Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

FARMVILLE – The Rotary Club of Farmville awarded its second $5,000 community grant this year to the Heart of Virginia Free Clinic in November. The goal here was to fund a program to purchase dental appointments for uninsured free clinic patients from local dental care providers. The appointments will include cleaning, fillings, extractions, and prescriptions for pain and infection.

“Our Club is extremely proud to support the Free Clinic’s efforts to make sure those that cannot afford it, have access to much needed dental care,” said Rotary Club President Shaunna Hunter. “They are such a wonderful organization that does so much for people of need in our Community.”

Free Clinic officials said they appreciated the Rotary’s help, both now and in the past. 

“The Farmville Rotary Club was the first civic club to ever donate to us 11 years ago,” said Free Clinic Executive Director Patricia Payne. “We are thrilled and honored to have won the Community Grant for 2023! We will use this year’s grant to repair and brighten up smiles around our community. Dental care can surely save a life just like all the other kinds of medical care. The Farmville Rotary Club: Saving lives and fighting infection!”

In addition to the $5,000 grant, the Club also awarded $2,000 to grant finalist Better Days Farmville to purchase storage shelves and $1,000 to grant finalist Hope Clothes Closet for their project to get a shipping container for storage.

These are three of 12 grant applications the Club received this year, totaling $47,500 in requests for funding. 

The list of organizations submitting grant applications included:

• Area 12 Special Olympics

• Better Days Farmville

• BSA Troop 6516

• Farmville Pride

• Hampden-Sydney Animal Rescue Club

• Heart of Virginia Free Clinic

• Heritage Baptist Church – Hope Clothes Closet

• Jolly Glee Club

• PE’s Kids Inc.

• Prince Edward County Bands

• Prince Edward Farmville Youth Association

• Southside Virginia Community College Foundation

More about Rotary Club of Farmville

The Rotary Club of Farmville was established in 1938 and is celebrating its 85th Anniversary. The Club has a long history of supporting projects, events and organizations in the community. 

The Rotary Club of Farmville accepted applications for the Annual Community Service Grant from organizations whose activities promote and enhance the quality of life for citizens of the Town of Farmville/Prince Edward County but may also have a greater footprint in the region for their project. Organizations must be not-for-profit, and benefit local citizens. The grant is a contribution of up to $5,000.

It is preferred that the grant be used as seed money to start a “bricks and mortar” or equipment project, and not for general or operational expenses; however, it is not the intention of Rotary to exclude a worthwhile and deserving project.