The Whitewater Community Foundation has recently made several announcements, including the name of its Action Grant recipient from last fall, a reminder that an opportunity to apply this spring for an action grant will soon close, and it’s participation, along with Whitewater-based community group, Whitewater Unites Lives, in an upcoming food drive, scheduled in May.

Rock River Community Clinic named action grant recipient

Information released to WhitewaterWise Monday by the foundation notes that the Rock River Community Clinic was the recipient last fall of the its Action Grant.

The clinic received $3,500 from the foundation to design a website which was then anticipated to include “more accessible materials and clear, simple navigation in both Spanish and English.”

Additionally, the release noted, grant money will be used to aid in the completion of a “poster project” and finishing a community resource wall in the dental clinic’s office. 

“We are so grateful for the support of the Whitewater Community Foundation to advance these two projects at RRCC (Rock River Community Clinic), both of which will support our efforts to continue finding effective ways to support our patients. Partnership support is critical to our organization’s overall community outreach (and) education efforts, and we are incredibly appreciative of the WCF’s (Whitewater Community Foundation) willingness to serve in this partnership capacity for our organization,”  RRCC CEO and Executive Director Olivia Nichols was quoted as saying in the release.

The clinic serves all members of the community and accepts BadgerCare (Medicaid) and Medicare insurance payment plans, according to the release.

The release further noted that the clinic, as a federally funded nonprofit health center — which is designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center or FQHC — it receives higher reimbursement rates for BadgerCare and Medicare payer groups, which, the release continued, helps cover discounted prices for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, defined as having a plan with a high deductible.

The group also accepts “many commercial insurance groups,” the release continued. 

To learn more about the clinic, visit  www.rockrivercommunityclinic.org

Spring grant deadline is Tuesday, April 30

Those interested in applying for a Whitewater Community Foundation grant are encouraged to apply before the upcoming deadline, which, according to the release, is April 30.   

Projects that qualify for grant consideration should include an educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent component, which benefits the greater Whitewater community, a recent news release states.

Consideration also will be made based on the results of last year’s Civic Summit, an annual foundation-facilitated event, which included the participation of 30 community members, business leaders, educators, and nonprofit organizers, among others, all of whom, the release noted, worked together to “determined key areas for improvement in Whitewater.”

Factors determined by the group included:

• Communicating to Whitewater’s diverse population in English and Spanish, making signage bilingual, coordinating communication to all groups, and providing integration opportunities for people of different backgrounds and age groups.

• Developing assistance to make housing affordable and accessible for families and professional.

• Marketing Whitewater by coordinating and cross-pollinating events, calendars and volunteer opportunities.

According to the release, “projects are expected to be accomplished within a specific period of time — generally not more than one year — and should be creative, innovative and address community needs.”

To learn more and fill out an application, visit the following link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bx6_oS4QSIAeR3BoVjNTeVJfQzg .

Information can additionally be found on the foundation’s website: https://whitewatercommunityfoundation.org/community-action-grants/ or contacting Kat Mawhinney by phone: 262-473-1403.

Food drive to support local pantries

On Saturday, May 11, according to information released by community-based group Whitewater Unites Lives and the foundation, a food drive will be conducted.

Residents are encouraged to participate in the drive by watching for postcards and plastic bags that will arrive to their homes by mail. Residents can place nonperishable food in or near their mailboxes on the aforementioned Saturday. Mail carriers will deliver the food to the Whitewater Food Pantry, the release noted.

Additionally, on May 11, Whitewater Unites Lives will be hosting a food drive at the Whitewater Community Space, 834 E. Milwaukee St., Whitewater. Donors are asked to drive to the back of the facility where they will be met by volunteers ready to receive the donations. The volunteers will be available between 8:30 and 11:45 a.m.

A wish list of items needed by both the Whitewater Food Pantry and the Whitewater Community Space includes: peanut butter, jelly, individual packets of oatmeal, canned tuna, dried cereal, canned fruits and canned vegetables.   

According to the release, Whitewater Unites Lives is a local volunteer organization with a mission to connect the people in the community and create opportunities for all people to learn from and support one another in the population’s common humanity.

The release notes that the May food drive has been undertaken nationally by the United States Post Office for some 30 years. In Whitewater, the drive is additionally supported by the Hunger Task Force, which, according to its website, is an organization providing “a safety net of emergency food to a network of local food pantries, shelters and meal programs.” 

The group states on its website that it is the only food bank in Milwaukee that does not charge for food, delivery or network membership. 

Those interested in learning more about the Community Space are encouraged to visit its website: communityspacewhitewater.com/.

For more information about the Whitewater Food Pantry, visit its on Facebook.

For more information about the hunger task force, visit its website: https://www.hungertaskforce.org/.