SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The National League of Cities has announced grants to 20 cities, including Sylacauga, to provide children with after-school and summer meals.
The program, to be administered locally by the Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement which applied for the grant on behalf of the City of Sylacauga, receives support from the Walmart Foundation as part of NLC’s Cities Combating Hunger through After-school and Summer Meal Programs (“CHAMPS”) initiative. According to the NLC, many children in the state do not receive adequate nutrition even though free or reduced-cost lunch programs have been increased.
Mayor Jim Heigl expects “a significant effect on our children in the city and surrounding areas.”
“This is the first time we have applied for these funds, and we were told that our submission was extremely impressive,” added SAFE’s Executive Director Margaret Morton, who confirmed a local CHAMPS grant of $25,000. “This will go a long way in not only promoting Sylacauga but helping us get resources directly to areas of the community in need, particularly children who are hungry.”
In Alabama, Anniston, Brewton, Clanton, Florence, Hobson City, Prattville, and Russellville also received grants.
The Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement, celebrating its 20th anniversary this October, is a non-profit community-based organization providing a variety of programs and services including transportation, adult education, after school, healthy marriage and relationships, family literacy, fatherhood, health and wellness, home instruction for pre-schoolers, work counseling and job mentoring, industry training, medication assistance, case management, substance abuse, community gardening, and parenting education and support.
Based in Washington, D.C., the National League of Cities represents more than 218 million Americans as a resource and advocate for the nation’s cities and their leaders.
Lee Perryman for SylacaugaNews.com | © 2017, SylacaugaNews.com/Marble City Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.