This year, the Nemaha County STEP Foundation Board of Directors embraced a
Monopoly-themed approach to highlight how STEP is helping improve life across the county.
Each grant award represents a meaningful “stop” on our STEP-opoly board. The grants are
awarded for charitable purposes to enhance and improve the quality of life for the residents of
Nemaha County Kansas. There were several outstanding applications. Thank you to all who
applied.
For the first stop, the Albany Historical Society will be updating the siding on the Rock
Creek Church building with the help of $2,500 from the STEP General Endowment Fund. Alex
Dawdy, grant writer, shared in the grant application, “The overall project began a couple of years ago when Albany was given the opportunity to acquire the Rock Creek Church building along with the functional pipe organ that dates back to the same time period in which the building was built in 1888. We used money donated through a local community foundation to build a new foundation for the church and move it to that foundation. We have also put a new roof on, installed rain gutters, installed new windows, installed HVAC, and installed new bathrooms. We are well past $100,000 into the overall project. Our next improvement is siding. This would be our last step of building renovation, and then we'll be on to restoring the organ which will likely cost as much as we have in the building renovations.”
The second stop will be the B&B Ball Field (Sacred Heart Parish) in the amount of
$1,900 ($1,000 General and $90 Glen Meyer) for new LED lights for the ballfield. Grant writer,
Brooke Strathman explained in the grant application. “The ball field lights will be replaced with
new LED lights. The old lights are outdated, and we can no longer find parts for them. It will
also save $1,500 to $3,000 per year in electrical costs with these updates. These lights will also light the field more completely for the players' safety.”
Another stop will be Best Life Community Services (formerly Nemaha County Training
Center). They are purchasing overhead track lifts with the help of the STEP General Endowment Fund granting $3,000. Lynn Hartter, Program Developer, shared in the grant application, “Best Life Community Services continues construction on a new, five-person group living residential facility, with three private one-bedroom apartments. The house, located at Third and Nemaha Streets in Seneca, Kansas, will feature two bedrooms with overhead motorized lifts for safe transitioning of individuals. One of the shower rooms will also offer an overhead lift. The overhead ceiling lifts will provide safety and stability for individuals and supporting staff during personal care. These lift systems are more stable and versatile than portable lift machines. The cost includes J-tracks which will allow lift and transfer from
seating (chair or other seat), bed, and commode) and the re-chargeable motors.”
The next stop is the Centralia Ball Association/City of Centralia that is completing its
batting cage project with the help of $500 from the General Endowment Fund. Since both of the current cages need improvements, they plan to demo both and replace them with a 70-foot, dual lane batting cage. This would be constructed out of metal framing and heavy-duty nets. They also plan to pour a concrete border to hold compacted sand aggregate. On top of this they will place turf to provide the best possible practice surface even in wet conditions. The turf would allow the cages to be used for more than just batting. Pitching, catching, and fielding ground balls could be practiced in both lanes.
As we are rounding the STEP-opoly board, the City of Corning will receive a $500 grant
provided from the General Fund for the City Hall windows project. According to grant writer, Diane Haverkamp, “The current windows are old, single paned windows and in dire need of
replacement. They leak terribly so replacing them should help immensely with being able to heat the building in the winter months. We plan to replace them with 42" x 72" double paned Girken fixed windows. They will be framed in nicely and insulated, finished out to blend with the stone. We plan to replace the 4 big windows on the south side of the building and 2 of the windows on the north end. The other 2 window openings will be closed in and finished nicely. We will also replace the smaller windows in the 2 west rooms. The total projected cost for this project is $18,595.”
With only two stops left, the Nemaha Central Elementary and Middle school will receive
$5,000 from the Chad Baker Memorial Fund for student supplies. Nemaha Central Elementary
and Middle School would like to purchase a variety of alternative seating options as well as
fidgets and alternative tools to help support students’ sensory needs. The district has purchased all of these items over the years and is in need of purchasing additional items as well as replacing items. Alternative seating and sensory tools help students with a variety of needs access their learning. Some students require movement and/or fidgeting to help them focus. We have seen success with the use of these items and would like to be able to continue to provide them to students who need them,” shared Krista Stallbaumer, Student and Family Liaison.
In the home stretch is the Woodlawn Baptist Church which will be receiving $500
(General Fund) to purchase an AED. Grant writer Kate Bauerle shared in the grant application
“The Woodlawn Baptist church realizes the importance of preparing for any event. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and woman, and one person dies every thirty-four seconds. We want to know we have the ability to provide potentially life-saving care for our members and guest if the worst happens.”
The last stop on our STEP-olopy board will be awarded from the CNB/CNB
Custody/Invisor “Underprivileged Children’s Fund.” The $3,000 grant award is to the Nemaha
Central School. Funds will be used to purchase coats, hats, gloves, backpacks, shoes, meals,
including snack milk and medical expenses for students who are underprivileged. Funds will also be used to purchase items for the food closet where low-income students can take home extra food for the weekend.
Thank you, STEP donors, as your generosity makes all the stops possible.
Congratulations to the fall 2025 grant recipients. The next grant application deadline is January 15, 2026. Applications can be submitted online at www.nemahastep.org.
