Non-Profit

By: Heather Williams, Muncie Action Plan Task Force 2 Leader— Muncie, IN—On March 7th, over 150 community members, political leaders, and facilitators gathered for the 5th Annual IDEA Conference. Hosted at the Ivy Tech Fisher Building, Ball State University’s Office of Community Engagement and Building Better Neighborhoods, Muncie Action Plan and Shafer Leadership Academy brought speakers in to discuss topics relevant to our city’s neighborhoods, including MCS: The Future is Bright, Making Democracy Work, and a demonstration of Web of Support: How Everybody Succeeds. Participants were asked to pinpoint where they lived and where they loved with a string connecting the two. This…

By: Mike Rhodes— Muncie, IN—An extra free food tailgate by Second Harvest Food Bank was held in the parking lot outside Ball State’s Scheumann Stadium on April 8th from 10 am to 12 pm. Food items were handed out by members of the Indiana National Guard to 607 cars filled with appreciative families. “John” and his cousin from Muncie were first in line to obtain food, after arriving at the parking lot at 3am in the morning—a seven hour wait. The tailgate operated with 4 separate lines of cars and food delivery areas, under the expert direction and guidance of…

By: Kallie Sulanke—  Muncie, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. awarded an additional $14,000 to 11 non-profit organizations to support response efforts to the COVID-19 crisis.   Community Foundation staff continue to connect with and listen to the plans, challenges, and needs of a variety of vital community organizations across Delaware County. Decisions for this second round of response funding were made to come along side these vital community organizations with identified immediate needs related to the Coronavirus Pandemic. This round of support follows an initial $20,000 of community support to 12 organizations.    Emergency Response Grants in the amounts of $1,000 or $2,000 have been awarded to the following organizations:   Albany-Delaware Township Volunteer Fire Department Delaware County Adult Probation Office Delaware County Coroner’s Office Eaton Volunteer Fire Department Gaston…

By: Susan Fisher— Muncie, IN—All Muncie Public Library branches are closed and all events, programs, and meeting room events are cancelled until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers are urged to use the online resources available at the MPL website. Online resources include hoopla and overdrive, two services that provide ebooks, movies, and music. These services require a library card but people can “try out” hoopla without a library card and download up to 3 items. Other databases that assist in genealogy research and non-profit grant research have also opened access to their information. Visit the library website…

By: Jason Newman, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie— Muncie, IN—Our community has always helped and supported each other in times of need. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie is finding this time is no different. Our Clubs, our members, our staff, and our community have committed to doing whatever it takes to support and help our families through this unprecedented time. Mr. Rogers once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”…

By: Dee McKinsey— Muncie, IN—Muncie Pride, celebrating the LGBTQ community, has scheduled an event from 1-8 p.m., Sept. 19 at Canan Commons. It will feature a stage show with bands and performers, in addition to educational opportunities, merchandise vendors, food trucks and a beer garden. As part of this event, a $1000 and $500 scholarship will be awarded based on a 2,000 word, or less, essay about the origins of the gay pride flag.  Applicants must be currently enrolled in either high school in Delaware County or a student of a collegiate institution living in the Muncie area. The deadline…

By: Ball Brothers Foundation— Muncie, IN—Over the course of the past two weeks, Ball Brothers Foundation has awarded more than $100,000 to organizations on the front lines of fighting COVID-19 in Muncie and Delaware County. Funding is focused on meeting the needs of healthcare providers and emergency responders, including hospital employees, ambulance services, health clinics and law enforcement officers. “Right now, we know that preventing the spread of COVID-19 is absolutely critical to protecting the lives of residents. Our initial funding for COVID-19 is helping to ensure that front-line workers have the resources they need to do their jobs: caring…

By: Jenni Marsh, President & CEO, United Way of Delaware, Henry and Randolph Counties— Muncie, IN—These are tough times. But on days when you feel most helpless, you actually have the most power to help others. Like the people of east central Indiana have always done in times of crisis, we can rise to the challenge, supporting the most vulnerable among us. As events are cancelled, sales plummet, and businesses shutter, our communities’ struggling working families face sudden economic challenges. Workers are losing wages and tips. Kids are missing school and the critical interactions and web of support they have there. Parents…