(KMZA)--Fall has arrived, and the Nemaha County STEP Foundation Board of Directors has announced recipients for the second-round of 2021 grants. The grants are awarded for charitable purposes to enhance and improve the quality of life for the residents of Nemaha County Kansas. Requests totaled $128,000 for this round of grants, with the STEP Foundation awarding $3,772.00.

Pheasants Forever, Inc. will be receiving an award of $1,750.00 from the STEP General Endowment Fund. To create the Nemaha County Community Garden, Matt Holland, Director of Grant Development, shared in the grant application that “the partnership proposes the establishment of a community garden in the city of Seneca to provide educational opportunities, fresh produce, and a source of fellowship (within) Nemaha County community members. The garden will feature 20 raised beds that can be ‘adopted’ by families, friends, church groups, school classrooms, sports teams, local restaurants, FFA/4-H clubs, individuals, etc. A sign-up will be sent out early in the year to collect information from interested parties and beds will be assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis. At least one plot will be dedicated as a ‘pollinator plot’ to provide food and habitat to native pollinators as this is the primary mission of Pheasants Forever.” Pheasants Forever plans to host a garden meeting each spring with gardeners to go over policies and procedures and to help clean out garden beds to prepare them for the growing season.  

The Nemaha County Historical Society will be receiving $2,022 for the STEP General Endowment Fund for the fall grant cycle. Cathy Holthaus, grant writer, explained in the grant application that “the original stucco façade, on all exterior walls of the Military Museum, is deteriorating. There are multiple cracks in the plaster and in some places the plaster stucco is falling off the building. Cracks in plaster allow moisture to enter the interior and will cause damage to the interior walls.” Holthaus further shared, “The west wall is in the most serious need of repair so it will be prepared in the summer/fall of 2021 with Historical Society funds. However, the other three walls are in the same need. The plan for the remaining three walls is to clean up the algae and mildew, repair damaged stucco where necessary, caulk cracks, seal stucco, then re-stucco with appropriated medium and color to match the existing façade. All wood trim will be cleaned, repaired and repainted, and the windows will be cleaned and re-glazed.”  

Congratulations to these grant recipients. Thank you for making Nemaha County a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Grants are awarded twice a year through the STEP Foundation, with the next deadline being January 15, 2022. Online applications are available at www.nemahastep.org.