Grants Fund Local Causes

Children attending Clio's three elementary schools-51 percent of students-are considered economically disadvantaged.For these students, access to food can become an issue on weekends, and hunger becomes real. A $2,400 grant to the Clio Area Human Services Fund (CAHSF) helps solve that problem.

The Food Backpack Program is facilitated by the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. It is designed to provide extra support on weekends for children who receive free or reduced-priced lunches at school.

"The program provides a backpack full of nutritious and easy to prepare foods for children to take home on weekends when school meals are not available," said Nate Jonker, board member of the CAHSF. "For many of these children, this backpack is their only source of food when school is not in session."

Backpacks are distributed weekly by school volunteers. Teachers report that students are very appreciative, with some stating that they fed the entire family out of the backpack. The grant was funded by the Clio Area Community Fund (CACF) and the Clio Youth Initiative Program Fund (CYIPF).

The City of Clio Police Department received a $2,900 grant for its Clio Area Cadet and Explorer Program. Local students work side by side with law enforcement and firefighters to learn more about the fields and why things are done a certain way. Students are outfitted with uniforms and gear, and are exposed to a variety of activities including riding in patrol cars and security details. The grant was funded by the CACF and CYIPF.