At Savion, our priority is the partnerships with the residents in the communities in which we develop our utility-scale projects. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many of those communities were hit hard, and are currently in need of time and resources to recover. With an understanding of the impacts COVID has made on these rural areas, our development teams came together with a plan to direct financial support where it would be most needed. Learn more about some of the organizations we have been honored to support.
Cass County Food Pantry
Cass County, Illinois
Serving all Cass County residents, the organization provides free food for an average of 260 families per month. With a small team of volunteers who pack and distribute food, the Cass County Food Pantry relies on grants and private donations to operate. The COVID-19 situation has hit the food shelves hard, so we were able to contribute to the restocking of their food supply. We appreciate the Cass County Food Pantry for their hard work and compassion.
COVID CARING CASH – Southwest Partners
Richland County, Wisconsin
After the COVID-19 pandemic forced most local businesses to close, or severely impacted them financially, the folks from Southwest Partners in Richland County created a program to help. What started as a small pool of money, grew into the COVID CARING CASH program, in which companies and individuals can purchase COVID CARING CASH cards and spend them at local businesses. With about 80 businesses currently accepting the cash cards, the program has generated approximately $98,000 in cash that will be spent locally. With four banks selling the cards, the program will end on September 1st to encourage the cards to be spent now, when businesses need the help. Thanks to Southwest Partners for allowing us to be a part of this important initiative.
Pickaway Senior Center
Pickaway County, Ohio
Since 1972, the Pickaway Senior Center has been providing hot meals, transportation, and day care events for senior citizens in Pickaway County. With almost 400 seniors currently being served in some capacity, the 23 employees of the center are doing their best during the COVID pandemic to ensure their services continue for the people who count on them daily. Like so many organizations, they have been unable to hold their annual fundraising event, putting them in greater need of support and donations from other businesses and individuals. Savion’s contribution will help toward their efforts to continue distributing 400 meals a day to seniors in need.
Open Door Café
Wythe County, Virginia
For almost two years, the Open Door Café, a wholly owned subsidiary of Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence, Inc. (HOPE), has been serving 90 hot meals a day to customers under a “pay-what-you-can” model. This non-profit community cafe in Wytheville offers meals to everyone, even if they are unable to pay. The café’s ability to offer these daily sit-down meals was halted after COVID-19, but the 20 volunteers are determined to continue the mission of the organization through a to-go style of meal service. People come for the food, but the café’s staff knows the real benefit comes from the uniting of neighbors and community members sharing a meal and table together. We are proud to support this organization and appreciate the passion of the outstanding individuals who bring hearts and meals together.
Wisconsin Rapids School District FFA
Wood County, Wisconsin
The FFA chapter of the Wisconsin Rapids School District was designed to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. The students in the program created and currently maintain the largest aquaponics system in Wisconsin, producing 300 – 400 pounds of lettuce for student lunches. They also have two school forests, care for a variety of animals, and they volunteer for many events in the area to help with parking. COVID-19 has put many restrictions on their ability to get together in person to work on their projects. Current donations are used to help with updates and repairs to their greenhouse (built in 1978), which uses both solar thermal and photovoltaic solar. Savion salutes the teachers and administrators who are ensuring this FFA chapter continues to provide the programs that are so important to the youth of Wood County.
ActionS, Inc.
Brazoria County, Texas
Since receiving its charter as a non-profit organization in January 1978, ActionS, Inc. has been providing services for the older adults of Brazoria County. These services include countywide transportation, home bound meals, as well as hot walk-in meals to county residents aged 60 and over. After COVID-19 put limitations on its walk-in meal service, the organization started its Grocery Box program, which it expanded to any county resident in need (regardless of age). Currently, ActionS, Inc. provides approximately 12,000 home bound meals to seniors per month and supports about 400 residents through the Grocery Box program. The need for food and groceries aside, the management team understands that interacting with the ActionS, Inc. staff may be the only human contact some of its seniors experience. Their mission is to provide seniors with good nutrition for the benefit of physical wellbeing, but also to ensure they are caring for their mental health. The team makes two reassurance calls to seniors per week, and the drivers take time to interact and converse with residents. We want to recognize this amazing group of people who are working each day to spread love to its locals through food and fellowship.
