FAIRMONT – As the year gets closer to ending, the Schmeeckle Foundation has early Christmas presents for nine area organizations.

The Foundation is awarding $228,337 in funds this year, in areas of early childhood care and education, serving the disabled and elderly and promoting the arts.

“They apply online through the website, and then we meet as a board and talk to them,” Schmeeckle Trustee Shelia Hohensee said. “Every applicant presents their project, and we make the decision as to who we will support. The quality of the applications and programs are very amazing and will truly help a lot of people.”

Habitat for Humanity is receiving $80,000 to move a donated parsonage to Truman and do further work in extending their capabilities to assist with housing throughout Martin County.

Scouting America’s Twin Valley Council is receiving $41,907 to go toward Martin County Programs, including the Fall Jamboree, which is held in Martin County every year and draws dozens of scouts, non-scouts and their parents.

The Martin County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition will receive $24,300 in funding to further their work with a vaping prevention program.

Four projects will receive $15,000.

Project 169 will use theirs for continued programs such as their Created to Create Project, which Hohensee said has had great turnouts. Lutheran Social Services will use theirs to assist seniors with nourishing meals and self-sufficient living. Fairmont Area Kinship will use its funds for a new small group mentoring project and the Fairmont Track Association will use theirs for “Helping Youth Rise: Pole Vaulting Toward Their Best Selves through Growth and Grit Project.”

Heaven’s Table has been granted $11,200 for freezer replacements and reliable and expandable food storage.

“With the state and national changes, they have more people using them than ever,” Hohensee said.

Rounding them out, Lakeview Methodist Heath Care Center has received $10,930 to use for its Rosie Connectivity Project upgrades.

Hohensee said Kinship and Lutheran Social Services were brand new applicants this year, and Fairmont Track is in their second year of receiving grants. All applicants were required to match the funds provided by Schmeeckle.

“We want these programs to remain sustainable, so they have to match the funds to support the same project,” she said.

Last year, there were eight local groups that received $292,150 total. Over half of that total, $150,000, went to Apple Tree Dental for their Fairmont Center Workforce Development Project. The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and Twin Valley Scouts both returned for further funding this year after receiving funds last year.

Overall, Hohensee said they are satisfied with the quality of projects coming in and their ability to continue serving Martin County moving forward.

“We continue to be a strong foundation,” she said. “We believe this grant will live on for many, many more years in current conditions, given how much we grant out yearly.”