Another round of Crafton Tull Foundation grants was a success! Ten organizations received grants for various needs, such as food and supplies for pantries and shelters, resources for education and classes, and support for community members in need.

Read more about each grant below:

el reno blessing baskets - el reno, ok

El Reno Blessing Baskets has been assisting those with food insecurity for over 25 years. Their Families with Children program provides groceries twice a month during the summer and spring and fall breaks when kids are home from school. They have a Christmas basket program that helps parents buy not only essentials for their family but also a gift for their kids. Blessing Baskets' grant will help support their new monthly senior citizens grocery program, which provides groceries and a grocery voucher to help seniors purchase additional items that they need to make sure they get essential nutrition.

Julie Slaymaker has supported Blessing Baskets for multiple years, helping with fundraisers, boxing food and supplies, and assisting with distribution.

theMission Center - owasso, ok

theMission Center was started by First Baptist Owasso as an initiative to help young moms provide supplies for their families and has transformed to include household items, cookware, groceries, and personal care for rural Tulsa communities. The number of households served per month has grown from 183 in 2019 to 392 in 2024. The newest program that theMission started is "Coach's Kids" which brings food packages to kids who are on Christmas break and would otherwise go without food. theMission will use their CTF grant to help pay for undergarments for approximately 2,240 of the projected 13,452 individuals impacted by theMission Center in 2025.

Libby Topping is the daughter of theMission's supply chain coordinator, and she attended First Baptist Owasso from grade school through high school.

dogwood literacy council - western benton county

Dogwood Literacy Council was founded to provide literacy support for both kids and adults through English classes and reading initiatives. Their new reading with pre-schoolers program teaches kids to read and sends a book home with them so they can improve their reading skills with their parents to help foster positive attitudes toward reading. The Council will use its grant to purchase more preschool books for their library to increase the number of families with access to the program.

Ronald Flores' family has been personally involved with the Council. His sister learned English through their program, and his mom attended their citizenship course as she studied for the exam. His wife is also involved on their board.

fountain house group home - vinita, ok

Fountain House Group Home provides housing and community for individuals over age 18 who have developmental disabilities. Here, they can have access to daily care and medical needs while receiving training for independent living skills and opportunities for community integration. The staff also connects the residents to employment opportunities and recreational activities like golf, trips to museums, and going to the movies. Due to floor joists shifting, the floors are now uneven. Fountain House will use its grant to repair and update the flooring, which is an obstacle for some of the residents.

Jeffrey Dixon's wife Debi Sufficool Dixon has been the director since 1986, and Jeffrey and their daughter have volunteered regularly with the organization as well.

The call - northwest arkansas

The CALL is a nonprofit that serves kids in foster care and provides resources and host families for them. A few of their programs include parenting and continuing education classes, resource closets with supplies for foster families, mental health support, and family visitation spaces. Their CTF grant will help buy extra beds that are greatly needed on short notice.

Jared Bridgman and his wife were foster parents through The CALL early on in their marriage, and they ended up adopting their two oldest children along that journey!

st. joseph's food pantry - tontitown, ar

St. Joseph's of Tontitown Food Pantry provides critical nutrition and personal care items to families and individuals in the City of Tontitown. The volunteers put together weekly supply bags that include supplies such as canned goods, perishable items, paper towels, and shampoo. In 2023, the pantry distributed over 60,000 pounds of food and served over 3,000 people.

Maggie Butler and her mom volunteer at the pantry every Monday, where they help restock the shelves, portion food, and pack bags.

pedal it forward- northwest arkansas

Pedal it Forward collects used bikes, fixes them, and then distributes them to those in need through 60+ Pedal Partners. Their mission is to increase the number of people with access to bikes for health, transportation, or recreation needs. Bikes are becoming increasingly necessary for kids to get to school or homeless adults or adults coming out of rehabilitation programs to have access to jobs and have the chance to begin rebuilding their lives. The grant will be used to fund general operations for the organization.

Daniel Ellis and his wife (along with other Crafton Tull employees) regularly volunteer for Pedal it Forward in partnership with local schools, churches, libraries, and homeless shelters to deliver bikes to those in need from Fort Smith to McDonald County.

camp aldersgate - little rock, ar

Camp Aldersgate offers year-round, overnight programs to individuals with special needs and medical conditions. Their mission is to create life-changing experiences for individuals with special needs and inspire a barrier-free future. The campers enjoy activities like canoeing, fishing, and sports. They plan to use their grant to purchase ADA water fountains with bottle-filling stations to install on the campus. Currently, the maintenance team has to use water coolers and paper cups, so this will make it easier to make sure campers have access to water and stay hydrated.

Dave Roberts serves on the Board of Directors and Buildings and Grounds chair for Camp Aldersgate, and his daughter has attended their camp programs for 12 years.

habitat for humanity - garland county

Garland County Habitat for Humanity has been building houses for families in Hot Springs for over 30 years. Typically, they build 4-6 houses per year for families who earn 30-60% of the Area Median Income and need housing assistance because of factors like substandard living conditions and safety concerns. The qualified families partner with Habitat for Humanity and volunteer 300-350 hours of sweat equity for a 0% interest mortgage for 20-25 years. The mortgage is calculated on the cost of building the home, and families can build equity through homeownership and reinvest in their families, education, and community as a whole.

The Hot Springs office has been involved with Habitat for Humanity by providing engineering and surveying services for past projects, and they also have a few former board members located there as well.

the safe place - central arkansas

The Safe Place, Inc. was founded to meet the needs of domestic violence victims and their children to provide a space where they could escape domestic abuse to begin a life free from violence for themselves and their kids. They provide immediate safe housing, advocacy, resources, education, life skills training, and support groups for those who need it. Over the past nearly 30 years, they have served over 25,000 victims of domestic violence in the Central Arkansas area. Their CTF grant will be used to replace worn cabinet tops in the kitchen.

Monica Frey serves on The Safe Place Board of Directors.