Funding requests to the Caring and Sharing Foundation were up for the third straight year.
For 2009, the foundation received requests in excess of $40,000 from non-profit organizations in Camden County.
Bart Schulte, treasurer of the organization, said the foundation collected $17,500 for the 2009 funding cycle. The funds were allocated to the various organizations based on need.
The foundation provides an organized mechanism that allows 100 percent of the funds collected locally to be distributed locally. Over the past three years, the foundation has given out nearly $50,000.
The Sharing and Caring Foundation relies upon an employee payroll deduction program, and individual and business donations as its primary means of revenue generation.
Grant recipients over the past two years have included the The Lamb House, Lake Area Helping Hands Homeless Shelter, Citizen’s Against Domestic Violence, Kids Harbor, Medical Missions for Christ, the Pregnancy Help Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Camden County Child Advocacy, and Share the Harvest Food Pantry. Financial support in excess of $48,000 has been provided to these organizations.
The goal of the foundation is to raise money within Camden County so that 100 percent of it will be spent on local needs, according to Gerry Williams, president of the foundation.
Organizations that made the final cut and what they got:
• The Lamb House - $4,000 to provide electrical assistance.
• Medical Missions for Christ - $3,500 to provide prescription assistance.
• Share the Harvest - $3,000 to provide detergent to needy families
• Citizens Against Domestic Violence - $2,000 to provide a support group for children of victims
• Woman 2 Woman - $1,500 to start a “Budget, Basics & Beyond” program for clientele
• The Arc of the Lake - $500 to assist with the formation of a young adults club for individuals with disabilities
• Camden County Child Advocacy - $500 to provide socks and underwear for the back-to-school program.

