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Community organizations receive $35,000 in donations from Monsanto Fund
MATTHEWS, Mo. -- Over the past two years, organizations in southeastern Missouri have received funding for several important nonprofit causes. The New Madrid County Council, Portageville High School (PHS) and the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department each benefited from the Monsanto Fund site grant initiative in 2013 and 2014, with grants totaling $35,660.
When it comes to grain bin accidents, the proper equipment used in a timely manner may be the difference between life and death. Financial support for equipment like this is vital to rural first responders, so employees from the Matthews site selected the University of Missouri Extension, New Madrid County Council to receive a $7,000 donation from the Monsanto Fund. The extension office is partnering with the City of New Madrid Fire Department to purchase grain bin rescue equipment with the grant. It was awarded at the Fisher Delta Research Center Field Day event in Portageville, on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
The equipment purchase has a special significance in this region. In 2008 and 2009, similar incidents involving farmers trapped in grain bins made local headlines. In both cases, one of which ended with a fatality, local first responders did not have grain bin rescue tubes. "This is the first time we have received this generous grant, and we are excited that we can finally purchase the needed equipment and training," said Glenda Hunter, with the local University of Missouri Extension Service office. She added, "Monsanto has been a part of our community for many years and values farm safety, as we do. Knowing how important this equipment may be if another accident were to happen, the fire department and extension council believe this is a partnership that strengthens our community."
Andy Holm, the Monsanto Site Manager in Matthews, was proud to help support first responders. "We want to support our neighbors, many of whom farm for a living," said Holm. "It makes perfect sense to direct this funding to emergency responders, who are tasked with answering calls for all manner of farm accidents."
The Monsanto facility also made a $5,000 donation to the PHS Agriculture Department this year, to help the school purchase electronic tablets that will incorporate technology into the classroom. The school also received a $10,000 grant in 2013, for the purchase of supplemental agriscience classroom materials. "Agriculture, like many other industries, is changing rapidly, due to technology. Nearly every facet of agriculture uses new technology as part of their everyday routine, and employers are coming to expect their employees to be fluent in using new technologies," said Sara Blattel, agriculture teacher and advisor for the PHS FFA Chapter. "This donation also makes sense from our perspective," said Holm. "Supporting the use of technology in ag classrooms goes a long way toward our goals of improved STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Match) skills and ag awareness."
Further demonstrating its commitment to the community, the Monsanto Matthews also directed an $8,000 grant to the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department in July, to purchase new night vision goggles and bullet proof vests. In 2013, the Sheriff's Department also received a $5,660 grant to purchase six portable digital radios for use by the deputies, when they are outside of their vehicle. "We appreciate that officers take risks every day, in order to protect our neighborhoods," said Holm. "It is a privilege to be able to invest in safety equipment to protect these officers."
Nationally, the Monsanto Fund awarded $1.5 million to nonprofit organizations in 2014, through its site grant initiative.