- In light of the current COVID-19 health crisis, the lack of career resources, training, and small business support was an even more prominent challenge in our community. This project was designed to assist job-seekers and small businesses in and around Washington County that currently lack access to development resources and training. WCPL used this grant to provide adult/teen education, including classes and certification for the general public such as GED prep, employable skills certification like Ready to Work, ServSafe, WorkKeys skills, as well as computer skills and digital literacy. WCPL is now partnering with the AL Career Center to provide career readiness assistance to job-seekers needing help with resume writing, job search/application submission, and other challenges associated with online employment opportunities. Workshops on business development, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship will now be offered. Through this grant, the local workforce can be more employable and better prepared to gain and maintain employment, which will help employers who currently experience high rates of turnover due to a lack of skills and education.
Washington
FAWN (Forestry Awareness Week Now)
FAWN is an educational program directed at young minds to increase their understanding of forestry and the use of forests and woodlands.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions we were unable to have the FAWN field trip days in 2021. We did though hand out FAWN drawstring bags with information that would have originally been given at the FAWN field days to all 6th and 7th graders at the 5 schools in our county. The reason the 7th graders were included in this years program was they didn’t receive anything last year.
Within the bags were Web Soil Surveys, Snake identification & fact sheet, Tree cookie information and activity as well as an actual tree cookie, seeded paper in an envelope with instructions to be planted at home, FAWN plastic cup, Alabama Farm facts pamphlet, Food and farm facts pamphlet, Farming feeds Alabama plastic bracelets, Pollinator pamphlet, Today’s wildlife identification guide, Eastern Indigo Snake pamphlet, Smokey’s Friends plastic bracelet, Smokey’s friends pencils and erasers. Please see attached picture of bag and contents.
The educational projects taken into the Washington County schools are to educate students of all ages on conservation. Over the years many projects have been created to reach students of all ages. As with the FAWN program there is a hope that these projects will ignite a spark in our younger generation to pursue a career in conservation and forestry.
Helmet Upgrade
The $4,000 allowed us to get 13 brand new F-7 helmets for our football team. The safety of our kids is our number one priority. Thank you so much for being a part of our community and generously helping protect our kids with the best helmets on the market today. The helmets are good for 10 years and will provide the safety needed to compete on an optimal level.
Thanks,
John Carpenter
Fruitdale High School
WCHNH CareVan for Rural Medical Outreach
Washington County Hospital & Nursing Home prides itself in being an award winning hospital for excellence in health care. Despite all of the recent improvements to the facility and services, in rural areas like ours, providing quality healthcare within the hospital walls is often not enough. The Nursing Home in particular is always looking for new ways to provide the best quality of life to senior citizen residents who depend upon WCHNH for daily care and activities. WCHNH has gone above and beyond to bring in cultural programs, recreational activities, and educational enrichment for the enjoyment of the residents of the Nursing Home. However, many residents have expressed a desire to “get out” and get involved in the many fun and beneficial activities offered throughout the community. As a result, the CareVan project was initiated. The CareVan will provide transportation to and from doctor appointments. It will also provide residents with opportunities for shopping trips, eating out, and participation in community events and activities. WCHNH thanks Ala-Tom RC&D Council for playing a role making this possible for our residents.
St Stephens Nutrition Center
This grant was used to help purchase a storage building for the nutrition center. We needed storage for extra tables and chairs plus other items that are not used every day.