What do I do with my glasses after the eclipse? Eclipse viewing glasses are RECYCLABLE! The Shelby County Recycling District will be collecting used glasses so that they can be recycled. After the eclipse on April 8, drop your used glasses in a recycling container.

Over 500 entries were received for the Eclipse Community Art Project! Make sure to stop in and check out the FUN & Cosmic Creations at the Shelby County Public Library - Annex beginning Mon., March 4. There will also be an eclipse exhibit at the Art Guild in Shelbyville’s Public Square. Thank you so much for your participation!

As a Nonprofit Organization in Shelby County, we know that you are working hard and providing invaluable services to our community. Help us to learn more about your operations and areas where you could use assistance by answering these brief questions! Thank you! Laura Land, Community Engagement Officer at Blue River Community Foundation & Stephen Black, Director of Behavioral Health/Health Equity at MHP

Congratulations Ivy Tech Community College on the addition of the Advanced Manufacturing Simulation Lab at the Shelbyville Campus! The lab provides hands-on training for students interested in entering the manufacturing workforce. This opportunity provides a valuable asset to our Shelby County community! A ribbon cutting ceremony for the lab was held on April 18 at 9:30am. Ivy Tech Community College- Shelbyville Campus: 2177 Intelliplex Dr. Shelbyville IN 46176

IVY Tech Community College students from a communication class (COMM 202) are facilitating and hosting a mini leadership conference for Shelby County Nonprofit agencies as a class project on Tues., May 7 from 12pm-4pm (registration and food between 12pm and 1pm; Keynote and breakout sessions 1pm -4pm). It is free to attend / Register here.

Make sure to stop in downtown Shelbyville at the Public Square this Spring and Summer! The Shelby County Players “PopUps at the Pavilion” 2024 Season begins on Thurs., April 25th - and will continue every Tuesday and Thursday evening through September.

As you prepare for your gardens, make sure to connect with the Shelby County Soil & Water Conservation District! You can buy native plants (place order by April 22). Get a rain barrel as well. A rain barrel workshop will be held on May 4. Learn more - Spring Observer.

Shelby County Pantry Pals host a monthly mobile pantry in partnership with Gleaners Food Bank on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10AM-12PM at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. Volunteers are needed from 9AM-12:30pm to set up, bag produce if needed and distribute food to around 300 households at this drive through event. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Sloan Shockley Lewis at 317-925-0191 x165 or at sshockley@gleaners.org.

Need seeds? Have extra seeds? Visit the Morristown Seed Library at the Velma Wortman Morristown Branch of the Shelby County Public Library. With your library card, you can check out seeds for FREE! They have flower, herb, fruit, and vegetable seeds. They also accept seed donations.

The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) and its Regional Arts Partners announced the opening of applications for the Fiscal Year 2025 Arts Project Support grant program. 

They are collecting plastic bottle caps at Waldron Elementary School to help Rushville make memory benches for two seniors who passed away this school year. Bottle caps can be dropped off at the Waldron Elementary office.

The Shelby Community Band will be back from their holiday break and making music again in January! They are always looking for new members to join their wonderful family. There is no audition! Must be 18 or older and have previous experience playing in band. Contact them to learn more.

Make sure to check out The Strand Theatre’s full calendar of events!

A volunteer crew took action at the Blue River Cross Country Course to help them prepare for the first meet on August 19. The course runs on the help of volunteers and sponsors. If you'd like to get involved as a volunteer (mowing, working events, maintenance) or be a financial sponsor, please contact them or give them a call at 317-364-1850. They’d love to have you!

Every year, Major Health Partners volunteers provide more than 20,000 hours of service. Whether young in age or young at heart, MHP volunteers share their hearts and talents in service to the hospital, its patients, visitors and guests - no matter where they are working!

Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is looking for volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of Our Hospice patients and families. Volunteers provide companionship in the patient's home or care facility typically one day a week. It's a very rewarding and meaningful way to give back. Contact Kelsey Whitehead (812) 314-8031 today if you are interested or complete a volunteer application at https://www.crh.org/service-centers/hospice/volunteer

If you are looking for rewarding volunteer work, Meals on Wheels needs people to help deliver hot meals to home-bound Shelby County residents! If interested, please call: 317-398-4470.

Agape Therapeutic Riding is looking for volunteers in their classes to help their riders - no horse experience necessary! Please go to https://agaperiding.org/volunteer/ to register!

