Furthering services

Facility upgrades, including kitchen and laundry improvements highlight the areas the Pregnancy Center of Central Iowa will use funds received from the Monsignor McCann Community Fund. The center was given $5,400 from the fund during its spring 2020 distribution period.

“That is an organization that we absolutely, unanimously agreed would be warranted of our financial support,” MMCF Board President Mark Thayer said.

The additional funding will allow the center to provide services to their clients including being able to clean donated clothing at the house or having the ability to cook the food at lunch and learn events.

“A lot of times these donations need to be laundered ... They are going to now be able to launder those clothes within the organization, within their own building,” Thayer said.

PCCI Executive Director Rita Baker said the funds are welcome for the efforts to renovate the center’s current building. Baker said some of the appliances were outdated and needed to be replaced.

“We priced everything ... So I had all of those details to add in,” Baker said.

Whether it is new chairs or a washer and dryer to allow them to wash donated clothes, Baker said the center is thankful to receive the grant to help them continue to provide support to those in the community who need it.

“We are extremely grateful and we hope to do our part in making other agencies aware of the fact that these grants exist,” Baker said.

The grants recently distributed are only the first round for this year. Thayer said he hopes organization will continue to apply as the fund is looking to provide an additional $25,000 to $30,000.

“There are so many organizations out there that are really going above and beyond what, frankly, most other communities don’t do and that really makes Newton special. I just hope that this giving continues,” Thayer said.

For more information about the Monsignor McCann Community Fund and how to apply for a grant visit mmcfund.org to learn more.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com