Sharing Success 2023 Grant Recipients
Lane-Scott Electric began participating in the CoBank Sharing Success Grant Program four years ago to help local charitable organizations make a positive impact for our local communities.
The Cooperative spirit is very much at work through this program. Like Lane-Scott Electric and other cooperatives owned by their members, CoBank is national nonprofit cooperative owned by the rural American cooperatives they serve. Partnering with their cooperative members is an effective way to provide a helping hand to the heart of rural America. Through this program, Co-Bank matches 50% of Lane-Scott’s contribution up to four recipients a year. This year, we are awarding $1,000 grants to organizations that benefit a community or communities receiving electric service from Lane-Scott Electric.
The American Legion 8th District Honor Guard headquartered in Bazine, KS is receiving one of the grants to help with the cost of providing military funeral services for their fallen comrades. The group of 22 guards travel in an area from Ness County west to Colorado and from Highway 96 south to the Oklahoma state line. The guards help with as many as 100 funerals a year. The $1,000 grant will help offset their traveling costs.
Family Crisis Services, Inc.’s mission is, “To end domestic and sexual violence through prevention and advocacy in the families we serve throughout southwest Kansas.” Their office is located in Garden City, but their services cover Finney, Greely, Hamilton, Kearney, Lane, Scott, and Wichita counties. Since 1981, Family Crisis Services has been a light for many who were victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. They have a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, civil and criminal court advocacy, support groups, protection from stalking orders, protection from abuse orders, and many other services. Their services are completely free and confidential. The grant will help increase their outreach efforts in Scott and Lane counties by providing an advocate for adult survivors’ group in Lane County, and a child prevention advocate to both Scott and Lane County schools.
USD 303 Ness City Schools is using their grant to purchase two rolling first aid station trauma bags. The stations bring comprehensive emergency first aid supplies to the scene of a medical emergency quickly and easily. School personnel need to be ready to respond to large and small accidents or emergencies. To respond effectively, they must have the proper equipment and supplies close at hand. The rolling first aid trauma bags allow portability to respond to the scene of an incident.
The Utica Rural Fire District / Ness County Fire District #3 will use their grant to outfit safety gear and equipment for new volunteer firefighters. The district is located in the northwestern corner of Ness County with stations located in Utica and Arnold. The fleet includes one engine, two 6x6 brush/canyon trucks, three quick-attach brush trucks, and one incident command/rescue vehicle. The district protects approximately 400 square miles in areas of Ness, Lane, Trego, and Gove counties. The grant will be used to outfit safety gear and equipment for new volunteer firefighters.
Lane-Scott Electric would like to thank everyone who submitted applications this year and encourage organizations in our area to continue to apply. We received 20 applications for very deserving causes, which made the selection committee’s job of awarding just four recipients extremely hard. For more information about the program can be found on our website at www.lanescott.coop.