Update on Social Concerns Giving Grants (Butterfly Grants)
The Social Concerns Committee seeks to broaden our impact by supporting causes embraced by our parishioners. We intend to fund small grants (up to $300), and we invite our parishioners to submit proposals using a brief application form. We look forward to learning about your interests at the local, state, national or international level. The next grant application date is October 13. We will respond to your request within 30 days of the submission deadline.
To date your SCC has funded three grant applications from our Holy Spirit family.
- We funded an application for $250 that was matched by $200 by a parishioner of HSP. This grant application will seed a fund to provide $10 vouchers for newly released prisoners from state prisons to be used for haircuts and clothing. The funds will be dispensed as needed by Missoula Interfaith Collaborative to freed prisoners.
- We also funded a grant application for $300 to provided incentives for graduates of DUI Court. It will provide gasoline cards, gift cards and other positive rewards for graduates. The cards will be awarded by the DUI Court in a special docket adjudicated by Justice Court II. It is based on restorative justice principles and designed to stop recidivism in persons convicted of a second or third DUI.
- We funded an application for $300 to help fund the creation of a compact disc called "Into the Light". The CD will be distributed initially to Hospice to be used with persons at the end of life. It is hoped that eventually it will be sold nationwide to provide continued funding of the project. The music will come from our own HSP Choir, the Men's Choir, local soloists, instrumentalists and possibly other choirs in the area.
Our next series of applications will be reviewed at our October 13th meeting. Applications will be accepted until that date, so we are encouraging everyone to put on their creative socially concerned hats and meet the many needs of this community, state, country or world.
At the meeting on the 13th, we will also be making decisions regarding the dispersion of our funds provided by the Memorial Foundation. Other topics discussed were MIC, gun violence, Mission to Myanmar, and music therapy to treat dementia and Alzheimer's.
Please consider becoming involved with this very dynamic ministry. Our meetings are generally the second Monday of each month -- except in October, the meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 13th.