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Filling the Gap notes contributions

An employee uses an overhead lift to transfer a woman from her bed to her chair at a Resource Center home. The lift system was purchased using a grant from Filling the Gap, generated by proceeds from the annual TRC Golf Classic.

Filling the Gap, Inc., has announced its 2022 grants, awarding $112,600 to support people with disabilities.

Filling the Gap is a Jamestown-based not-for-profit that works with The Resource Center and other organizations to support Chautauqua County residents who are poor, distressed and underprivileged, especially people with disabilities.

Each year, Filling the Gap solicits grant requests from The Resource Center and other organizations within the Filling the Gap network.

2022 funding requests totaled $242,503. Filling the Gap’s grants committee studied the requests and recommended which ones to fund, and FTG’s board of directors agreed with the committee’s recommendations. Some requests were denied because other funding sources are available.

With the amount awarded in 2022, Filling the Gap has now given out $1,645,045 in grants since 1995. The 2022 awards were as follows:

¯ $25,000 to The Resource Center to purchase and install an overhead lift system at one of TRC’s homes to make it easier and safer to transfer people from their wheelchair to their bed, shower, toilet, etc.

¯ $22,300 to The Resource Center to support employee satisfaction and workforce retention efforts at TRC and Filling the Gap.

¯ $11,300 to TRC Community Health Center for occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy equipment and supplies.

¯ $10,000 to TEAM Services for transportation vouchers.

¯ $10,000 to the Chautauqua Connections Children’s Coalition.

¯ $8,000 to TRC to implement the Project SEARCH Program, which provides employability training and workplace internships for youths with significant disabilities.

¯ $8,000 to TRC for annual updates and new technology for our robot that is used by staff to enhance the communication and social skills of people on the autism spectrum.

¯ $6,500 to TRC for advocacy-related initiatives and to support the efforts of self-advocates.

¯ $5,000 to TRC to support the Kids & Sibs Camp for children with special needs and their siblings.

¯ $4,000 to TRC to cover costs associated with conducting the Sprout Film Festival.

¯ $2,500 to TRC to cover the costs of holding the Slow Roll Pedal Party inclusive cycling event in Dunkirk.

Filling the Gap officials are proud they could provide money to support a variety of initiatives.

“Filling the Gap is thrilled to be able to award more than $100,000 in grants to The Resource Center and the corporations within the Filling the Gap network.” said Cindy Hitchcock, vice president of business and finance.

Most of the money for the grants comes from fund-raising events that Filling the Gap facilitates in partnership with The Resource Center, such as TRC Golf Classic, Laurel Memorial Run/Walk and Step Up for Autism. Proceeds from these events are transferred to the various TRC endowment funds at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. The income from these endowment funds is used to fulfill the grant requests.

For more information about Filling the Gap, phone 716-661-1519 or visit www.fillingthegap.net.

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