By Colleen Cooper, Altrusa Foundation—
MUNCIE, IN—The Altrusa Foundation of Muncie awarded a $10,000 one-time impact grant to Isaiah 117 House, a non-profit organization, building a house in Delaware county. This grant is awarded in celebration of the Foundation’s 40thanniversary, which also coincides with the Altrusa Club of Muncie’s centennial anniversary (2023). The grant’s purpose is to provide funding for educational and other charitable purposes.
Isaiah 117 House reduces trauma in foster children by providing a safe, loving transition from family removal to foster care placement. Isaiah 117 House Delaware County is the local arm of this organization and is in the early stages of establishing services in Delaware County and adjacent counties (Area 7).
Currently, when children are removed from their homes due to neglect, abuse, and other safety issues, they are brought to the Department of Child Services (DCS) office building for several hours and sometimes days. These children often have nothing with them and are confused, scared, hungry, and in need of clean clothing and hygiene care. The DCS procedures and resources are insufficient for providing these children with the attention and care they need while their DCS caseworker is busy completing paperwork and attempting to secure a foster placement.
The mission of Isaiah 117 House is threefold:
- Reduce trauma for children awaiting placement
- Lighten the load for child welfare services
- Ease the transition for foster families
Altrusa will directly impact the Giving Room where “clothes and supplies are grouped by size and other characteristics. Shelving systems and bins keep the room organized and facilitate the shopping process that children go through to choose their outfits. The room needs durable structuring to ensure its longevity for serving children for many years to come.”
The Altrusa Club of Muncie is still accepting grants for the regular grant cycle through the end of April. For more information, please visit https://munciealtrusa.org/scholarships-and-grants or email grants@munciealtrusafoundation.org.
