Community organizations make funding requests to council

Eight community stakeholders presented requests for funding on Monday to the Newton City Council to kick off the budgeting season for the city.

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, YMCA, IMPACT, Newton Development Corporation, United Way of Jasper County, Heart of Iowa Regional Transit and Newton Housing Development Corporation each had representatives present about the organization, what it does in the community and how they are hoping the city can assist them in the next fiscal year. Newton Main Street also submitted a request from the council.

RSVP started the presentations with director Denise Fischer requesting $12,500 from the city, the same amount requested as last year.

“RSVP provides volunteers for many programs essential to the Newton community,” Fischer said.

The largest programs include: the HEART Literacy program in the elementary schools, the tax assistance program and the Jasper County Ride Transportation program. The HEART program brings volunteers to all five elementary schools along with Newton Christian, to assist children with difficulties in literacy at no expense to the school district. Last year alone, volunteers helped 154 students and were in 30 classrooms.

The tax assistance program offers community members who cannot pay for professional tax consultants to get the work done by volunteers. In 2016, the program served 619 clients and is looking to expand in 2017.

Another busy program for the organization is the Jasper County Ride program which provides transportation for the elderly, low-income, disabled and veterans to vital appointments, including some outside of Newton.

“The Jasper County Ride program continue to keeps us busy,” Fischer said. “We generally schedule 15 to 20 rides per week.”

In total, RSVP contributed 6,144 volunteer hours to Newton, an increase of more than 800 hours from last year.

The Newton YMCA, represented by associate executive director Rhonda Robson, has a request for $25,000, which is $7,000 more than last year’s allocation.

“We work hard every day to meet the needs of our community and we deliver lasting personal and social change through the programs that we offer,” Robson said.

According to the organization’s request letter, the additional funds will be used to help cover a portion of the costs for they Y’s signature programs. Those programs encompass diabetes prevention, control of high blood pressure and cancer support.

The YMCA has an annual operating budget of $1.7 million and is one of Jasper County’s largest nonprofit organizations. Additional opportunities provided include child care, athletic leagues, various family-oriented programs throughout the year and exercise opportunities through classes and available equipment.

An organization that has been serving Newton and Jasper County low-income residents since 1964, IMPACT Community Action Partnership is working to eliminate poverty through empowering vulnerable populations, building collaboration and advocating for social change. The organization is requesting $30,240 from council. Last year, IMPACT was not funded by the city.

“More than 922 households in Newton received services from us, which are households that fall below the 175 percent poverty guideline,” coordinator Patty Sneddon-Kisting said. “We offer programs that help families facing disconnection of utilities, emergency food shortages and personal hygiene items.”

The amount requested is based on $14 per person served in Newton for the past fiscal year. The assistance helps create stronger families, which means a stronger community for everyone, Sneddon-Kisting said.

Requests from the Newton Development Corporation, United Way of Jasper County, Heart of Iowa Regional Transit, Newton Housing Development Corporation and Newton Main Street will be in Friday’s edition of the Newton Daily News.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com