PARKERSBURG — Forty-five nonprofit organizations in the Mid-Ohio Valley were awarded grant funding in support of the Sisters Health Foundation’s vision of “healthy people in healthy communities.”

At its most recent meeting, the Board of Directors approved a total of $483,000.

“We saw increasing needs related to food assistance in this grant cycle, which reflects the challenges that people are facing in accessing affordable and healthy food. This round of grants also addresses many other critical needs – housing, mental health, dental care, and support for seniors. Two projects are working to provide diagnostic and support services for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is a growing need in our area. Overall, this group of grant partners are all undertaking incredibly important work to improve the health and well-being of our community members.” said Marian Clowes, SHF Associate Director.

Twenty organizations that provide direct services, such as food and emergency assistance, received a total of $59,000 from the Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program:

¯ Adams House Ministries; Middlebourne, WV — $5,000 for fresh produce vouchers for Tyler County residents.

¯ Athens Period Project; Athens, OH — $1,000 to purchase period products for distribution at three Athens County locations.

¯ Baptist Temple of Parkersburg; Parkersburg, WV — $3,000 to purchase food for the Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry.

¯ Belpre Area Ministries; Belpre, OH — $3,500 to purchase food, support the food voucher system, and purchase essential hygiene products.

¯ Blessings in a Backpack; Louisville, KY — $3,500 to purchase ready-to-eat food items for students at Meigs County Primary and Intermediate Schools.

¯ By the Grace of God Food Pantry; Parkersburg, WV — $1,000 to purchase non-perishable, shelf-stable food items for the pantry.

¯ Calhoun County Schools; Mt. Zion, WV — $5,000 to purchase clothing and hygiene items for clothing closets at Calhoun County Middle High School, Arnoldsburg Elementary, and Pleasant Hill Elementary Schools.

¯ Church of the Epiphany; Nelsonville, OH — $1,000 to purchase food for a blessing box.

¯ Federal Valley Resource Center; Stewart, OH — $2,000 to purchase hygiene and cleaning products for their food pantry.

¯ First Lutheran Church; Parkersburg, WV — $3,500 to purchase food for the pantry, including fresh items.

¯ Lubeck United Methodist Church; Washington, WV — $2,500 to purchase non-perishable food for children attending Lubeck and Blennerhassett elementary schools.

¯ Meigs County Farmers’ Market; Pomeroy, OH – $3,500 to support veterans’ vouchers and the donation station.

¯ Packs of Plenty; Harrisville, WV — $4,000 to support the purchase of food and food vouchers for Ritchie County students/families in need.

¯ Parkersburg Urban Ministries; Parkersburg, WV — $5,000 to provide assistance to residents of Wood and surrounding counties to prevent shut off of utility services.

¯ Pregnancy Resource Center of Athens County; Athens, OH — $1,500 to purchase items that promote healthy nutrition and overall health for pregnant/new moms and their babies/toddlers.

¯ Racine Methodist Church; Racine, OH — $1,500 to purchase food for Charlotte’s Cupboard, a choice pantry.

¯ Ripley Church of the Nazarene; Ripley, WV — $3,000 to purchase baby and adult hygiene items.

¯ St. Bernard Catholic Church, St. Vincent De Paul; Beverly, OH — $1,500 to support emergency assistance to individuals for rent, utilities, food, or gas.

¯ The Salvation Army of Marietta; Marietta, OH — $4,000 to supplement the cost of motel stays during extreme weather conditions for people in Washington County who are experiencing homelessness or medical emergencies.

¯ The Salvation Army of Parkersburg; Parkersburg, WV — $4,000 to purchase food for the hot meal program.

Twenty-five organizations received support totaling $424,000 for their efforts to address the health needs of their communities in the priority areas of Healthy Eating, Active Living; Thriving Neighborhoods; and Mental Health and Addiction.

Healthy Eating, Active Living Priority Area

¯ Athens Food Rescue; Athens, OH – 4,000 to support a part-time executive director to coordinate food rescue operations and volunteers.

¯ Ely Chapman Education Foundation; Marietta, OH – $15,000 to support their health and wellness program for youth in Washington County.

