$20,000 SIA grants awarded

LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI) - Equipment for water rescues, a new gas furnace and a handicap-accessible family changing room. Those are some of the projects being funded by grants from the SIA foundation.

The SIA Foundation awarded more than $20,000 to seven groups during a ceremony Thursday at the SIA Training Center.

The Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department plans to use $2,800 for the dive team to purchase a side scan sonar.  " What they will be able to do with this equipment is to map the bottom of a body of water," said Brown. "The Wabash River is one location. We can't see any further than the mask on our faces." Brown said lives can be saved and property can be recovered with less danger to the diver.

Faith Community Center received $1,750 to build a new, handicap-accessible family changing room and shower. "It is for those parents who have special needs children in wheelchairs or walkers," said Danny Little, Director of Faith Community Ministries. "It's a place where they can come into our community center, go into the pool and have a safe place to change into their swimming suits. The children can go swimming, shower and go back to their lives. It's just a blessing to them."

The Delphi Public Library won a grant of $2,000. The library plans to purchase new cabinetry with a small set of units that will match the library's shelving and be more functional and suitable for a working library. The branch library is located in a log cabin home that has been remodeled as a library. "Through the years we've gradually been able to gather grants, funds and gifts to purchase our own place, remodel it, buy new shelving," said Kelly Currie. "This is the final piece of the puzzle to change the storage there to make it more suitable for a working library."

VFW Post 2231in Monticello received a $4,500 grant to replace its gas furnace and necessary duct work to replace the present system purchased in 1980.

Family Promise of Greater Lafayette is a new organization. It received $3,630 to purchase office equipment and provide support services to homeless families. The group assists with the search for permanent housing and employment.

Lafayette Transitional Housing was awarded a $3,984 grant. The money will be used to purchase 3 sets of washers and dryers for the tenants at the Lincoln Center Permanent Supportive Housing Program. Director Jennifer Layton said Lafayette Transitional Housing is now the sole owner of the facility and wants to see the Lincoln Center become a viable housing option for those in need.

Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana in Hammond is getting $1,935 to purchase robots that can be loaned to teachers. The robots are used as a training tool to better prepare students for the center's simulated mission program. Teachers and students from a 5-county radius will be able to use the robots.