Healing Our Island Community Fund Mini-grants Available

Do you have an idea or an initiative for a drug prevention and education activity that will help your community? Do you know of others willing to collaborate and conduct anti-drug activities with a focus on youth, family and neighborhood? Mini-grants are now available for initiatives like these.



The Healing Our Island Community Fund is a grant-in-aid to the County of Hawai`i from the Hawai`i State Legislature aimed at inspiring and encouraging grassroots community involvement to plan and implement services, programs and events in the fight against drug abuse.



Funds for this program are intended to fund projects of Hawai`i Island’s community-based grassroots organizations and non-501(c)(3)s that traditionally do not have access to grant funds. The grants are not to exceed $2,000.00 and applicants are encouraged to collaborate and cooperate with others in their own communities and with other communities. This program has been successful in all districts across the island over the past two years.



More than 281 community mini-grants have been awarded since the inception of this program. This funding has enabled communities to connect and work in a united front to address substance abuse issues.



Each district on Hawai`i Island has a district liaison available to assist groups with their grant proposals and to help and encourage groups to connect with potential collaborative partners in their communities. Grant requests are evaluated monthly and are due by the 10th of each month. Funds are limited so preference will be given to first-time Healing Our Island applicants.



The Healing Our Island 2007-2008 Community Grant Fund information and application packet is available at www.hcrc.info or for pick up at the Hawaii County Resource Center in Hilo at Hilo Lagoon Centre,101 Aupuni Street, Suite PH 1014-C, or in Kona at the Lanihau Professional Center at 75-5591 Palani Road, Suite 2001 (next to Frame Ten Center-Kona Bowl).



For more information, please call Laverne Omori at 327-3665 or contact the liaison for your district:

* N/S Kohala: Carolyn Lancaster 987-3395 carolyn96755@yahoo.com

* N/S Kona: Christine Light 987-4510 paikona@yahoo.com

* Ka’u: Teresa Alderdyce 937-7919 aldert@juno.com

* Puna: Barbara Lively 640-9428 blively77@yahoo.com

* N/S Hilo: Susan Labrenz 966-8450 JA-susan@hawaii.rr.com