Madison County 4-H
Madison County, Ohio
The mission of the 4-H youth development program is to create supportive environments for culturally diverse youth and adults to reach their fullest potential as capable, competent, and caring citizens. The Madison County 4-H program is part of the University of Ohio extension, and is available for youth in Kindergarten through one year after high school. With more than 500 kids and 150 adult advisors, Madison County 4-H typically sends about 200 kids to Camp Clifton each year. However, this year COVID-19 forced this countywide camp to close and is now the organization’s biggest need in terms of funding. Camping is one of the core programs of 4-H, so there is a current fundraising initiative for camps so they will still be available when normal program activities resume. Savion recognizes the positive impact that 4-H has on the lives of young people and proudly supports the effort for Camp Clifton.
Lanesboro FFA
Fillmore County, Minnesota
The FFA chapter leadership of the Lanesboro, Minnesota ISD #229, proudly serves 100 students, ranging in grades seven through 12. Unfortunately, many of the fundamental activities have been canceled or changed due to COVID-19, including summer camps, officer retreats, conferences, and the state convention. Chapter leaders have found creative and virtual methods to continue connecting with the members. Donations during this time are used to encourage the kids to attend the events, to help purchase jackets, and to fund camps. The FFA chapter offers local Fillmore County students educational opportunities, leadership training, scholarships, and programs that help in personal growth. Thank you for allowing us to help support the effort to ensure these programs continue during these challenging times.
CAST (Community Action of Southold Town)
Town of Southold, New York
Neighbors helping neighbors. That’s what has driven CAST to serve low-income individuals and families on the North Folk of Long Island since 1965. The organization is committed to helping struggling community members with basic needs like nutrition, clothing, energy, employment, and education. In addition, they offer services and programs, including a local food pantry, sharing room with clothing and household items, computer classes, literacy, and much more. COVID-19 took its toll on local tourism, and many of their community members are without work. The organization is relying more than ever on donations, and Savion is honored to be among those supporters to assist in keeping CAST stable, ready, and prepared to help.
Agape Food Pantry
Wythe County, Virginia
The mission at Agape Food Pantry in Wytheville, Virginia, is simple: to share God’s love through the distribution of food to Wytheville County residents in need. For more than 22 years, the team has been distributing free food to Wythe County residents, regardless of income. The impact of COVID-19 has left the nonprofit organization recovering from a period where it was unable to purchase food and supplies. In addition, many of its older adult volunteers have been restricted from reporting to work, and the center has been unable to accommodate walk-in distribution. Now operating under a drive-thru model, the staff continues to serve between 300 and 500 families per month. Savion is proud to have contributed to ensuring county residents can continue to benefit from the pantry’s generous services.
Fillmore Central FFA
Fillmore County, Minnesota
For the Fillmore Central ISD #2198 FFA chapter, the student members and the leadership team have been working hard to ensure the FFA mission and vision continues, despite delays and cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Remaining “committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education” is a priority of the chapter. COVID has also made it more difficult to fundraise, so the chapter has been even more grateful for donations to help with member events. Donating jackets to those students without, is just one of the many needs of the organization at this time. Investing in the next generation of leaders is important to the team at Savion, and we appreciate the opportunity to support this chapter.
Wood County 4-H
Wood County, Wisconsin
The mission of the Wood County 4-H is to develop life skills, healthy attitudes, and positive characteristics of youth, with parents and adult volunteers as supportive advisors. The aim of the youth-led organization is to develop capable, competent, and caring citizens. As with many other organizations, COVID-19 has caused several of the Wood County 4-H programs to be delayed, canceled, or converted to virtual experiences. The staff and leadership team has been working hard to ensure the members don’t miss a thing this summer. We’re happy to know our support has contributed to such an outstanding youth program in Wood County.