Annual investments in our people and communities

• Carleton School received two grants: (1) to purchase equipment and supplies for life skills lessons in cooking, cleaning, laundry and self-care; and (2) to purchase supplies for the playground space, toileting areas and classrooms
• Chester Shade Historical Association to purchase equipment and materials to serve Meigs County students who attend programs at the Chester Academy and Courthouse
• Eastern Local School District received three grants, all funded by the Buckley family: (1) to purchase study materials, safety equipment, labware and building supplies for the Science Olympiad Team; (2) to purchase start-up equipment for an after-school esports club; and (3) to fund a new drone team
• God’s Hands At Work to purchase food for the Meigs County mobile food pantry
• Loyalty is Forever to support the 2026 Meigs County Back to School Bash, which provides local students with essential school supplies, clothing and resources while connecting families with community services
• Meigs Band Boosters to fund new instruments and instrument repairs for the marching, concert and jazz bands
• Meigs County Community Improvement Corporation to provide seed funding for a formal study into the feasibility and sustainability of a new facility to address the need for daycare and non-school-based afterschool activities for Meigs County families
• Meigs County Farmers’ Market to help fund the market’s Donation Station, Kids Korner and a new voucher program for seniors
• Meigs County Schools Food Pantry to purchase food
• Meigs Local Blessings in a Backpack to purchase food provided to students for weekends
• Racine Firefighters Association to purchase traffic safety vests for emergency response to roadway incidents
• Racine Methodist Church to provide fresh food, including meat, eggs, bread and produce, at the Charlotte’s Cupboard Food Pantry
• River City Players to fund a marketing intern, advertising, sound engineering consultation and training, and sound system repairs and possible equipment upgrades
• River of Life Care Closet to purchase food for its food pantry
• Rural Action to purchase food from local farmers to distribute to Meigs County food pantries
• Sage Teachings to help establish and sustain a recovery and wellness center in Meigs County
• Southern Elementary K-8 PTO to increase the amount of food provided to students for weekends
• Southern Local School District to implement the ROX (Ruling Our eXperiences) Program at Southern Elementary School, helping girls develop supportive relationships, navigate complex challenges and acquire critical life skills
• Village of Middleport to install mile markers and other signage on the multipurpose trail along the Ohio River
• Village of Pomeroy to create a mural on the Hartwell House wall along Court Street

• Chester Shade Historical Association to purchase a Smart Board and other items to create an educational floor at the historic Chester Academy
• Eastern Local School District received three grants, funded by the Buckley family: (1) to support the Science Olympiad Team for students in grades 6-12, (2) to adjust the backboards at the elementary school gym to allow them to be lowered for youth practices and games, and (3) to purchase equipment for the Eastern Eagles Archery Program
• God’s Hands At Work to purchase food for the Meigs County mobile food pantry
• Meigs Band Boosters to purchase percussion equipment for the drumline and pit percussion sections and to fund instrument and uniform repairs and replacement
• Meigs County Farmers’ Market to support food vouchers for veterans and the Music Along the River program
• Meigs Local Blessings in a Backpack to purchase food provided to students for weekends
• Meigs Local School District received two grants: (1) to support Meigs High School Treats and Trends in providing students with food, hygiene items and clothing, funded by Travis and Julie Abbott and (2) to fund a learning experience at Hocking Hills State Park for eighth-grade students
• Meigs County Schools Food Pantry to purchase food
• Meigs United Methodist Cooperative Parish/the Mulberry Community Center to provide back-to-school backpacks and supplies to students in all school districts in the county
• Riverbend Arts Council to purchase sheet music for the Meigs County Community Band and to support a series of free art classes for local emerging artists
• River City Players to purchase a wireless microphone system and other sound equipment and to fund marketing materials
• River of Life Care Closet to purchase food for its food pantry
• Village of Rutland to purchase two sets of doors for the Rutland Civic Center’s gymnasium, which will complete a project that will allow the facility to also be used as an emergency shelter

In addition, MCF, with funding from FAO, awarded a grant to support a project developed and implemented by local youth under age 18. The goal of this funding is to inspire young people to embrace roles as changemakers committed to creating strong, vibrant communities.

