Alva Review-Courier -

Bank It board members met in early December to interview applicants and select their 2020 Visions. There were many applicants and the Bank It Board was impressed with all the worthy causes.

The Visions Selected

1st Quarter Vision: Hatfield Park Educational Trail/Solar Charging Benches

This project is in the works and will provide an educational trail throughout Hatfield Park. It will allow members of the community to walk an educational trail with roadmaps and integrated technology stops along the way. These stops would include highlighting natural features and animals commonly found in the park and be linked to a website for more details. The solar benches would provide an opportunity for park visitors to sit and enjoy nature and recharge their electronic devices.

2nd Quarter Vision: Goldbug Education Coalition

The goal of the Goldbug Education Coalition is to purchase school supplies for all Alva Public School children. They have formed this coalition with the input from two teachers at each school site in Alva along with the superintendent. Their short-term goal is to focus on getting all school supplies paid for by the coalition through sponsorship, fundraising and community donations. As their coalition grows, they hope so support teachers in their out of pocket expenses and further help with school lunches and clothing needs if possible.

3rd Quarter Vision: Woods County Emergency Management

Woods County Emergency Management is in need of $27,600 for all emergency service workers in Woods County and Dacoma to have AED's on their person or vehicle at all times. An AED is an Automated External Defibulator. The AED will transmit an electrical shock to a patient to keep their heart beating and aids emergency workers in performing life-saving CPR to a patient under cardiac arrest. The emergency management team in Woods County feels very strongly about the need to help our rural community members and volunteers to have the resources needed to help save lives when a hospital and ambulance may be 15-20 minutes away. They outlined how the AED could increase the survival rate of those suffering from cardiac arrest by allowing time for certified EMTs to arrive on site.

4th Quarter Vision: Alva Wesleyan Food Bank

Annually the Food Bank is the 4th quarter Bank It vision. The food bank currently serves 200 households (600 individuals) each month. Throughout this year they have served over 900 individuals, making up about 20% of the Woods County population. They provide family ministry, working to improve budget skills, with the goal of moving recpients off of the food bank list and on to providing for themselves in the future. They use funds donated by Bank It to make purchases throughout the year.

Mini Grants

The Bank It program often awards mini grants to causes that may not need to be a full vision for various reasons. Also, mini grants are sometimes awarded throughout the year to groups needing funds for upcoming events or causes. This week four mini grants were awarded.

• OSU Extension Life Skills Bootcamp - $1,000

This organization plans monthly 'life skills' workshops, including general car maintenance, cooking on a budget, financial education, and many more. This funding will help to continue to grow the program.

• Northwest Family Services Foster Care Program - $2,500

This is an excellent program focused on enhancing the foster care resources available to families as well as the resources needed to promote the program, support recruitment and educational opportunities for the families with foster children in their homes.

• Alva Community Garden - $2,500

The Community Garden plans on growing their program, beginning with a fence around the designated area. Currently there is a plot of land located by the Homestead that has been donated by the City for a Community Garden. This program has big plans for the future of the garden, and Bank It is proud to support the beginning of their journey.

• Woods County 4-H - $2,500

4-H will use these funds to facilitate future opportunities for our ag youth in Woods County. These funds help support students through scholarship opportunities as well as camps, programs, functions and volunteering.

The Bank It program makes it easy to stay involved and make a difference in your community. 2020 is the perfect time for you to begin your habit of helping. A little bit goes a long way when many people come together for the betterment of our CommUNITY. For more information visit, http://www.ahabitofhelping.com