The Lane County Lions Club was awarded a $1,000 CoBank Sharing Success Grant to enhance their signature program of providing meals to the youth and homebound adults of Lane County. The program was originally created to provide healthy meals for youth during the weekend when they might not have healthy choices available when not in school. It has grown to provide meals during the summer as well as for homebound adults. In addition to their signature program, the Lions Club holds community events for the youth and their families and collect eyeglasses that are recycled and distributed within the community.

The Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center was also awarded one of the $1,000 grants. The center serves the 34 counties of Western Kansas including almost all of Lane-Scott Electric’s service area.  The center is part of the first response when child abuse is reported. They provide a safe, child and teen friendly atmosphere while the forensic interview is completed; a safe place to talk about the trauma afterwards; and continued advocacy, mentorship, and therapy.

The mission of the Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center is to heal the trauma of abuse to children and families through prevention, support, and services. The grant will be used to help purchase education and prevention resources to help the children and families heal. Some of these materials include books written from survivors about their journey of healing.