Four Salvation Army service areas located in the Indiana Division will receive grant awards totaling $37,500 from the Glick Community Relief Fund.

The Glick Philanthropies grant program supports local nonprofit organizations providing access to basic needs and to help strengthen communities facing undue hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation.

The Salvation Army’s Jackson County service extension unit, Indianapolis Eagle Creek Corps Community Center and East Chicago Corps Community Center each will receive $10,000. The Salvation Army of Columbus will receive a $7,500 award.

Samantha Hyde with the Indiana Division said these awards were four of 90 totaling $695,600 to organizations supporting communities where Gene B. Glick Company properties are located during this time of heightened demand and economic uncertainty.

Glick Philanthropies is committed to offering support to nonprofit organizations that are providing essential basic needs to the most vulnerable communities, said Ben Grande, director of philanthropy for Glick Philanthropies.

“The efforts of these organizations are especially critical now as our communities face rising inflation and the continued effects of the pandemic,” Grande said. “Our work with the community relief fund allows us to help 90 organizations that are making meaningful contributions to communities, families and individuals across the country.”

In 2021, 1,470,576 meals and grocery orders were provided to Hoosiers by The Salvation Army Indiana Division through its food pantries, hot meal programs and grocery cards.

“We continue to praise God for the generosity of our community, which enables us to come alongside our neighbors in these critical ways,” said Major Rachel Stouder, Indianapolis area commander.

She said with funding like this, they can continue to offer spiritual, social and emotional support, which are all very important.

“However, practical, physical, basic needs are foundational to the stability of individuals and families, the importance of which cannot be overstated,” Stouder said.

2022 marks the seventh year Glick Philanthropies has administered its property-nominated grant program.

Through this initiative, more than $3.5 million has been awarded to roughly 225 organizations in communities where Gene B. Glick Company properties are located. This year, food access elevated as the area with the greatest need.

Kendall Lambring, Salvation Army service extension representative for Jackson County, said the local Salvation Army was nominated for the grant by Myra Mellencamp, property manager of Jamestown Apartments in Seymour.

“Myra has nominated us in the past, too, and we have previously gotten grant funding from Glick Philanthropies because that’s who is affiliated with Jamestown Apartments,” Lambring said. “Once we are nominated, we then go through the application process, and they decide from there if they are going to proceed and how much funding we would be receiving, as well.”

Mellencamp said Gene B. Glick Company provides funding annually for the Glick Community Relief Fund.

“Each Glick property can nominate up to two organizations, and one of the organizations we nominated is our local Salvation Army chapter,” she said. “I am very familiar with their work and know they assist families and individuals with a wide range of needs. We were pleased to learn that Salvation Army is receiving a much-needed $10,000 grant.”

There are technically two Salvation Army service extensions in Jackson County — one in Seymour and one in Crothersville. Lambring handles all of the county except for Crothersville. Janet Nehrt handles that part.

Lambring said the kinds of services being offered vary from each extension.

“I can’t speak for Janet because we each have our own budget,” she said. “Specifically in Seymour, we are focusing on rent, mortgage payment, utilities, work boots and non-narcotic medication.”

Lambring said The Salvation Army also covers disaster relief, but that comes out of a different fund.

“This grant funding is actually coming at a great time because funding has been down the last few years from our Red Kettle Campaign,” she said. “The only reason we’ve been able to serve as many people as we have is because we’ve been getting this grant for at least the last couple of years.”

If not for the newly awarded relief fund grant, the local service extension would have run out of money within a month, and it would not have lasted through the end of the year, Lambring said.

Those in need of assistance can call 812-522-8718 or stop by the office at 1115 E. Oak St., Seymour, during regular office hours, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays, to determine their eligibility.

Lambring said people who would like to make monetary donations may do so by mail or by stopping in the office during business hours.

For information about The Salvation Army Indiana Division, visit salvationarmyindiana.org. To learn more about Glick Philanthropies, visit glickphilanthropies.org.