Washington Township has been awarded a $15,000 grant to help purchase and install a Generac 48 kW automatic generator.
This project will allow the building to serve as an emergency shelter during storms, heat advisories, and extreme winter weather, while also continuing to support the wide variety of community events hosted there each year.
The Community Building, established in 1977, has long been a gathering place for graduations, wedding receptions, bridal showers, birthdays, funeral dinners, flea markets, fire department fundraisers, and more. With the addition of a generator and upgraded electrical panel, the facility will be equipped to operate as a safe evacuation center during emergencies, ensuring the township and surrounding county have a reliable resource when it’s needed most.
“When I got the news, I was ecstatic,” said Washington Township Trustee Cathy Benko. “It felt like a dream come true, because this project will not only benefit our township but also the whole county. My main concern has always been turning the building into an evacuation center if needed, and without a generator, we couldn’t do that. This was something our community truly needed.” This grant was made possible through the generosity of donors to community funds at the Starke County Community Foundation.
Right now, every gift to these funds is matched $2 for every $1 donated through the Lilly Endowment GIFT VIII initiative, tripling the impact for projects like the Washington Township Community Building.
To learn more about supporting community projects through the Starke County Community Foundation or to make a gift that triples in impact, visit www.nicf.org or contact Starke County Director of Development Jacque Ryan at 574.772.3665.
Follow updates on the project by visiting the Washington Township Community Building’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/washtwp.
