Harmony House, New Community’s transitional housing facility for homeless families, received a $1,500 Community Grant from Walmart to expose residents to art, recreation and other cultural experiences.
The facility received the grant Dec. 29 from the Walmart in Kearny and will use it in 2018.
The Walmart Foundation offers Community Grants in eight different areas. Harmony House received funding for Quality of Life, which the Walmart Foundation defines as “improving access to recreation, arts or cultural experiences for low income individuals and families in the United States.”
Assistant Program Manager Dametria Wertz researched various grant opportunities that could benefit Harmony House and applied for the funding Dec. 14. After completing an eligibility quiz, she filled out the grant application online. About two weeks later, the $1,500 award arrived.
The money will be used to further enhance the programs offered at Harmony House and allow residents to have experiences they might not have otherwise had.
“Harmony House residents, specifically the children, will be able to be exposed to the arts, something they may not have otherwise had an opportunity to achieve,” Wertz said. “It will open their minds to more than just their surroundings, be an escape from their reality and inspire them to change their reality. Hopefully it will help inspire a child to pick up a pencil or a paintbrush, write, dance, act, sing and create.”
New Community Chief of Health and Social Services Arti Kakkar is grateful to have received the grant, which is the first Walmart has awarded to Harmony House.
“We want to thank Walmart for their donation because every small bit counts to enrich the activities for our young kids,” she said.
Community Grants from the Walmart Foundation range from $250 to $2,500. In addition to Quality of Life, the organization offers funding in the following areas: Hunger Relief and Healthy Eating, Health and Human Service, Education, Community and Economic Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Public Safety and Environmental Sustainability. Management at the local Walmart facility make funding recommendations.
