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The Outer Banks Community Foundation board of directors recently approved more than $163,000 in grants, including $157,244 in new Disaster Recovery grants for Hatteras and Ocracoke.

Interfaith Community Outreach (ICO) was awarded a grant for $16,785 to help Dare County families whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Dorian pay for building supplies, materials, appliances and contract help. ICO reported that many families applying for hurricane assistance have not had the means to fully repair homes from earlier major storms, exacerbating more recent damages. ICO will work with their home rehab coordinator, volunteers, contractors and homeowners on a case-by-case basis to verify damages and financial need. Six to ten families, most at or below poverty level, have been identified as inhabiting substandard housing and have requested assistance.

Ocracoke Interfaith Relief and Recovery Team (OIRRT) was awarded just under $119,477 to address unmet reconstruction needs for homes that sustained damage as a result of Hurricane Dorian. The group will use the funds to return the homes of families, sick, elderly and poor on Ocracoke to habitable status, ensuring these individuals can enjoy comfort and stability in their permanent residences. OIRRT project partners include Hyde County, Christian Aid Ministries, Operation Blessing and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Additionally, a grant of $3,362 to purchase insurance related to the project was awarded.

Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men (CHUMM) to was awarded $17,600 to replace roofs, heating and HVAC systems, insulation, underpinning and ductwork in flood-damaged homes; the grant also covers repairing a damaged porch and replacing a kitchen range. CHUMM accomplishes much of their work with volunteer labor; these skilled repairs will be done by a core group of contractors with whom the agency has established relationships.

“We are proud to continue supporting the work of our nonprofit partners and assist in the recovery from Hurricane Dorian,” said OBCF interim executive director Bob Muller. “The volunteers who are assisting these nonprofits are to be saluted for their dedication and persistence in helping displace families move back into their homes.”

In addition to the grants for disaster relief, a first quarter Community Enrichment Grant awarded $5,800 to Dare County Crime Line, as fiscal sponsor for Camp S.A.L.T. (Save A Life Together), to be applied to a storage shed, a first aid station and an obstacle course for Camp S.A.L.T. The camp operates three summer camp sessions for children ages eight to 14, offering structured outdoor activities and field trips designed to provide positive developmental experiences. Each session can accommodate up to 40 participants. Organizers estimate that between 5,000 and 6,000 Dare County children have participated in Camp S.A.L.T. in the past ten years. The multi-use camp is also used for police canine training and by Boy and Girl Scout groups, church organizations, motorcycle groups, Go Out For A Run (GOFAR), Ocean Rescue and other nonprofit organizations.

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