The board of directors of the Outer Banks Community Foundation recently approved more than $ 163,000 in grants, including $ 157,244 in new disaster recovery grants for Hatteras and Ocracoke.

Interfaith Community Outreach (ICO) received a grant of $ 16,785 to help Dare County families whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Dorian pay for building supplies, materials, appliances and contract assistance . The ICO reported that many families requesting hurricane assistance could not afford to fully repair homes from previous major storms, compounding more recent damage. ICO will work with their Home Rehabilitation Coordinator, volunteers, contractors and homeowners on a case-by-case basis to verify damage and financial need. Six to ten families, most of them at or below poverty level, have been identified as living in substandard housing and have asked for help.

The Ocracoke Interfaith Relief and Recovery Team (OIRRT) received just under $ 119,477 to address the unmet reconstruction needs of homes that suffered damage from Hurricane Dorian. The group will use the funds to restore the homes of the families, the sick, the elderly and the poor in Ocracoke to habitable status, thus ensuring these people the comfort and stability of their permanent residence. Partners in the OIRRT project include Hyde County, Christian Aid Ministries, Operation Blessing and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. In addition, a grant of $ 3,362 for the purchase of insurance related to the project was awarded.

Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men (CHUMM) received $ 17,600 to replace roofs, heating and HVAC systems, insulation, plinths and ductwork in homes damaged by flooding; the grant also covers the repair of a damaged porch and the replacement of a stove. CHUMM does a large part of its work with volunteer work; these qualified repairs will be carried out by a select group of contractors with whom the agency has established relationships.

“We are proud to continue to support the work of our nonprofit partners and assist in the recovery from Hurricane Dorian,” said Acting Community Foundation Executive Director Bob Muller. “The volunteers who help these nonprofits are to be commended for their dedication and persistence in helping families return home.”

In addition to the Disaster Relief Grants, a First Quarter Community Enrichment Grant awarded $ 5,800 to Dare County Crime Line, as a tax sponsor of Camp SALT (Save A Life Together), to be applied to a Storage shed, first aid station and obstacle course for Camp SALT The camp hosts three summer camp sessions for children ages eight to 14, offering structured outdoor activities and excursions on the grounds designed to provide positive development experiences. Each session can accommodate up to 40 participants. Organizers estimate that between 5,000 and 6,000 children in Dare County have attended Camp SALT in the past ten years. The multi-purpose camp is also used for police dog training and by Boy Scout and Boy Scout groups, religious organizations, biker groups, Go Out For A Run (GOFAR), Ocean Rescue and other purpose-oriented organizations. non-profit.

The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit charitable organization that connects people who care about the causes that matter. Based in a historic flat-roofed cottage in Southern Shores, the Community Foundation manages $ 22 million in over 200 charitable funds for individuals and agencies, provides grants to local nonprofits, administers 57 scholarship programs and provides personalized services to help donors pursue their charitable interests. . Since its inception in 1982, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $ 12 million in grants and scholarships to local nonprofits and students.