First United Methodist Church of Decorah awards grant funds

(Left to right): First United Methodist Church Special Funds Treasurer Gary Mineart; Decorah Public Library Children's Librarian Sally Stromseth and RSVP Director Kathy Barloon.

First United Methodist Church of Decorah has awarded a total of over $9,500 to eight local non-profit agencies and to four internal projects of the church.

The programs receiving funding all provide services to under-served populations such as low income, children, or the elderly.  Decorah Public Library Childrens Librarian Sally Stromseth will use their awarded funds to provide educational speakers during their children's summer reading program. RSVP Director Kathy Barloon will use their awarded funds to help support the tax return preparation program for low income and elderly.  1,000 returns were supported by RSVP this year.  

Other agencies receiving funding were Aase Haugen Homes, Barthell Eastern Star, Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, Wellington Place Auxiliary, and Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity.  First United Methodist Church projects included funds toward a Braille printer, youth Christian education, a crisis/emergency fund, and Sister Parish, a program connecting First United Methodist with a church in El Salvador.