Community Foundation awards grant to support at risk children in Adams County

On November 20, the Adams County Community Foundation presented its 51st grant to the Adams County Children Services Foundation at the Adams County Children’s Home, continuing a long standing partnership to support children and families across Adams County. The funding is part of the foundation's Neighbors Helping Neighbors fall initiative, which this season targets support for children at risk, food access for families, and pathways to career training.

The award will be used to meet basic needs for children involved with county services, and to fund activities that contribute to social development and school engagement, including proms, camps, and other programs identified by children services staff. Foundation leaders emphasized that flexible, locally directed assistance can fill gaps in public services and stabilize family situations that contribute to poor health outcomes and educational disruptions.

ACCF president Linda Stepp and vice president Paul Worley noted that donations from the community have a tangible impact, helping provide Christmas gifts, senior pictures and other supports that help young people feel included and respected. Those modest items can also support mental health and social belonging, factors that public health research links to better long term outcomes.

For Adams County residents, the grant has immediate practical effects. Children who lack basic supplies or opportunities to participate in school events face stigma and higher risk for absenteeism and disengagement. By funding both essentials and enrichment, the foundation seeks to reduce stress on caregivers, lower barriers to school participation, and limit the downstream cost of unmet needs in healthcare and social services.

The grant also highlights broader policy issues around funding for children and family services. Local nonprofits and community foundations often bridge shortfalls in government programs, providing targeted interventions that respond to staff identified needs. This arrangement can improve outcomes when coordinated with public agencies, but it also underscores persistent gaps in the social safety net that disproportionately affect low income and marginalized families.

Public health experts view investments like this as preventive measures that can reduce emergency healthcare use, buffer adverse childhood experiences, and improve long term economic mobility. For rural counties such as Adams, collaborative local funding helps tailor supports to the community context while advocating for more equitable resource allocation at state and federal levels.

As the Neighbors Helping Neighbors initiative continues through the season, the Community Foundation and its partners will track how funds are used and the measurable benefits for children and families. For residents, the grant is both immediate assistance and a reminder of the role community solidarity plays in addressing health, education and equity in Adams County.