetourt, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Craig, Alleghany, Bath and Highland counties, and the cities and towns in those areas.
The trailers will be stocked with a generator, cots, blankets and "everything we need in a disaster such as flooding," Whittaker said.
She described the trailers as similar to U-Haul trailers that are hitched to another vehicle.
"They will ensure that we can establish a shelter immediately," Whittaker said.
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The Komen Greater Roanoke Valley Affiliate awarded $170,000 in grants to seven regional health-care agencies to reduce barriers, increase access and improve outcomes. The grants will serve women who are identified as uninsured or underinsured for breast screening services.
Project Access of the Roanoke Valley, the Virginia Department of Health-Mount Rogers Health District, Craig County Health Center, Planned Parenthood Health Systems-Roanoke and Blacksburg centers, Caring Hearts Free Clinic of Patrick County, Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic and Rockbridge Area Free Clinic will receive grants.
The Komen Greater Roanoke Valley Affiliate is part of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a grass-roots network fighting to end breast cancer.
In announcing the grants, Wendi Schultz, chairwoman of the grants committee, said the awards are made specifically to address medically uninsured and underserved women.
Komen and its affiliates are known globally for their dedication to filling existing gaps in breast health and breast cancer needs. The organization works with medical experts and community leaders to address needs by conducting comprehensive community assessments. These community profiles are then used to establish local grant applications.
Data from the Virginia Department of Health show that only three-quarters of women surveyed reported having had mammograms in the last two years.
Local affiliate statistics show that of the 210,385 women age 40 and older in the service area, 61 percent had mammograms during the prior 12 months.
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A group of U.S. Cellular employees and Roanoke Vice Mayor Sherman Lea celebrated Earth Day by planting an urban garden and refurbishing the grounds at Trust House.
U.S. Cellular also presented Trust House with a $25,000 grant to support its programs.
"This is a great way to show that it's fun and rewarding to take care of our community," Daren Gunter, executive director for the Trust House, said in a news release.
Lea said he was happy "to pitch in because every garden we plant makes Roanoke a little greener. Together we're doing our part for Roanoke's environmental initiatives."
