PIQUA, Ohio (WKEF) — A week ago, the Miami County Foundation awarded nearly 300-thousand dollars in grant money to 75 local nonprofits. Dayton 24/7 Now’s Gwyneth Falloon sat down with the foundation and a Piqua recipient about how life-changing this money will be.
“The most important thing is that people are coming here knowing they’re part of our family and knowing that they’re not alone,” said Doug Metcalfe, the executive director at Safehaven, Inc.
SafeHaven Incorporated is exactly that, a supportive place for those who need it most.
“We are a nonprofit agency that helps anybody 18 and up in need of mental health support,” Metcalfe said. “We’ve got free lunch. We’ve got a lot of fun activities, and most importantly, out of everything, everybody here considers each other family.”
Now, thanks to grant money from the Miami County Foundation, Metcalfe said they can continue to help get more people back on their feet by nourishing needs.
“We have free daily meals, and we also have a food pantry that people can pick up from us every Monday that’s from 11 to one,” he said. “For the last 12 years, we’ve turned SafeHaven into a restaurant. Thanks to lots of wonderful volunteers around the community, we serve those in need for a Thanksgiving meal. It helps people in need by coming in for the meal, but also being part of the fellowship that’s here.”
The nonprofit allows people to help people which Lisa Sargent said is the motto at the Miami County Foundation.
“We all need to eat,” the foundation’s executive director said. “We all need shelter and we all need health care and support. These organizations are lifting people up.”
In total, the foundation gave out 275-thousand dollars to more than 70 local nonprofits, giving each more resources, and power, to make the Miami County community a better place.
“The strength is making that brave decision to say that you need help,” encouraged Metcalfe. “That’s not a weak thing.”
The most recent round of grants is the foundation’s second of the year. They’re planning to award more in the spring and applications for that will open in January.
