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The Knox County Foundation Board of Directors has awarded $482,600 in grants to organizations and projects serving residents throughout Knox County.
The largest grant — $300,000 — will go to Interchurch Social Services to support the development of a new food pantry at 156 Howard Street in Mount Vernon.
The building was donated by the Knox County Land Bank and will be renovated to provide additional storage for fresh and perishable foods. The expanded facility will also allow Interchurch to distribute food to other area pantries that have limited storage capacity.
“We are excited to partner with Interchurch Social Services on this important project and support their vision for expanding food access in our community,” said Lisa Lloyd, senior program director at the Knox County Foundation. “This new facility will not only help serve more local families, but also strengthen the network of food pantries across Knox County.”
The foundation’s latest grants also support education and workforce development, health and human services, youth programs, community improvements and nonprofit operations.
Other Grant Awards
Among the other grants approved through the July cycle:
- Habitat for Humanity — $35,000 for a forklift to help move ReStore donations and construction materials used in home construction and repairs.
- Fredericktown Local Schools — $23,000 to establish a three-booth welding lab as the district expands its Agriscience pathway to include welding instruction and industry-recognized certifications.
- Knox Public Health — $20,000 to replace the emergency backup generator at its main facility, helping protect temperature-sensitive vaccines and maintain health services during power outages.
- Freedom Center — $20,000 for sidewalk and drainage improvements at its South Main Street facility, including concrete replacement, drainage repairs and basement waterproofing.
- YMCA of Mount Vernon — $15,000 to provide financial assistance for memberships and programs, including childcare, summer camp, swimming lessons and youth sports.
- Danville Athletic Boosters — $15,000 for improvements to the Danville High School baseball field, including drainage, field conditions and player safety.
- Knox Technical Center — $10,000 for its OTC+ program, expanding access to career and technical education opportunities.
- Advocates for Families — $8,000 for Youth Intervention Services, providing mentoring and individualized support to Knox County youth.
- Place 4 Grace — $8,000 to support the expansion of p4g THRIFT into a new location within the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, helping generate revenue for maternity housing and support services.
- Civil Air Patrol 299th Cadet Flight — $4,000 toward startup costs for the newly chartered Knox County squadron serving youth ages 12 to 18.
- Knox Health Planning Partnership — $2,500 for transportation assistance for qualifying Knox County residents traveling outside the county for non-emergency medical care.
- Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission — $2,100 for an automated external defibrillator at its Mount Vernon clinic.
The Foundation also allocated $20,000 for Career and Technical Education scholarships.
Expanding Food Access
The $300,000 Interchurch grant represents the largest single award in the latest funding cycle and is aimed at addressing food access at both the individual and organizational level.
The new facility at 156 Howard Street is expected to provide Interchurch with substantially more capacity to store perishable food while also creating the ability to help stock other local food pantries.
That regional approach is particularly important because not every pantry has the refrigeration or storage space needed to handle fresh and perishable donations.
Lloyd said the projects funded during the grant cycle demonstrate the variety of work being done throughout the county.
“The projects supported through this grant cycle reflect the wide range of work happening every day to make Knox County a stronger community,” Lloyd said. “From expanding access to food to creating opportunities for students and supporting local organizations, we’re grateful to be able to invest in work that will make a meaningful difference for Knox County residents.”
Next Grant Cycle
The Knox County Foundation accepts Small Grant applications four times each year and Major Grant applications twice annually.
The next Small Grant cycle begins with an Expression of Intent deadline of September 15, followed by an application deadline of October 15. Grant decisions are expected to be announced in November.
The Knox County Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on improving quality of life in Knox County through charitable giving.
