Russellville Community Center receives Monsanto grant just in time

Micah Humphrey (left) presents a $2,500 award to Russellville Community Center President Darrell Wiatt (center) and Russellville Town Board President Don Reddish. The award is part of a community involvement project funded by Monsanto to help rural non-profit organizations.

RUSSELLVILLE -- The Russellville Community Center has received a $2,500 donation through the Monsanto America's Farmers Grow Communities program.

The center was chosen as the recipient of this donation through an application submitted by local farmer Chris Overstreet of Parke County.

The program allows for local farmers to direct the money to a non-profit of their choosing. It currently spans nearly 1,300 counties in 39 states and was created to reward farmers and non-profit organizations doing important work in rural communities.

According to a press release from America's Farmers Grow Communities, the donation will help the center improve its facility, purchase athletic equipment, and provide bi-monthly meals for poor and elderly community residents.

Overstreet expressed gratitude for the donation, saying, "We're so happy that we're able to do this for the community center. This is a very small community, and this donation will go a long way to help with the bi-monthly dinners that are provided to the many poor and elderly."

The community center, which receives most of its funding through receptions, banquets, skate rentals and other special events, has had a difficult time keeping up with the heating costs associated of an especially cold winter.

The timing of this donation is important in helping the community center continue its operations as Darrell Wiatt, president of the Russell-ville Community Center, points out the donation "means we might keep our doors open another year."

The town of Russellville often helps to offset the costs of heating the community center, but has been unable to provide as much assistance this year as it has in the past.

With an annual heating bill of more than $40,000, the community center has had to cut corners and fundraise however it can.

President of the town board, Don Reddish, says, "It's hard to bring in that much money, we're doing okay though."

For more information about events at the Russellville Community Center (such as the pancake and sausage supper scheduled for March 15), persons may contact Wiatt at 435-3615.