SCCFF gets grant

PLAINS – A local organization committed to assisting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse received a sizeable grant from the Plum Creek Foundation recently.

The grant, worth $5,000 was given to the Sanders County Coalition for Families (SCCFF) to help the coalition in its mission to provide a safe haven and supportive services to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

In a public ceremony, held in the Plains High School gymnasium, last Thursday, Feb. 5, the $5,000 grant was presented by representatives from Plum Creek to SCCFF.  

The presentation of the grant occurred on Thursday evening, during the intermission between a basketball doubleheader between Thompson Falls and Plains.

The gym was packed with fans and students from both county schools and the auditorium was filled with applause as the check was presented to SCCFF at center court of the basketball floor.

Nichole Bechtel, the benefit specialist with the Plum Creek Foundation, was on hand to present the check, while Executive Director of SCCFF Gayle Seratt was there to receive the grant.

Following the presentation, Seratt spoke to the crowd and thanked Plum Creek for their generous support.

Seratt emphasized the coalition is focused on supporting the local community and that as much money as possible stays in the area.

According to a press release from Plum Creek, the donation will go towards food and gas vouchers as well as other direct costs incurred when survivors and their children leave abusers.

Seratt explained one way the coalition keeps funds within the community is through the voucher system, which can be used at grocery stores and other businesses in the county that participate with the program.

Additionally, direct services to victims are also funded by SCCFF.

“Last year $8,800 in direct services was funded through the coalition,” Seratt said.

SCCFF was pleased to receive the grant from Plum Creek and will use the funds to further their services to domestic abuse survivors.

“Without the added assistance of the food and gas vouchers, shelter and other support, some of the 175 victims that we helped in 2014 would have had no other choice but to return to their abusers because feeding your children becomes more important than leaving an abusive relationship. Plum Creek’s generous donation allows SCCFF to provide financial assistance to give the victims a window of time to escape the situation,” stated Seratt in a press release.

For more information about SCCFF and its services, please visit www.sccff.org

According to Director of Communications Kathy Budinick of the Plum Creek Foundation, grants are awarded to nonprofits in all of the areas the foundation is active.

“Nonprofits can submit applications to regional representatives, who go through the grants and determine what organizations to support,” Budinick said.