The Central Community Foundation board recently approved a grant of $1,500 to Altrusa International, Inc. Stillwater to help fund the organization’s Backpack Buddies project, which will help purchase school supplies, food and new books for local youth.

Altrusa International, Inc. is a nonprofit service organization focused on literacy with locations around the world. Their vision, “enhancing the quality of life within our community” sparked the community project, Backpack Buddies, in 2018.

Backpack Buddies exceeded its goal of providing 500 backpacks filled with school supplies last year. 2019 brings an enhanced backpack project with hopes to provide 1,000 backpacks containing school supplies, 1,000 food packs and 1,000 new books to the youth of Payne County.

Donations for the Backpack Buddies project will be accepted until June 15, 2019. For more information, visit the Altrusa International of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Inc. Facebook page.

The Central Community Foundation is a charitable organization established by Central Rural Electric Cooperative to administer a program called Operation Round Up®. The Central Community Foundation makes grants available to individuals and organizations throughout Central’s service area from the money donated by Central members who choose to round up their electric bill to the nearest dollar each month. Visit www.MyCentral.coop and click on the “Community” tab located at the top of the page for more information about the Community Foundation.

Photo: The Central Community Foundation presents a $1,500 grant to Altrusa International, Inc. Stillwater to help fund the organization’s Backpack Buddies project. From left to right: Barbara Dobson, MJ Seals, Donna Dollins (Central Community Foundation board member), Debra Higgins, Linda Schmidt, Karen Morris, Dee Porter, Judy German (Central Community Foundation board member), Patricia Nance, Adrienne Wilson and Laura Wilson.