DCF Proactive Grant Supports Clearinghouse Emergency Aid

The foundation is awarded 15 proactive grants this year.

DCF Board member Mike McLaughlin, right, delivers a $1,000 grant check to Karry Hollan, Executive Director of the Dearborn County Clearinghouse for Emergency Aid, Inc. Photo provided.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - The Dearborn Community Foundation (DCF), Inc. recently awarded a $1,000 Proactive Grant to the Dearborn County Clearinghouse for Emergency Aid, Inc., to feed those with food insecurities and to provide basic necessities.

In a continuing effort to make an impact in the Dearborn County community, DCF is awarding proactive grants of $1,000 each throughout 2022 to charitable organizations that serve Dearborn County residents. Each of the Foundation’s 15 volunteer board members is recommending a grant. The money comes from the Foundation’s Unrestricted Endowment Funds, established by donors to provide flexibility to address changing needs in the community over the years.

"I chose the Clearinghouse because of the impact I saw while volunteering there on those who have fallen on difficult times," said DCF Board member Mike McLaughlin. He said he also made his choice based on the dedication he witnessed from the staff to help people in need.

"Since our creation, we have developed several programs," said Clearinghouse Executive Director Karry Hollan. "We have two brick-and-mortar sites where we serve around 1,200 to 2,000 a month. We have a mobile pantry where we serve 650 families monthly."

In addition, the Sacks of Snacks Food Program serves 400 Dearborn County students weekly, and 180 boxes of food are provided to senior citizens monthly.

"We help with the food for the pantries at South Dearborn High School, Lawrenceburg High School, Ivy Tech, and Dearborn Adult Center,” said Hollan. “We also help with smaller pantries when we have larger donations to share."

The DCF grant specifically was used for toiletries and food, distributed to all the Clearinghouse programs. "The Clearing House has fed one person at a time since 1981. We appreciate everything the Dearborn Community Foundation does to help our mission of feeding the hungry,” said Hollan.

Anyone can contribute to an unrestricted endowment at DCF and help make impact grants like the 15 DCF Board members are recommending in 2022. For a list of the unrestricted endowments and to learn more about the Foundation, call 812-539-4115 or visit the Foundation website at dearborncf.org. If you are interested in contributing to DCF, visit our website’s “Give Now” page to donate online and to learn about other giving options.