Waldron Elementary School needs non-perishable food items that can be sent home in kids back packs. There are kids who might not have much help at home fixing the food. For this reason, they could use food that they can prepare on their own such as cereal, individual cups of Mac & Cheese, Granola Bars, Poptarts, etc. Food donations can be dropped off at the Waldron Elementary School Front Office: 306 East St, Waldron, IN 46182

The shelves of the Food Pantry at Morristown High School are getting bare! They could use donations of nonperishable food items. Food benefits Morristown students.

The Waldron Church of the Risen Christ is looking for volunteers to help with unloading food for their food pantry every 2nd and 4th Monday at 10am and also every 4th Tuesday at 1:30pm. This pantry is located at 202 West Washington Street, Waldron IN 46182. You can contact 765-525-6026 for more details.

No matter the season, local food pantries can always use donations of nonperishable food items and financial support. Here is a list of Shelby County, Indiana Food Pantries and Mini-Pantries. Shelby County Pantry Pals also helps stock local pantries if you are desiring to donate toward an organization who help those who live with food insecurity.

Since 2018, the Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation has directed more than $30 million to organizations aligned with their mission to create communities free of hunger and waste.

The First Financial Foundation was created in 2017 to support programs and organizations that enhance and develop the communities in which we do business. They particularly focus on low-income communities, prioritizing: neighborhood development | workforce development and education | culture and the arts. They look for successful applicants to generally have the following characteristics: stable financial resources, community-focused mission, and a strong and diverse leadership team. They anticipate having their next open-funding period in Q2 2024.

BryteBridge, a provider of compliance and development services to the nonprofit community, announces Microgrant Program to help emerging nonprofits continue to impact their local communities. In 2023, $20,000 in cash and service grants will be distributed to nonprofits nationwide. Applications must be received before November 1, 2023. Announcements will be made on Giving Tuesday — November 28, 2023.

Grants for Veteran’s Services (GVS) is a grant program administered by the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA). Applicants must be nonprofit organizations serving Indiana veterans. More details…

The Shelbyville Central Education Foundation now has grants available for teachers in the Shelbyville Central School System! These grants will provide an opportunity for teachers to bring new ideas into the classroom and enhance the learning experience of students. (Deadlines: July 1 & November 1 - *Requests must be $1000 or under)

Shelby County Community Corrections is offering a Juvenile Grant Scholarship Opportunity (for children 17 years of age or younger). This could be funding educational needs, extracurricular activities, and/or transportation needs.

The MHP Foundation is now accepting grant applications for nonprofit organizations who support MHP's charitable initiatives. The simple, online interest form is open for submission year-round. Projects or ideas that match with their mission, inspire social determinants work, or problem-solve for established community needs will be sent an application to apply. Learn more

“If your school or non-profit organization believes in the role of fine instruments in your program, and can show evidence of need and commitment to raising matching funds, you are a strong candidate for the Classics for Kids matching grant program. Applications accepted quarterly. Deadlines: June 30, September 30, December 31 and March 31.”

(Full Details)

The Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC, Indiana Tourism) offers grants to cities, towns, counties, nonprofit entities and others located in Indiana that are involved with tourism promotion and development. Projects that contribute to the development and improvement of local economies and communities throughout Indiana by means of enhancing, expanding and promoting the visitor industry are eligible to receive funding. (Full Details)

Throughout the year, Indiana Humanities offers a number of grants to help organizations develop and implement their own public humanities programs in their communities.

• Action Grant: $3000 (Last Day of Each Month)

• INcommon Grant: $5000 (Deadlines - Round 1: 2/28/23; Round 2: 8/31/23)

• Historic Preservation Education Grant: $3000 (Deadlines - Round 1: 2/28/23; Round 2: 9/30/23)

• FULL GRANTING GUIDELINE DETAILS

Over the next three years, the Elevance Health Foundation will invest up to $90 million in partnerships and programs that address health inequities by demonstrating measurable and positive change in four key areas. They will begin reviewing applications annually as follows:

• Maternal and Child Health: Each August (with a deadline of 8/31)

• Food as Medicine: Each May (with a deadline of 5/31)

• Substance Use Disorder: Each January (with a deadline of 1/31)

• Disaster Relief: Different Deadlines - Learn More

• GRANTING GUIDELINE DETAILS

If your Nonprofit organization is considering running a fundraising auction online, you might consider checking out Auctria.com. This user-friendly business allows an organization to get a web auction up and running easily. They will also support live events. Their pricing includes a generous free version.