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Tag: Community Fund

UDWI REMC Community Fund Grant Helps Teachers Warehouse Purchase $2,000 in School Supplies for Educators

Written by Brooke Porter on . Posted in UDWI News. No Comments on UDWI REMC Community Fund Grant Helps Teachers Warehouse Purchase $2,000 in School Supplies for Educators

BLOOMFIELD, Ind. (April 17, 2025)— Teachers Warehouse (TW), a nonprofit organization serving public school educators, recently purchased $2,000 in school supplies for Greene County teachers. This was made possible with the help of the UDWI REMC Community Fund, Inc. grant, which was awarded to the organization this past quarter. 

Teachers Warehouse was founded in 2004 with the mission to serve the educational needs of children in public schools by providing their teachers with materials that will make classroom lessons and school activities more interesting and effective. Although the organization started as a simple Bloomington Rotary Club project, aiming to provide free school supplies to teachers in Monroe County, it has since expanded to serve five counties— Monroe, Brown, Greene, Owen and Lawrence— as well as the Martinsville City Public School District. 

“We want the community to recognize Teachers Warehouse as a valuable partner in promoting children’s success in school,” said Anne Bright, a Board Member for TW. She continued, commenting “Receiving monetary donations, such as what we received from UDWI, helps us get necessary school supplies into the hands of teachers and students, allowing students to be more engaged and high-achieving.” 

As reported by the National Education Association, teachers spend hundreds of dollars every year on school supplies for their students out of their own pockets. According to Teachers Warehouse, their organization can cut these costs for educators, providing an estimated up to $300 worth of materials at no cost to teachers. These materials are varied and plentiful— from traditional school supplies to art and craft items, STEM equipment and even classroom furniture. 

This school year, Teachers Warehouse has seen 1,101 educators make 2,402 shopping visits, receiving materials valued at $320,699 (data calculated by TW through April 11). 

“Because we are an all-volunteer organization, we are always looking for community members willing to help out,” shared Anne Bright, when asked about opportunities to get involved with the organization. She went on to say, “We have multiple volunteering opportunities all the way from sorting, packaging, and stocking our shelves to picking up or delivering large donations from businesses. We encourage community members to visit us during regular hours for a tour and call our office staff to discuss volunteering.” 

Teachers Warehouse is located at 524 N Fairview St, Bloomington, IN 47404 in a former alternative school building. Their business hours run from Monday through Thursday from 3:30 – 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.. Outside of volunteer activities, Teachers Warehouse will also be holding a supply drive on Saturday, July 12, at the Kroger stores in Bloomington and at a Walmart location in Bedford. 

“Getting involved with an organization like Teachers Warehouse, that is dedicated to serving educators and students, is so inspiring,” commented Doug Childs, CEO of UDWI REMC. He went on to say, “By awarding them the Community Fund grant, we hope to further their mission of supporting those in our members’ communities.” 

The UDWI REMC Community Fund, Inc. allows cooperative members to give back to their communities by rounding up to the nearest whole dollar on their electric bills. The money accumulated is poured right back into local communities by awarding grants to various organizations. 

The latest round of UDWI REMC Community Fund grant recipients included: Autism Rocks and Rolls Corporation, Bloomfield Elementary PTO, Eastern Greene Fire Territory, Franklin Township Community Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., God’s Hands In Action, Healthy Hearts WRV, Lawrence County Cancer Patient Services, Linton-Stockton School Corporation, Metropolitan School District of Shakamak, Teachers Warehouse, Inc., and Valley Mission Church of the Nazarene. 

To learn more about Teachers Warehouse, including how to volunteer, donate, and support your local county school districts, visit www.teacherswarehouse.org, call 812-812-929-7522, or follow them on Facebook. The UDWI REMC Community Fund, Inc. is now accepting applications for its next grant cycle. All nonprofit businesses in UDWI REMC’s service area are encouraged to apply.