¯ Hocking College Foundation (740 Rescue Kitchen); Nelsonville, OH — $5,000 for general operating support.

¯ Mountaineer Food Bank; Gassaway, WV — $10,000 to help with the continued operation of their Mobile Pantry Program in Tyler and Jackson counties.

Thriving Neighborhoods Priority Area

¯ American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley; Parkersburg, WV – $5,000 for the purchase of new technology that simplifies the screening process for blood donors and provides them with health information.

¯ Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley; Parkersburg, WV — $38,000 for multi-year flexible operating support to provide programs to help people out of poverty.

¯ Creston Food Pantry; Creston, WV — $2,000 for operating support.

¯ First Choice Services; Charleston, WV — $35,000 to support a half-time, year-round Certified Application Counselor dedicated to providing Medicaid and Marketplace enrollment assistance for residents in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

¯ Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley; Parkersburg, WV — $10,000 to support the construction of a home in Wood County.

¯ Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio; Columbus, OH — $50,000 for multi-year flexible support for their legal aid clinics in Athens and Washington Counties where attorneys assist tenants facing eviction.

¯ Mount Zion Black Cultural Center; Athens, OH — $25,000 to help purchase a Limited Use/Limited Application elevator to ensure accessibility to their center.

¯ O’Neill Senior Center; Marietta, OH — $10,000 to support the continuation of care consultant services for seniors in Washington County.

¯ The Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley; Parkersburg, WV — $14,000 for general operating support for the People First of West Virginia Self-Advocacy Program.

¯ The Betsey Mills Corporation; Marietta, OH — $14,000 to support the renovation of a bathroom in the women’s dormitory.

¯ Washington State College of Ohio Foundation; Marietta, OH — $18,000 to support the purchase of critical simulation equipment and supplies to train future nurses in a modernized lab environment.

¯ WV Health Right; Charleston, WV — $30,000 for flexible support of their mobile dental unit operations in Roane and Jackson Counties.

Mental Health and Addiction Priority Area

¯ Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg; Parkersburg, WV — $18,000 for the facilitation of their SMART Moves Program at the Mary Street Clubhouse.

¯ Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Mid-Ohio Valley; Parkersburg, WV — $4,000 to continue financial literacy education and coaching for community members in recovery.

¯ Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia; Harrisville, WV — $30,000 to help support the expansion of services for people with autism spectrum disorder.

¯ Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center; Grantsville, WV — $35,000 to support the hiring of a case management position to assist with mental health services.

¯ NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Athens; Athens, OH — $10,000 to expand the capacity of the Office Administrator to provide essential administrative and coordination support.

¯ South East Ohio Hope Center; Athens, OH — $5,000 for general operating support to help carry out their mission to help people in recovery.

¯ Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program; Athens, OH — $18,000 to help sustain the critical work of direct service staff who provide safe, affirming care for survivors of domestic violence.

¯ Voices for Children Foundation-CASA Program; Parkersburg, WV — $4,000 for travel, mileage, and supplies that will help them meet their mission to serve children who have experienced abuse and neglect.

¯ Wood County Society; Parkersburg, WV – $15,000 to support the expansion of services and programs for adults and teens with autism spectrum disorder.

For the upcoming grant cycle, the due date for requests under the priority areas of mental health and addiction; thriving neighborhoods; and healthy eating, active living is by midnight on Jan. 21, 2026. Letters of inquiry for the Responsive Grants Program may be submitted online at www.sistershealthfdn.org without scheduling a prior phone conversation.

Nonprofits interested in submitting a Basic Needs/Direct Service grant application should contact Clowes at mclowes@sistershealthfdn.org or 304-424-6080 to begin the process.

The foundation serves 11 counties in the Mid-Ohio Valley in West Virginia and southeast Ohio: Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, and Wood counties in West Virginia; Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties in Ohio. For more information on grantmaking and eligibility requirements, visit the website www.sistershealthfdn.org.

The Sisters Health Foundation promotes healthy and sustainable communities by providing resources, strengthening collaborative relationships and supporting initiatives that impact people in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Since 1996, the Sisters Health Foundation has awarded over $25 million in grants.