Page 4 - Dresden Buzz 10/03/2025

PAGE 4 | LOCAL NEWS OCTOBER 3 - 16, 2025
Straker Foundation Grants totaling $200,000 awarded to 20

community-focused organizations and projects

BY LYNETTE DOTSON | DRESDEN BUZZ
culture seal for graduation.
“The initiative started in 2020 just to
introduce Zanesville high school kids to
agriculture, to add that curriculum into
our programming, and to give our kids
really a hands-on opportunity to do so,”
explained Zanesville High School sci-
ence teacher Heather Near.
Conservation Science is taught to ju-
niors and is focused on interaction with
the environment and how to protect it.
It uses a curriculum developed by the
Sportsman’s Alliance. Students are
taught fish identification, how to fish,
how to tie knots, archery, trapping, hunt-
ing, and boating.
Introduction to Sustainable Agricul-
ture is available to seniors. Students
learn about indoor growing spaces and
how to support a healthy food system.
Students from the Introduction to Sus-
tainable Agriculture class, including se-
niors Tae’shaune, Josalynn, and Diana,
are directly impacted by the support giv-
en to the Agri-Park by the Straker Foun-
dation.
“This class has actually helped me
help my grandmother learn about plants
and whatnot because she didn’t really
J.W. and M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation small grant cycle recipients stand with three representatives from the Foundation in front of do too much with plants when she was
Zanesville High School’s AgriPark. Pictured from left to right are Amy Aurore of Foodworks Alliance, Susan Holdren of the Straker younger. And she actually has a bell
Foundation, ZHS student Diana, Pam Kuntz of the Straker Foundation, ZHS student Josalynn, Kris Headley of the ZMCHD, Heather Near of pepper plant because of this class,”
ZHS, Pam Kirst of the Straker Foundation, and ZHS student Tae’shaune. Lynette Dotson Tae’shaune said.
“I really like doing hands-on learning.
Grant requests from 20 impactful lo- $14,722.60 grant. initiatives related to outreach programs Because in the future, I want to start gar-
cal organizations, totaling $200,000, The Zanesville Civic League Com- that help people experiencing homeless- dening. And this class has really helped
were awarded through the J.W. and M.H. munity Center was awarded $2,960.71 ness or severe poverty and efforts that me with that,” explained Josalynn.
Straker Charitable Foundation small to help launch its “Giving Corner”, a destigmatize needing and asking for Diana added, “I think this class pre-
grant cycle. dedicated space for school supplies and help when living below the poverty level. pares us for our future because it helps
Muskingum County Organizations with hygiene products for people who come Part of the grant money will allow us learn more about how to prepare for
a 501 c 3 status, accredited educational through the center. the ZMCHD’s Hope Givers Group to fill the future. If you want to learn more
institutions, and governmental entities Two new teen programs will be avail- U Matter Bags that will be provided to about, you know, planting and taking
that had a request for $15,000 or less able as a result of a $15,000 grant pro- people experiencing homelessness and care of fish or learning more about wild-
were invited to apply. A large number of vided to Big Brothers Big Sisters. One poverty. The bags are filled with useful life.”
applications were received, amounting of the programs will focus on connecting items like flashlights, batteries, and first A Fork Farms hydroponics pod will al-
to requests that totaled more than twice Foxfire Students with local businesses aid kits, and also a few treats. The bags low students to grow lettuce and harvest
the funds available for the Small Grant to establish job shadowing opportuni- are distributed in February around Val- over 20 pounds a month. That lettuce
Cycle. ties within the community. The other is entine’s Day. will be taken to the school cafeteria or
“[There is] so much need, and so many a mentoring program that allows area The Health Department will also be to Christ’s Table to be used to help feed
worthy requests,” stated Susan Holdren, high school students to mentor littles. expanding its Literacy for a Change those in need.
President and Executive Director for the “So, potentially, it could be someone program, which is open to elementary “The Straker Foundation really does a
Straker Foundation . who was mentored before in the Lunch and preschools. “It’s books about go- good job, a great job actually, of getting
Thanks to the generosity of the Strak- Buddies program, and now they’re in ing to food banks. It’s okay not to have behind Zanesville City Schools, and we
er Foundation, three fire departments high school, and now they’re going to the best shoes. It’s okay to go to thrift really appreciate their support. We’re
