Yvonne Jones received $500 on behalf of the Rally Point Youth Center from the Lima Exchange Club on Monday afternoon.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — More than $6,200 was given Monday to local organizations that all have one main focus: youth. The Lima Exchange Club presented 10 different organizations with donations for their hard work and dedication to helping children in the Lima community.
Three $1,000 awards were given to the Allen County D.A.R.E program, Lima Youth Roller Hockey and the Samaritan House of Lima. Six $500 awards were given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Crime Victim Services, National Exchange Club Foundation, Rally Point Youth Center, Heart and Sole and Northwest Ohio Literacy Council. The Ohio Youth Golf Clinic received $200 for its program.
According to its website, the Lima Exchange Club is an all-volunteer, national service organization for men and women who want to serve their community, develop leadership skills and enjoy new friendships.
“This organization raises funds through several different programs,” said Greg Sowinski, Lima Exchange Club President. “We sell raffle tickets and all the proceeds go back into the program. We have a Christmas party for kids and we just passed out flags for the parade. The money we raise varies every year. Every organization that we give out money to is somehow helping youth in our community.”
Each organization thanked the Lima Exchange Club for its donations and contributions.
“Rally point at City Life is a faith-based organization where we help kids during the after-school hours. We pick them up four days a week and they come to the center,” said Yvonne Jones, Rally Point Director. “We help them with their homework and computer labs. Thursday nights we have our Bible studies where we kind of put the word of God in them and help love on them. This money will be used for gas. We have three vans that we use to pick up the kids around the north end. We really appreciate this.”
Executive Director Kenneth Blanchard, of the Northwest Ohio Literacy Council, weighed in.
“Thank you again for everything you all have done for us,” said Blanchard. “For 40 years our literacy council has been primarily adult education. Just before COVID, we started tutoring third-grade students at Independence grade school.
“We had tutors going over one or two days a week and their advance was amazing. The teachers chose the children who needed the most help. I am in the process of rebuilding that program. Our mission has been adult literacy for 40 years. If we can get those third-graders, maybe by the time I can retire we won’t be in business,” he said.