Bloomfield’s ‘C2C’ Receives UDWI REMC Community Fund Grant

Written by Brooke Porter on . Posted in UDWI News. No Comments on Bloomfield’s ‘C2C’ Receives UDWI REMC Community Fund Grant

BLOOMFIELD, Ind. (July 25, 2024) — The Utilities District of Western Indiana REMC’s Community Fund donated $17,450 across 12 local organizations in June, including $2,500 to Crawling to Cramps.

C2C serves the local community by offering diapers, feminine hygiene products, and other resources such as formula and wipes at no cost to participants. Additionally, clients have access to a “free store” that provides used clothing, dishes, home decor, toys and other household items. The concept for C2C was born in 2022 after studying mission work of different religions, and the organization began distributing free resources in 2022.

According to the National Diaper Bank, around 33% of U.S. families experienced a diaper shortage in 2010. Ten years later, in 2023, that number rose to 47%. In addition to rising diaper insecurities for many U.S. families, the National Diaper Bank also reported that, on average, those experiencing diaper insecurity miss 5.1 workdays in a month or nearly $300 in lost wages for at minimum wage.

Samantha Edwards, operational director with C2C, discusses how donations contribute to the organization’s cause. “Without this kind of altruistic, kind, and thoughtful support from giving businesses and organizations like Utilities District of Western Indiana REMC, we would never be able to do the work that we do. There would be no C2C.”

The grant awarded by UDWI will be used to purchase diapers and wipes; it will continue to support the mission of providing resources for those in our community using a harm reduction and dignity-focused model. For those in need, distribution is located at 25 N. Franklin St. in Bloomfield. There, distribution occurs from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.

C2C is always in need of donations, community volunteers and financial sponsors. Visit the C2C Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/c2cGreene) to support its diaper program as well as the many initiatives C2C also leads throughout the year, including:

  • Colt’s Birthday Club – To honor Colten David Scott Whelchel, C2C makes sure that every child has the supplies they need to celebrate their birthday. 
  • Bike Giveaway- In June, C2C provides children with free, new bikes. 
  • Prom Dress Giveaway- In March, C2C provides free prom dresses, shoes, jewelry, suits, and other prom necessities at a fun event where prom goers can try dresses on, take pics with their friends in front of a pretty photo backdrop, enjoy some hors d’oeuvres and drink sparkling grape juice.
  • BacktoSchoolooza- In July, C2C provides local children with new shoes, underwear, and socks for free. 
  • Sharing Shanty– C2C supports a free cabinet that is open 24/7/365 and contains toiletries, food, cleaning supplies, and secondhand items like blankets, movies, books, dishes, fans, and more available at any time to those in need.
  • The Coat Giveaway– C2C joined another local organization to pass out coats of all sizes, gloves, hats, scarves, heaters, tents, sleeping bags, blankets, food, toiletry items, and much more.

“This donation means the world to C2C,” said Edwards. She continues to explain just how the UDWI REMC grant could impact the organization, adding “It means that babies will be diapered and healthy as parents go to school and work. It means families will be able to purchase food and pay utility bills. It means that Greene County and surrounding areas will have families that will have a more stable outlook about diapers and wipes for their children, and our local families can take a breath and feel dignity doing so.”

The grant was given as part of UDWI’s Community Fund, a non-profit organization created by the cooperative that provides members with an avenue to make a difference in their communities. The program allows members to round up their energy bills to the next whole dollar to create the funds. Then, the community fund board awards the amount collected to local organizations.

Other recipients of Community Fund grants in June included: Bloomfield First Baptist Church, Boy Scouts of America / Hoosier Trails Council, Eastern Greene Schools – Special Education Department, Extra Mile Ministries, First Baptist Church (Linton), Knights of Columbus Council #1166, Lawrence County Cancer Patient Services, Monroe County Humane Association, Open Arms Christian Ministries, Inc., Pregnancy Choices, and the Scotland Festival Committee.

The UDWI Community Fund is now accepting applications for its next grant cycle. All nonprofit businesses in UDWI’s service area are encouraged to apply. Please visit www.udwiremc.com to learn more about the program and to start an application.