WHITEHALL — The White Lake Community Fund distributed a new batch of grants Monday afternoon at the White Lake Community Library.
The grants were given to four different recipients: Whitehall Township, the Arts Council of White Lake, the Michigan Youth Ballet Theatre and the White Lake Free Store.
Whitehall Township received a $15,000 grant as part of the ongoing efforts to create a pickleball complex at the township park. With significant support from the township’s pickleball club, which has contributed over $80,000, the park already has six courts, and an additional six courts are being constructed. Once all the courts are completed, according to the township, the complex will be the largest pickleball complex in the county.
The township hopes to stage large tournaments at the park once all the courts are completed.
Township supervisor Arnold Erb thanked the Community Fund for the grant, noting that the enthusiasm for the pickleball project has spread throughout the township.
The ACWL received a $10,000 grant, which will be used to repair sculptures and replace signs along the Art Walk in Whitehall and Montague. The ACWL noted that, according to the Chamber of Commerce, the Art Walk is the White Lake area’s third-biggest tourist attraction. The Art Walk began in 2005, with support from the WLCF. Of the 18 sculptures on the walk, four will be repaired with the grant money, and five signs will be replaced. There will also be new signage placed in the Marilyn Voss Garden in Montague.
The MYBT received a $6,000 grant to boost its community outreach efforts. Executive director Erin France said the ballet has planned outings to schools throughout the area as well as White Lake Assisted Living. One of those includes, she said, a full-school assembly at Ealy Elementary School in Whitehall.
“So many people here have no idea what ballet is,” France said. “We want to show people in the community what we are.”
She added that the MYBT distributes vouchers in the community for free dance lessons and tickets to performances.
The White Lake Free Store, run by Ruth Grenell out of the local United Methodist Church, received a $5,000 grant. Grenell said the grant will help pay for diapers and other bathroom items for distribution to needy families in the area. As the name implies, the Free Store gives donated items of all kinds away to those in need. The Free Store is open Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons, each time frame of which includes a free meal. Grenell said the Thursday evening dinners usually attract 60-70 visitors and the Saturday afternoon lunches bring in 40 to 45.
“This money will keep us going another year and a half, I hope,” Grenell said, noting a donation by the White Lake Area Women was quickly exhausted by the numerous items she brought in for the free store.
Grenell added that the free store accepts donations of “almost anything,” but is especially in need of baby and toddler clothes right now.
White Lake Community Fund chair Beth Pickard concluded the gathering by reminding those present that the next grant cycle for the WLCF begins New Year’s Day, with applications due by Feb. 22.
