We were given the opportunity to volunteer at Maplewood Nature Center.
When we arrived we were met by a lady named Leslie Arnold who explained her position at the park as a naturalist.
She instructed us as we started service. The group split up and some worked on tidying up the sugar shack.
The rest took the center’s pet turtle named Tuck on a walk and cleaned his habitat.
Leslie guided us on a nature trail through the parks’s forest. We got to witness the maple trees at the peak of Autumn. Their leaves were the colors of rust.
After the walk, we began to work again. Some of us raked leaves while others cleaned and organized the building.
We enjoyed our time at Maple Wood not only participating in service but getting to learn more about LaGrange County.
Breanna Baker
This post was submitted and written by Breanna Baker, LIFE member. Breanna serves as Recorder on the Executive Team and is a part of the LIFE Marketing Committee.
If you would like to support LIFE and their philanthropic and community service efforts consider donating to the LIFE ENDOWMENT FUND or the LIFE OPERATING FUND.
The LaGrange County Council on Aging received a COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant earlier this year to support its services.
In partnership with Aging & In-Home Service of Northeast Indiana, the COA delivered 51 emergency COVID-19 packs to local residents. The emergency packs contained food, face masks, gloves, batteries, coupons, sanitizer, and emergency information.
With limited funds and transportation services, the COA adjusted their schedule and delivered groceries to senior citizens and provided prescription delivery services during the stay at home order.
During the crisis, L-CAT was able to provide local transportation to seniors for donations.
Nothing like this has ever happened in my lifetime and I sure hope it never does again, but you have to be strong and have the desire to push on in order to help as many people as possible during trying times. Every dollar helps in this situation and this grant assisted us to continue serving members of our community.
Cheri Perkins, Executive Director of LaGrange County Council on Aging
Established in 1975 by Eva Connelly, the COA is a resource for services that improve the quality of life for older adults of LaGrange County to enable them to retain their independence and provide safe accessible public transportation for all residents.
To make a donation to the Good Samaritan Fund, which supports COVID-19 relief efforts click here.
The LaGrange County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the five finalists for the 2021 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship award.
Finalists for the 2021 award are Alexis Miller, Westview Jr. – Sr. High School, Amelia Johnston, Prairie Heights High School; Hallie Mast, Westview Jr. – Sr. High School, Mary Hostetler, Westview Jr. – Sr. High School; and William Clark, Westview Jr. – Sr. High School.
The scholarship is awarded to a well-rounded LaGrange County graduating senior who exemplifies service and leadership in their community, while maintaining a commitment to academics. The recipient will receive a full tuition scholarship for eight semesters to the accredited Indiana college or university of his or her choice as well as a $900 yearly stipend for books and academic fees.
The scholarship program is offered each year by the LaGrange County Community Foundation, and other Indiana community foundations across the state to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.
After a competitive application process that evaluated academics, community and school activities, leadership, and written essays, the Community Foundation’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Committee interviewed five outstanding finalists on October 15, 2020. The results of the interview round will be combined with the application round to determine the 2021 nominee, which will be submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana for selection of the LaGrange County recipient who will be announced in mid-December. The four remaining finalists will each receive a $1,000 renewable four-year scholarship from the Lambright Leadership Scholarship Fund, established by Kevin and Carrie Lambright in 2013.
The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.
LaGrange County Community Foundation named Erica Cook of Wolcottville the recipient of the 2020 Heart of Gold Award on October 16 with a surprise announcement.
Unlike in years past when the announcement was made at a special dinner celebration, the Heart of Gold Award was announced with an in-person surprise entourage and released to the public via video.
Erica thinks of others before herself and is never afraid of any hard work, which may be a part of the process of being involved. She is continually looking for ways to make LaGrange County a better place.
Tami Maxey, nominator
A longtime volunteer, Cook is most recognized as a person serving individuals often providing basic needs and words of encouragement. Cook is often seen throughout the community volunteering in youth activities, events like Night to Shine, and fundraisers, like Kingdom Road Golf Outing. Cook, recently spearheaded Shine LaGrange, an online positivity campaign to bring awareness to businesses and nonprofits affected by COVID-19.
Cook and her husband, Peter, own and operate, Cook’s Bison Ranch. Cook has served as a guardian for children in need, serves at the LaGrange Church of God, and is a past board member of the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce. Cook established the nonprofit, Kingdom Road Project, Inc., whose mission is to spread the love of Christ to those in need through charitable giving and support of Christian ministries throughout the world.
The Community Foundation received five nominations for the eleventh annual award. The 2020 nominees included Brittany Cowley of LaGrange, Larry Miller of Wolcottville, Stan Clark of Wolcottville, and Terry Andrews of Howe. Click here to read more about each outstanding nominee.
In honor of the nominees, the Community Foundation will provide matching gifts (up to $500) to five select funds, through October 31.
