GSLF Board member Grace Brooks presents grant to Baranof Elementary School principal Jill Lecrone, and students Madeline, Spencer and Brady
In November, GSLF announced $8,737 in grants to nine organizations for projects in Sitka, including:
• $1,500 to Alaska Arts Southeast, LLC for financial aid to assist Sitka students with the cost of Fine Arts Camp
• $1,500 to Baranof Elementary School for Resource Ready Raingear
• $1,500 to Catholic Community Services for the senior meal program at Swan Lake Senior Center
• $1,500 to Youth Advocates of Sitka to support Community Teen Night at Hames Center
• $737 to Artchange, Inc. for 14 Miles II, a film series that profiles residents of Sitka
• $500 to Southeast Alaska Independent Living to support fishing accessibility for seniors and persons with disabilities
• $500 to Brave Heart Volunteers to improve office efficiency
• $500 to Friends of Sitka NEST to support a feasibility study for birthing services in Sitka
• $500 to the Sitka Homeless Coalition to support an overnight shelter for men
In 2018, the GSLF Advisory Board established a priority to fund projects that benefit residents of Sitka with low incomes. It received grant applications from 11 organizations requesting a total of $15,984. “The rising cost of living in Sitka is especially hard on members of our community with low incomes,” says Mike Venneberg, Chair of the GSLF. “We are happy to be able to fund services for some of our most vulnerable residents, including low-income children, teens, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and people without homes.”