7 nonprofits seeking Apache Junction health and human services funding
Special to Independent Newsmedia, Arianna Grainey
Begin Again Homes, a nonprofit organization, is seeking $12,550 for temporary housing for individuals who are homeless by acquiring a permanent structure.
Seven nonprofit organizations are seeking a portion of $80,000 in health and human services funding from the city of Apache Junction.
They are:
Superstition Community Food Bank, seeking $50,000 in food and $25,000 for a student backpack food program;
Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley, seeking an unknown amount of money to promote academic success, healthy lifestyles, good character/leadership, and career pathways and workforce readiness;
Community Alliance Against Family Abuse, which in 2021 became A New Leaf, $7,000 for the continuation of emergency hotel nights, to purchase cell phones for survivors and provide transportation;
Horizon Health & Wellness, $3,228 for food including fresh fruit and vegetables to be grown at the adjacent Earth Heart Park;
Apache Junction Community Development Corp., $11,460 to assist volunteers in using landscaping equipment to clean properties that have excessive trash, weeds, debris, etc.;
Bigger Than Us, seeking an unknown amount of money to bring a nationally known speaker to local schools to combat issues of bullying and youth suicide and provide training to first-responders; and
Begin Again Homes, $12,550 for temporary housing for individuals who are homeless by acquiring a permanent structure.
A commission comprised of volunteers will make a recommendation in May to council on which should receive fiscal year 2024-25 funding.
City staff members have examined the applications, which were due by Jan. 31, and are seeking additional information from several including how much money is being sought.
“We have been through them. We have asked a few more questions. We have a few new applicants,” City Clerk Jennifer Pena said during the Feb. 26 meeting of the Apache Junction Health and Human Services Commission.
She showed the commission a comparison table of nonprofit requests since 2012, with question marks listed for Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley and Bigger Than Us for 2024-25.
“(F)or 2024-25, I had to call the food bank to confirm with them. I’m still making phone calls to confirm with what people are asking. Like the Boys and Girls Club show $360,000 but when you do the numbers they’re only asking for like $8,000,” Pena said. “Bigger Than Us: again, we had some difficulty in printing their application — it came in pieces — so we’re reaching out to them and asking them to provide more information.”
Prior to the discussion on funding applicants, the commission selected a chairperson and vice chairperson.
A motion was made and a vote was 3-2 for Dr. Michael Brennan as chairperson, with Jeffrey P. Mitchell and Penny Voisine dissenting. Brennan did not vote. Commissioner Della Wood was absent.
Commissioner Jeffrey F. Danford had been nominated as chairperson but no vote was held as Brennan received enough votes.
A motion was made and a vote was 5-0 for Jeffrey F. Danford as vice chairperson, with Mitchell dissenting. Wood was absent.
Commissioner Heather M. Moeller had been nominated as vice chairperson but no vote was held as Danford received enough votes.
Two commission members — Wood and Mitchell — recused themselves from the selection process for health and human services providers because of apparent conflicts of interest. Mitchell said he is the board treasurer of Begin Again Homes, which submitted an application to receive funding from the city of Apache Junction. Wood recused herself from the entire meeting.
The commission conducts public hearings to determine the needs of city residents with regard to public health, provision of human services and care of the elderly, handicapped and developmentally disabled. Its next meeting is 5 p.m. Monday, March 25, at the City Council Chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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