The Racine Methodist Youth Group received funding to purchase hygiene items and detergent for a new showering and laundry facility at the Mulberry Community Center for individuals experiencing homelessness or in need. The grant is also funding 100 meal tickets, which the youth will decorate with encouraging messages, to be distributed to individuals who come to the center for food.

• Bethel Worship Center to support the “It’s Our Time: Meigs Mobile Food and Supplies Outreach”
• Chester Youth Baseball and Softball to improve batting cages for community use
• Columbia Township Trustees to purchase storage cabinets and food for the Blessing Box
• Eastern Local School District received two grants through support from the Buckley Family: (1) to purchase tools, materials and plants the Eastern FFA needs to create a greenhouse and community garden and (2) to purchase tools and supplies needed for the Science Olympiad team to advance in competition
• God’s Hands At Work to purchase food for the Meigs County mobile food pantry
• Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio to support a home build for a Meigs County family in need
• Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio to purchase food for food pantry distributions in Meigs County
• Meigs County Council on Aging to fund upgrades and additions to the Blakeslee Center’s conference/training equipment
• Meigs County Farmers’ Market to support food vouchers for veterans and food-related classes
• Meigs County Schools Food Pantry to purchase food
• Mid-Valley Christian School to purchase instruments for the online music program
• River of Life Food Pantry to purchase food
• Southern Local School District to purchase materials and equipment for the Introduction to Art Program
• Tuppers Plains Youth Baseball to improve batting cages for community use
• Village of Rutland to replace the doors of the Rutland Civic Center’s gymnasium

• The iBELIEVE Foundation to fund the participation of Meigs County youth in the 2024 iBELIEVE Youth Leadership Workshops

• Bethel Worship Center for “It’s Our Time: Meigs Mobile Food and Supplies Outreach,” a new mobile outreach program providing food, supplies, information and encouragement to county residents
• Blessings in a Backpack to provide weekly backpacks of food for up to 160 K-5 students in Meigs County primary and intermediate schools at risk for hunger over the weekends
• God’s Hands At Work for its mobile food pantry
• Eastern Local School District received two grants, through support from the Buckley Family, for its Exploration in Art program and to purchase tools and equipment and to grow the vocational agricultural program developed in conjunction with Meigs Local Schools
• Meigs County Farmers’ Market to support the third season of its Music Along the River program
• Meigs County Historical Society to purchase a new computer and programs to assist with genealogy research
• Mulberry Community Center received a grant, through support from Danny Crow, Debbie Gilkey and Donna Morrison, in memory of their mother, Vera Crow, to purchase equipment and fund improvements to the center and its kitchen
• Racine Firefighters Association to purchase new life jackets for its rescue boats
• Rio Grande Community College Meigs Center to provide students with healthy snacks and small meal options
• River of Life Care Closet for additional space and equipment for its food pantry

• Chester United Methodist Church for the rehabilitation of its baseball field backstop and bleachers
• Eastern Local School District for the Eastern High School/Middle School Band Instrument Program
• Eastern Local School District for the Eagle Pack Program, which sends meals home with students who have limited access to food on weekends
• God’s Hands At Work for the mobile food pantry
• Meigs Cooperative Parrish for freezer and kitchen items at its Community Kitchen
• Meigs County Council on Aging to build capacity for performing arts
• Meigs County Farmers’ Market LLC for its children’s program, 2022 Arts & Education at the Market
• Meigs County Pioneer and Historical Society and Museum to install an air purifier
• Pageville Freewill Baptist Church for the Keeping Seniors at Home with Emergency Support program
• Portland Community Center for a refrigerator, tiles and other floor materials for the center
• Village of Pomeroy for a playground as part of the Children Playing Safe in Pomeroy Parks program
• Village of Racine for Phase II of the village’s ballfield improvements