were able to add vital life-saving equip- give it back and take an elementary stores,” said Kris Headley ZMCHD Be- honored to have them as a partner,”
ment to their stations, including the Per- school,” explained Holdren. havioral Specialist. Zanesville City Schools Superintendent
ry Township Fire Department, South The Carr Center received $8,855 to Community In Action (CIA) is another Laura Tompkins stated. “I think our staff
Zanesville Fire Department, and Tri- support its Safety Town program. Safety ZMCHD program that will benefit from does a great job of thinking outside the
Valley Joint Fire Department. Gifts of Town teaches children around the age of the grant. “It’s getting all the commu- box and finding things that kids really
$14,970, $15,000, and $6,960 were four and five about safety inside and out- nity partners together that run shelters want to take a part in. So our students
granted, respectively. Perry Township side their homes. or outreaches to come together. We do benefit from our partnerships like the
will be purchasing rescue struts among Harrison Township will be able to now, but to encourage it to keep on go- Straker Foundation, but also our staff
other equipment, South Zanesville will fence in its recently renovated play area ing, so we can come up with solutions, that finds what kids want to do and a
be adding a LIFEPAK 15 cardio monitor/ with the $13,832 it received. as we are seeing many new people in pathway for them, not only today but
defibrillator to their inventory, and Tri- New signage will be possible for both our community having more issues with how they can use that going forward as
Valley will be adding a struts stabiliza- The John and Annie Glenn Muse- financials and seeing more people ex- adults.”
tion system. um and Muskingum County History periencing homelessness,” explained Foodworks Alliance also works to
Two churches, Pleasant Grove through their respective gifts of $3,940 Headley. “How can we continue to fight help provide food for Christ’s Table, as
Church and Putnam Presbyterian and $3,000. Muskingum County History this battle? Also, how are we going to well as TruLife Ministries and the Salva-
Church, received grants. $7,797.21 will will also be able to receive consultation help the people who are helping others tion Army through their Wastey to Tastey
be used to repair a classroom ceiling with their remaining grant money. The with self-care? Because if we can’t help program. The $5,529.23 grant they re-
at Pleasant Grove and technology up- John and Annie Glenn Museum will be the people who are helping others, we’re ceived from the Straker Foundation will
grades will be able to take place at Put- having interstate wayfinding signage in- going to have even a much harder issue support that initiative.
nam Presbyterian thanks to their grant stalled. in our community.” “Wastey to Tastey is one of the proj-
in the amount of $3,050. Warriors 2 Wilderness, an organiza- One focal point for funding has been ects that the Women in the Recovery
Athletic organizations, Philo Youth tion that helps veterans through outdoor on food sustainability within the com- with a Purpose program at FoodWorks
League Baseball and Tri-Valley Youth therapy, received a gift of $3,748.63 for munity. “Our little corner of the world is Alliance does,” said Foodworks Alliance
League Softball, were both small materials for outdoor structures. in better shape, probably than a major Executive Director Amy Aurore. “Primar-
grant recipients, receiving $10,078.01 Allwell Behavioral Health will be city, because people are working togeth- ily, right now, we’re getting produce from
and $8,517.63, respectively, for field en- able to put $15,000 toward a truck for er to get food,” said Pam Kirst, Senior the Mid-Ohio Food Bank produce drop-
hancements. their C.O.R.E. programs. C.O.R.E. is a Program Director for the Foundation. offs. We also have loose agreements
West Muskingum Band Boost- non-profit sheltered work program, that Zanesville High School received with Urban Greens as well. So when
ers received $12,699 for new timpani provides paid job training for Allwell cli- $12,500 to support the Agri-Park pro- they have excess on occasion, they bring
equipment. ents. gram, providing important materials it to us. But it’s basically food that’s slat-
Zane Grey Intermediate School The Zanesville Muskingum Coun- that will help with processing what is ed for as surplus or slated towards waste
will be able to outfit the school library ty Health Department (ZMCHD) was grown by the students and will be instru- and we intervene along with some other
with furniture and supplies thanks to a awarded $6,036.37 to support various mental in helping them earn their agri- organizations, and we take that pro-