- April 19, 2024
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Grassroots Giving helped children take part in extracurricular activities.
After helping children take part in extracurricular activities such as sports, music and dance since 2008, Grassroots Giving is closing its doors at the end of the year. The nonprofit organization provided $200,000 to 1,200 kids who could not otherwise afford the activities.
“It’s not because of lack of donors,” said founder and president Missy Gibson. “We’ve been extremely successful and had a lot of help from the community.”
The all-volunteer staff was able to provide 98% of donated funds to the children.
Ironically, the success of the program has made it overwhelming for Gibson and the board of directors. In October alone, the board approved 38 applications and spent $7,056.39 on life enrichment activities such as gymnastics, clarinet lessons, pay-to-play wrestling, cheerleading, and basektball.
Gibson said the board goes through each application with “a fine-tooth comb” and meets with the parents.
She said things have changed for her and the board. With children getting older and careers more demanding and they have found they can’t keep up the demand.
“Our lives have gotten really busy,” she said. “Because of our success it was hard to keep up with it. We struggled to find the time.”
She said, however, that Grassroots Giving may come back in a different form after they have a break.
“You may see it again,” she said. “I love helping people. The feeling you get when you help someone is priceless.”
She said she has filed for an inactive status with the federal government.
To qualify for a grant from the charity, a child had to be receiving a subsidized or free lunch at school.
Gibson, who is a licensed mental health therapist, started the programming after seeing how often parents needed help. She knew the importance of extracurricular activities for childhood development.
She said she found people in the community very willing to help. She said people just need to know how they can give.
“As a community we all need to help and embrace each other whenever we have the opportunity,” she said.
On the Grassroots Giving website, board members discussed their feelings about working with the organization.
Christy Gillis, vice president, said there are children now in college with scholarships for the activity that Grassroots Giving funded.
“I can't wait to go to a future event like an art show, concert or sporting event featuring one of ‘our’ kids,” she said.
Pam Masters, secretary, said Grassroots Giving gave her the opportunity of doing good for those most in need in my community.
“Working with Grassroots Giving has shown me how much light and hope and happiness can be created and shared with a little hard work and perseverance by just a few determined people,” she said.
Tonya Baldwin, treasurer, said she participated in many extracurricular activities, and knows what a positive impact they can bring to a child; and Tammy Tepper, board member, said she believes that we all have a responsibility to care for children, whether they are our own or not.
“This is exactly what Grassroots does,” Tepper said.
