• Rotary Year: 2022-2023
  • Application Date: 6/15/2022
  • Club Name: Tri-Cities
  • Project Name: Bluff City Elementary Clothes Closet
  • Project Total Expenditures: $1,000.00
  • Grant Amount Requested: $500.00
  • Describe the Project, its location and its objectives: The proposed grant will fund clothes, shoes, undergarments, coats, and other supplies for the Bluff City Elementary School (BCES) Clothes Closet. Bluff City Elementary serves approximately 500 students in one of the more economically distressed areas of Sullivan County. The Median Household Income (2020) for Bluff City ($42,500) is significantly lower than both the statewide average ($54,833) and the average for Sullivan County overall ($47,438). The local poverty rate (20.4%) exceeds statewide (13.6%) and county rates (13.6%) as well.

    The principal of Bluff City Elementary School has visited the club, providing examples of the basic needs that he observes on a regular basis among the student body. BCES teachers and administrators regularly encounter children that do not have adequate clothing, often spending their own personal funds to ensure that students have what they need. Many students wear clothes that do not fit properly, are worn out, or are not appropriate for the season. The goal of this district grant will be to stock up the BCES Clothes Closet with clothing, shoes, undergarments, coats, and other winter items (gloves, scarves, hats, etc.) to enable the school to address needs as they arise without placing an undue financial burden on the teachers.

    Club representatives and the principal have also discussed the possibility of developing a long-term partnership between the club and the school, in which the club would “adopt” the school, working to address needs as they arise. Club contributions may continue to focus on the Clothes Clotset, but may also expand to other needs including volunteering in the classroom and/or school supply drives. This ongoing partnership would allow for a more consistent flow of resources for the Clothes Closet and present club members with periodic opportunities for direct service at the school throughout the year.
  • This is the Club’s: Primary Project Application
  • Expected Start Date: 8/15/2022
  • Expected End Date: 11/15/2022
  • Expected Number of Beneficiaries: 50
  • Describe how the project will benefit the community and/or improve the lives of the less fortunate: The requested funds will provide the necessary items to meet students’ immediate needs for correctly-sized and weather-appropriate clothing, allowing them to focus on learning. The grant will also reduce or eliminate the financial burden that teachers and administrators take on when they feel compelled to pay for students’ clothing and shoes out-of-pocket as urgent needs are identified.
  • Estimated Total Project Volunteer Hours: 20
  • Describe the Rotarian hands-on activities in the project (i.e. non-financial participation): Members of the Tri-Cities Rotary Club will shop for a list of items provided by Bluff City Elementary School, including but not limited to shoes, pants, shirts, undergarments, coats, gloves, hats, and scarves. Items will be purchased in a variety of sizes to meet the needs of students from kindergarten through 5th grade. Rotarians will then deliver the items to the school and assist with organizing them in the space designated for the Clothes Closet.
  • Describe the publicity plan to inform the general public that this is a Rotary sponsored project: Tri-Cities Rotary Club members will take photos throughout the project, both as they shop for Clothes Closet items and as they are delivered to the school. These photos will be shared on individual members’ social media pages and via the club’s social media. Photos will include only club members and school officials that agree to be photographed. No photos of students will be taken or shared.
  • Cooperating Organizations – Please list each cooperating organization, if any: The cooperating organization for this project will be Bluff City Elementary School. A letter of participation is attached, as required.
  • Letter(s) of Participation: BCES_Letter_Final.pdf
  • Project Expenditure Budget – list detail uses of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: See Budget Upload
  • Project Funding Budget – list detail sources of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: See Budget Upload
  • Budget Upload:BCES_District_Grant_Budget.pdf
  • Primary Contact Name: Nikki Morrison
  • Primary Contact Rotary Position: President Elect
  • Primary Contact Email: snmorrison@northeaststate.edu
  • Primary Contact Phone: 4233545170
  • Financial Contact Name: Megan
  • Financial Contact Rotary Position: Allphin
  • Financial Contact Address: 
    429 Clay Street
    Kingsport, TN 37660
    United States View on Map
  • Financial Contact Email: mdallphin@matternandcraig.com
  • Financial Contact Phone: 4234801863
  • District Grant Project Authorization Letter2022_2023_district_grants_project_authorization_letter_final_signed.pdf
  • Grant Number: 2022-18
  • Grant Award: $500.00