YORK COUNTY VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION INC

The York County Volunteer Association Grants and Awards program provides financial assistance to several service organizations in the local community. This included the following awards: $36,000 to the York County Food Closet to feed the hungry, $24,500 to Cole's Horse Autism Therapy Station (CHATS) to provide for equine therapy for children with autism, spectrum, and other related disorders, $20,000 to the Shop-with-a-Sheriff Program to foster a positive relationship for children and law enforcement personnel through a Christmas shopping experience where a child shops with a Uniformed Law Enforcement Officer, $12,500 to support Colonial CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) who advocate for abused and neglected children whose families are involved in the legal system, $12,000 for the York County Meals on Wheels Program to deliver meals to residents living alone and unable to provide for themself, $15,000 to the YMCA's Bright Beginnings shopping Program to purchase clothing, coats, shoes, backpacks, and other school supplies for lower income school children, $18,000 to York County Professional Firefighters and Dispatchers to provide firefighters with suicide prevention training, cancer screening, and peer support training, $11,000 to Soundscapes to provide musical exposure for students in elementary, middle, and high school, $10,000 to Lackey Clinic to provide medical and dental care for the uninsured and disadvantaged, $10,000 to Natasha House to provide a home and education for single mothers, $5,000 to the Alternatives Leadership Academy to foster social, emotional, and civic competencies for disadvantaged teens, $5,000 to Bacon Street Youth and Family Services to provide clinical and family counseling for at-risk youth for mental health and/or substance abuse, $5,000 to the York County Canine Unit for dental care for a canine officer, $8,000 to Youth Volunteer Corps to foster an appreciation and love of volunteering through chaperoned volunteer assignments, $2,500 to Eggleston to provide programs, education, and employment for disabled individuals, $3,000 was given to the YMCA's Learn to Swim Program to teach elementary school children to swim, and $2,500 to support our local York-Poquoson Social Services Emergency Welfare Fund, $2,000 to New Horizons to provide for tools and equipment for workforce students, and $1,000 to the Senior Center of York to provide materials for crafts and programs to benefit senior citizens of the community.

The York County Volunteer Association's Family Assistance Committee provided $71,864 to provide emergency financial assistance to needy families and individuals to pay for housing, utility bills, medical and dental costs, insurance payments, and transportation expenses. They operate a 7-day emergency helpline to field phone calls from residents facing eviction, utility cut-offs, unaffordable medical and dental expenses, and transportation costs to maintain employment. The committee also processes requests for clothing and housewares for residents suffering from fires, and emergency moves due to domestic abuse or other court situations.