Rescue Mission’s Day Center to expand size, services in Hendersonville with grant funds from Dogwood Health Trust

The Hendersonville Rescue Mission’s Day Center expansion project got a boost recently from a grant provided by Dogwood Health Trust.

The mission will expand its Day Center in the Seventh Avenue Historic District in Hendersonville from 788 square feet to 2,700 square feet, providing much needed space for personal hygiene and health needs, resources for job seekers and a charging station for its clients.

The undisclosed grant money will be used for unforeseen costs associated with the expansion project, Dogwood Health Trust said in a news release today.

Once complete, the Day Center expects triple the number of client visits, the release states, dramatically impacting the disparities associated with people who face extreme poverty, including those who are homeless or have inadequate housing conditions, have limited access to sanitation facilities, or access to community resources.

“We are so grateful to Dogwood Health Trust for walking alongside us to address this growing need in our community,” Anthony McMinn, CEO for the Hendersonville Rescue Mission, said in the release. “This additional funding will allow us to address unexpected costs and complete the Day Center expansion.”

More:McMinn reflects on 25 years at Rescue Mission

Dogwood Health Trust awarded more than $3.7 million to a diverse range of 259 nonprofit and government agencies from every county and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina through its Immediate Opportunities and Needs grant program.

Of the 492 applicants, 53% were awarded a grant, with the average award amount totaling $14,600, according to the release. Of those funded, 34% of requests will advance equity or reduce disparities.

Several local nonprofits received grants, including Blue Ridge Health, Blue Ridge Literacy Council, Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County Hendersonville, Bullington Gardens, Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry, Children & Family Resource Center of Henderson County, Council on Aging for Henderson County, Free Clinics, Henderson County Education Foundation on behalf of Henderson County Child Nutrition Program, Henderson County Free Medical Clinic on behalf of HopeRX, Henderson County Habitat for Humanity, Henderson County Young Leaders (Camplify), Homeward Bound Of Western North Carolina, Housing Assistance Corp., Interfaith Assistance Ministry, Latino Advocacy Coalition of Henderson County, Muddy Sneakers, Only Hope WNC, Pisgah Legal Services, Riverlink, St. Gerard House, St. Luke's Hospital, United Way of Henderson County, Western Carolina Community Action and many others.

“Originally, we planned to begin funding in fall 2020, but the board was eager to begin investing in the community at the start of the year,” Janice Brumit, chair of the Dogwood Health Trust board of directors, said in the release.

“The purpose of this round of funding was to meet immediate needs and build initial relationships throughout our region. We plan to use what we learned from this round of funding to inform the work we’re doing now to design our strategic initiatives.

“Meeting immediate needs is one thing, but what we really want to do is move the needle on key issues and make lasting change.”

An initial budget of $2.5 million was allocated to the ION grant program.

"Our goal throughout the ION grantmaking process focused on awarding grants to a diverse representation and on inclusion in our 18 county and Qualla Boundary region,” Jackie Simms, chair of the programs and grants committee, said in the release.

“We gave particular attention to smaller nonprofits headquartered in the counties and tribe served by Dogwood and to organizations led by people of color. Choosing recipients was a challenging and awe-inspiring task; so many organizations are doing such important work in our region."

ION grants awarded will support affordable housing development, dependable cars for working families, cybersecurity improvements, roof repairs and a portable X-ray device, to name a few.

Dogwood Health Trust is a North Carolina nonprofit corporation with the sole purpose of dramatically improving the health and well-being of all people and communities of Western North Carolina.

Dogwood Health Trust became operational upon the sale of Mission Health’s assets to HCA Healthcare and is the recipient of the net proceeds of the sale. To learn more, visit www.dht.org.