Plant City Photo Archives & History Center receives grant
The Plant City Photo Archives & History center received a $12,000 grant from Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
The grant comes for general operating costs to help recover from the economic impact of COVID-19 and will help offset the impact COVID had on the Archives’ fundraising along with bolstering the necessary staffing to implement their community-oriented programs.
“The Photo Archives & History Center has served this community for over twenty years as an independent organization and the ARP funding has come at a time of need,” Archives’ President, Ed Verner said. “The programs we provide for the community require a professional staff and this grant will help provide for that staffing.”
The NEH received $135 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, which was approved by Congress this past spring. The state humanities councils, including Florida Humanities, each received a portion of the NEH award to support museums, archives, historic sites and other humanities-focused nonprofits. Plant City Photo Archives was one of 129 organizations in Florida that was awarded ARP funding totaling $1.88 million from Florida Humanities. The grants are intended to meet immediate operational needs in order for organizations to remain viable and maintain delivery of public humanities programming and resources in their communities. Florida Humanities received 188 applications for ARP funding, with nonprofits requesting the most funds for staffing and utilities.
“For smaller nonprofits, when bills are paid and staff are safe and intact, that type of alleviation is immeasurable,” Florida Humanities Executive Director Dr. Nashid Madyun said. “Florida Humanities is honored to provide a lifeline to our state’s cultural and historic organizations, ensuring they continue to enrich their local communities, and the Sunshine State at large, for years to come.”
Hope Lutheran assists community care center
The members of Hope Lutheran Church in Plant City recently treated the residents and staff of the Community Care Center of Plant City with a special afternoon of food and treats. The event was sponsored by Hope Lutheran’s Human Care Ministry Team in partnership with a community action grant from THRIVENT Financial, providing pizza that was donated from Hungry Howies for the staff.
“This event is just a simple way for us to say thank you to the staff who have endured so much these last 20 plus months and show them our appreciation, while also letting the residents know that they are loved by our church and our community and through all this, that they are never forgotton.