Many nonprofits in Gilmer County rely on the Faith, Hope and Charity Recycle Store (FHC) to support their missions, by providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants. Last Tuesday, April 22, the Piedmont Community Center was filled with local leaders and volunteers for its 2025 grant reception.
Gilmer County agencies are able to apply for either a monthly or one-time FHC grant to address their needs, supported by the store’s general fund. Applications are on its website, and those approved for the funding are notified at the beginning of the year.
This year, FHC is providing $168,840 in monthly grants, $157,800 in one-time grants and an additional $110,000 for Habitat for Humanity. That’s a total of $436,640 allocated to nonprofits, according to Board Chair Cheryl Worley.
Grant Chairman Steve Purvis has been serving on FHC’s board for more than a decade and recognized the grant recipients at the reception before refreshments were provided.
“Seeing each organization’s passion, and being able to help those people reach whoever they’re trying to reach, is what I find so fulfilling,” Purvis said. “We try to make sure it’s a good investment back into the community and that the people who are supporting us and our volunteers would also support them.”
Grant recipients, including the Appalachian Children’s Center, Boys and Girls Club, Christian Learning Center, Craddock Center, Friends of the Gilmer Animal Shelter, Gilmer 4-H, Gilmer Arts, Gilmer Civil Air Patrol, Gilmer County Library, Gilmer Community Food Pantry, Gilmer Learning Center, Gilmer Senior Center, Habitat for Humanity, Homeward Bound, Isaiah House, Joy House, Kids Ferst, New Beginnings, Promise Land, Toys for Tots and Mountain Wisdom Camp, were honored.
Each nonprofit was given the opportunity to speak about the work they’re doing, as well as thank FHC for its contributions. Some statements made are listed below.
Gilmer Senior Center: “Without your grant program, I can’t even imagine what life would be like for some of these organizations.”
Gilmer Library: “Faith, Hope and Charity has helped with our collections, youth programming and digitizing equipment.”
Friends of the Gilmer Animal Shelter: “We network, and we help each other. You help one organization and it spreads.”
Habitat for Humanity: “Thanks to Faith, Hope and Charity generous grants to us, we’re able to continue building in Gilmer County and work with our repairs program. [The program] provides services to homeowners to help them stay in their home.”
Kids Ferst: “Just the money alone that Faith, Hope and Charity gives us on a monthly basis allows us to send 115 books every single month to kids right here in Gilmer County.”
Homeward Bound: “There’s no organization like [FHC], and there’s no community like Gilmer. Thank you again.”
Toys for Tots: “Not only from the funds that [FHC] donates to us, but with the wonderful, partial roles of gift wrap, we wrap 1,000 toys every year. They also help us coordinate, through Charity Tracker, helping different families from other large organizations.”
Commissioner Karleen Ferguson also attended the grant reception, where she expressed how proud she is of the nonprofits, whether they’re touching the lives of local children, families, seniors, animals or others in need.
“I’m just so proud and thankful for the work each of you are doing,” she said. “That’s what makes this community so special. Faith, Hope and Charity and all of you volunteers, I’m telling you, there’s just nothing like it. We appreciate it so much, thank you.”