Receiving Assistance
Who we help...
Grandma's Gifts assists public schools, nonprofits, and service agencies in northern and central Appalachia. These organization could include but are not limited to:
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Organizations must be registered 501c(3) or appropriate tax exemption organizations. Documentation must be provided to Grandma's Gifts prior to receiving assistance. At this point in time we do not assist organizations outside of Appalachia and/or specific individuals requesting assistance. If you are in-need of assistance contact a local organization and they can request assistance from Grandma's Gifts Inc.
Where we help...
Specifically, we support Appalachian peoples and organizations in the lowest 25% of counties, nationally, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a federal government agency. The ARC uses an “index-based county economic classification system” to identify and monitor economic status. The system compares each counties averages for three economic indicators: three-year average unemployment rate, per capita market income, and poverty rate—with national averages. These data sets come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; and the U.S. Census Bureau.
The ARC website notes that, “the resulting values are summed and averaged to create a composite index value for each county. Each county in the nation is then ranked, based on its composite index value, with higher values indicating higher levels of distress.” Counties are then classified into five economic status designations, based on their national ranking: distressed, at-risk, transitional, competitive, and attainment. ARC designated “distressed” counties rank in the worst 10% of the counties in the ENTIRE nation while “at-risk” rank in the lowest 10% to 25%. It is important to know that some distressed counties in Appalachia still lack basic infrastructure, such as water and sewer systems. We use the ARC’s rankings to focus support – ensuring our work benefits some of the neediest people in the United States. First, we focus support towards nonprofit and social service organizations (including school districts) as well as individuals in counties that are labeled as “distressed” and “at-risk.” We also work with school districts in transitional counties where 50% or more of their children receive federal free and/or reduced lunch. Just to give you an idea, to qualify in 2014 for reduced-priced lunch the household income for a family of four must be less than $44,123 and for free lunch the income threshold is $23,850.
The ARC website notes that, “the resulting values are summed and averaged to create a composite index value for each county. Each county in the nation is then ranked, based on its composite index value, with higher values indicating higher levels of distress.” Counties are then classified into five economic status designations, based on their national ranking: distressed, at-risk, transitional, competitive, and attainment. ARC designated “distressed” counties rank in the worst 10% of the counties in the ENTIRE nation while “at-risk” rank in the lowest 10% to 25%. It is important to know that some distressed counties in Appalachia still lack basic infrastructure, such as water and sewer systems. We use the ARC’s rankings to focus support – ensuring our work benefits some of the neediest people in the United States. First, we focus support towards nonprofit and social service organizations (including school districts) as well as individuals in counties that are labeled as “distressed” and “at-risk.” We also work with school districts in transitional counties where 50% or more of their children receive federal free and/or reduced lunch. Just to give you an idea, to qualify in 2014 for reduced-priced lunch the household income for a family of four must be less than $44,123 and for free lunch the income threshold is $23,850.
Projects we support...
We support nonprofits by providing books, food, toys, clothing, educational learning supplies, dental and hygiene supplies, and more. We also pay for children to go on educational field trips and/or individuals and animals to see health professionals or veterinarians who have been screened by a nonprofit. We do not provide organization operational funding, pay for gas for field trips, or provide cash/check. We DO provide goods, services, and directly pay for educational opportunities.
2015 Priority Counties
For 2015, we are focusing our efforts on organizations serving people in the counties listed below. They are considered to be distressed, at-risk, and some are transitional but have serious needs. If you are an organization in an Appalachian county not listed below, please still inquire about assistance. At this point in time we do not assist organizations outside of Appalachia and/or specific individuals requesting assistance. If you are in-need of assistance contact a local organization and they can request assistance from Grandma's Gifts Inc.
Priority 1 Counties
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Priority 2 Counties
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