The Harvest Foundation’s small grants program Project Hope returns for a third year, continuing to bring hope and positive changes to neighborhoods in Martinsville-Henry County.
“In a time where challenges often overshadow optimism,” said India Brown, program officer at The Harvest Foundation, “Project Hope reminds us of the power of collective action. It provides community members with an opportunity to create their own bright spots, showing that small actions can lead to big change.”
Four Ignite Hope Project Planning meetings will be held throughout the month of June at locations across Martinsville-Henry County. These meetings are designed to brainstorm and workshop ideas that will bring hope to local neighborhoods. All sessions will be held from 6-8 p.m. and all members of the community are welcome to attend.
Session #1 – June 3 at Grand Fiesta Venue, located at 6812 Greensboro Road in Ridgeway.
Session #2 – June 6 at Spencer Penn Centre, located at 475 Spencer Road in Spencer.
Session #3 – June 10 at 207 at the Plaza, located at 10 E Church St. in Martinsville.
Session #4 – June 20 at the HJDB Event Center, located at 3289 Riverside Drive in Bassett.
Submissions for this year’s grants program must fall within the following theme: Community Connections: Creating inclusive spaces, fostering meaningful interactions, and empowering community members to learn, grow and connect. These projects should be volunteer-led and bring people together by promoting interaction and empowerment.
Examples could include cultural diversity and arts initiatives; educational programs addressing community challenges, such as health awareness and prevention; peer support groups providing a supportive environment for shared experiences and learning; beautification and/or enhancement of gathering spaces that are accessible to the public; and the establishment of safe places for vulnerable groups such as the youth, unhoused, etc.
Project Hope launched in 2022 as a way to celebrate The Harvest Foundation’s 20th Anniversary. A 13-member committee comprising local “hope builders” reviews grant applications and allocates funding for the program. Project Hope 2023 awarded nine recipients a total of $91,287 for local, volunteer-led projects.
To find out more about Project Hope 2024, visit our website and read the RFP (request for proposals) here: www.theharvestfoundation.org/project-hope.
