Orrville Area United Way announces the recipients of its Summer Grant—a special funding opportunity created to reinforce investment in local nonprofits, strengthen community connections, and help make a greater impact across Dalton, Marshallville, and Orrville.

The grant opportunity drew widespread interest, with 12 eligible proposals and more than $102,500 in total requests. With up to $40,000 available to award, the Citizen Review Committee made up of volunteers from each of the three communities engaged in thoughtful, community-centered discussion to determine how to direct funds for the most meaningful impact.

Grant recipients include:

  • NAMI of Wayne & Holmes Counties - $2,000.00 to support transportation services for individuals participating in programs and services at MOCA House
  • Orrville Area Boys & Girls Club – $5,000.00 to support summer KidStop programming
  • OHuddle – $5,000.00 to support a cooking series called #LetMenteesCook.  This program puts youth in contact with culinary artists such as the Metz kitchen chefs at The J.M. Smucker Company. They will develop recipes with shelf-stable food that will be used in a cookbook provided to promote healthy eating and food security development among their 800 mentees.
  • Orrville City Schools – $1,000.00 to support the purchase of a camera, lenses and accessories for the Orrville High School yearbook program
  • Orrville Public Library – $5,000.00 to purchase additional Spanish-language and bilingual materials to distribute to families from the Library on the Go! van
  • The Salvation Army Orrville-Maiwurm Service Center – $10,000.00 to support its rent assistance program
  • Stirrup Courage – $3,000.00 to assist in funding the addition of a fence for an outdoor riding space for children and youth
  • Wayne County Children’s STEAM Playlab – $2,000.00 to support summer camp, 2026
  • YMCA of Wayne County, Orrville Branch - $4,200.00 to support the YMCA’s Safety Around the Water program for local youth

The next opportunity to apply for funding will be the 2027 Sustaining Grant. Applications will be accepted August 7 through September 4. To be eligible, an agency representative must attend the Grant Release Meeting on Wednesday, August 4, from 8:30–9:30 a.m. at the Orrville Area United Way office.