(KMZA)-- What do two new playgrounds, buying activities to assist those with Alzheimer-, refinished clubhouse table tops, and mounts for speech generating devices all have in common? They are all making a positive impact in Nemaha County.

The Nemaha County STEP Foundation Board of Directors has announced recipients for the first-round of 2023 grants. The grants are awarded for charitable purposes to enhance and improve the quality of life for the residents of Nemaha County Kansas.

The Kelly Ball Association will be receiving $3,000 from the STEP General Endowment Fund along with $2,000 from the Glen J. Meyer Advisory Fund for a new playground in Kelly. This playground will be available for use during all community functions and strategically placed in a central location.

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School will receive funding to assist with the SPPS playground project through an award of $2,000 from the STEP General Endowment Fund along with $1,000 from the Glen J. Meyer Advisory Fund. Courtney Strathman, grant writer, explained the purpose for the grant in the application. “The existing playground structure and ground cover was installed in the late 1990s and does not meet the current standards and ADA requirements. The plan is to move the playground to a safer area for the children. The equipment and ground cover will be updated to meet all current standards and create a safe play/learning environment for the school children.”

The Nemaha Valley Community Hospital will be receiving a grant award of $4,000 from the Nemaha County Dementia Fund. Karla Hermesch, social worker and grant writer, shared information in the grant application “Our Alzheimer's population is growing, and it would be useful to buy items for activities to help those who are inpatients. Items needed would be things to fill their time, such as baby dolls, fidgets, activity book, etc.”

The Spring Creek Golf Course will be receiving a $1,000 grant award from the STEP General Endowment Fund. The golf course is in the process of refinishing table tops in the clubhouse. There were 17,000 rounds of golf played at the Spring Creek Golf Course in 2022. That is an economic benefit to the community as people buy fuel, eat at local restaurants, and stay in hotels/motels.

The final grant award will be awarded to USD 115 (Nemaha Central) in the amount of $700 for mounts for speech generating devices. This grant will be from the new Chad Baker Memorial Fund. Jamie Koch, SLP and grant writer, explained the accessories needed at the school. “Multiple families have recently bought speech generating devices for their children to assist in communication and quality of life. These students are all benefitting from their devices within the school setting. Now the students are needing some accessories to better utilize these devices in all settings. The accessory that we are still needing is the 2 iPad cradles that attach to the mount and safely holds the speech generating devices.”

Congratulations to the all the grant recipients. The online grant application is open and available at www.nemahastep.org. Grants are awarded twice a year through the STEP Foundation with the next deadline being July 15, 2023.