Where do the gaming funds go? Agencies share more than $2.5 million this year

Mike Lewis, The Herald-Mail
·6 min read

Gaming funds will help pay for prescription medicines, building repairs, youth sports equipment and dozens of other community needs in the coming year.

In all, the Washington County Gaming Commission allocated $2.59 million for fiscal year 2022, which ended June 30. The total is up $129,336 compared to fiscal year 2021.

"It always seems to correlate with the price of gasoline, disposable income," Susan Buchanan, the county's grant management director, said Tuesday.

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The revenue, which comes from tip jar games, tends to increase when costs decrease for basic items, such as gasoline.

For example, the total fell in 2020. For some months of that year, some restaurants, bars and other businesses were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We did have a rather lean year that year," Buchanan said.

The Community Free Clinic was one of 66 nonprofits to receive money from the Washington County Gaming Fund this year. Proceeds from the fund are split 50-50, with half going to public safety and the other half distributed to nonprofits through a grant process.
The Community Free Clinic was one of 66 nonprofits to receive money from the Washington County Gaming Fund this year. Proceeds from the fund are split 50-50, with half going to public safety and the other half distributed to nonprofits through a grant process.

The fund has bounced back during the past two years.

But income has slowed during the past few months, as the prices of gasoline and other goods increased, Buchanan said.

State law requires that the money be split equally between the Washington County Fire and Rescue Association and local charities.

This year, that means $1.29 million for the fire and rescue association and another $1.29 million divided among various nonprofits.

Who received the money?

This year, the funding requests totaled about $2 million, Buchanan said. In all, 75 nonprofits submitted 84 separate applications.

After a hearing in June and a workshop in July, the commission partially or fully funded 66 of the 84 requests.

Of the 84 applications received, 44 received full funding, 22 received partial funding, and 18 were denied funding.

Sixty of the 75 organizations received funds.

The Community Free Clinic, which calls itself "a 'safety net' provider for Washington County residents who are uninsured," received the largest award of $175,000.

REACH of Washington County received $100,000. REACH is a faith-based organization that helps families and individuals during times of financial crisis.

Money for health care, youth sports, other needs

A list of the grant recipients, with the amount and a brief summary, according to documents provided by the commission:

  • APPLES for Children Inc: $25,000 to support the salary of an early childhood specialist position to provide technical assistance.

  • Authentic Community Theatre: $5,000 to purchase equipment that will be used to expand program offerings for the community at the ACT Black Box Studio.

  • Baby Basics of Greater Hagerstown: $5,000 to buy diapers, wipes and cream for eligible low-income working families.

  • BEACON House Inc.: $10,000 for educational materials.

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County: $28,200 for mentoring programs.

  • Boys and Girls Club of Washington County: $60,000 for transportation.

  • Breast Cancer Awareness Cumberland Valley: $8,609 for breast cancer handbooks and wigs, wig stands and other items for the wig boutique.

  • Brook Lane Health Services: $50,000 for a school-based mental health program.

  • CASA: $15,000 to replace flooring in one of the transitional apartments and replace an aging fence.

  • Children in Need: $32,000 to help children buy basic school-related items.

  • Children's Village of Washington County: $1,027 to renew tags and to replace tires and batteries on a trailer used for events.

  • Clear Spring Little League: $3,000 to update the padding on the backstops of two little league fields.

  • Coffman Nursing Home: $4,500 for a dishwasher.

  • Community Free Clinic: $175,000 to help pay for general operating expenses, medical tests and prescription medications.

  • Corporation for Assistive Technology: $2,392 to buy materials to build wheelchair ramps.

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  • Discovery Station: $25,000 for general operating expenses.

  • Douglas G. Bast Museum of History and Preservation: $6,065 to repair a chimney.

  • Easterseals Serving DC MD VA: $25,000 to offset costs of the Medical Adult Day Services in Hagerstown.

  • Fahrney Keedy Memorial Home: $18,998 to help buy two 55-inch mobile devices for recreation, social connection, memory care engagement and other purposes.

  • Federal Little League: $3,000 for a sprinkler system.

  • Fierce Cheer Sponsors: $3,000 for a replacement spring floor.

  • Fort Ritchie Community Center: $4,000 for sports programs.

  • Friends of Rural Heritage Museum: $11,250 for operating expenses.

  • Girl's Inc. of Washington County: $50,000 for transportation, professional development and other expenses.

  • Habitat for Humanity of Washington County: $15,000 for house building, renovation and repair projects.

  • Hagerstown Choral Arts: $1,000 to help resume offering concerts after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Hagerstown Colt and Palomino League: $1,328 for a freezer for the concession stand and printer for the office.

  • Hagerstown Fairground Softball Association: $3,000 to buy a sun screen for the backstops.

  • Hagerstown Day Nursery: $2,500 to help buy equipment.

  • Hagerstown Neighborhood Development Partnership: $5,000 to support the work of the Hagerstown Home Store, a HUD certified housing counseling agency.

  • Hancock Little League: $3,000 to upgrade equipment.

  • Head Start of Washington County: $3,000 to help provide social groups for children and produce videos for families and community partners.

  • Humane Society of Washington County: $18,000 for costs and supplies of the community rabies clinics, spay/neuter surgeries and other services.

  • Interfaith Service Coalition of Hancock: $20,000 for operating expenses.

  • Leitersburg Ruritan Community Center: $30,000 for operating expenses.

  • Mediation First Inc.: $28,500 for operating expenses.

  • MIHI: $2,015 for additional transmitters and wrist bands for Project Lifesaver.

  • North High Band Boosters: $3,000 to help cover students' transportation costs to competitions and county events.

  • REACH of Washington County: $100,000 for operating expenses.

  • Robert W. Johnson Community Center: $50,000 for operating expenses.

  • San Mar Family and Community Services: $68,935 to help renovate a building into a new space for outpatient mental health services.

  • Senior Living Alternatives Inc./Holly Place: $90,000 to help subsidize low-income residents.

  • Sharpsburg Historical Society: $2,000 for rent and insurance.

  • Smithsburg Athletic Booster Club: $3,000 for concession stand equipment upgrades.

  • Star Community Inc.: $35,000 for operational support for the Star Equestrian Center.

  • The Arc of Washington County: $7,470 for training, including the purchase of a patient care manikin.

  • The Maryland Food Bank: $10,000 to help buy food, pay for transportation and cover other expenses.

  • The Salvation Army serving Washington County: $60,000 for its meal program.

  • The W House/Lasting Change Recovery Solutions for Women: $8,506 to buy 40 twin mattresses and covers.

  • Unified Community Connections: $4,928 to buy community theater tickets for individuals supported by Community Development Services.

  • Washington County Agricultural Organization: $13,190 to help cover expenses related to the Washington County Ag Expo and Fair.

  • Washington County Commission on Aging: $41,174 for educational courses and to help pay the Meals on Wheels and Aging in Place programs.

  • Washington County Community Action Council: $41,000 to help create a new mobile unit to serve low- to moderate-income and homeless households.

  • Washington County Historical Trust: $3,500 for continued restoration of the Saylor House in Kiwanis Park.

  • Washington County Human Development Council: $4,417 to help buy equipment.

  • Wells House: $14,000 to repaint the exterior of its building on East Baltimore Street.

  • Williamsport High School Athletic Boosters: $1,000 to pay athletic participation fees for student-athletes who need financial assistance.

  • Williamsport Wrestling Club: $3,000 to pay for rent and insurance.

  • Women's Club Foundation: $16,000 to help replace the roof over its auditorium.

  • Women of Valor Ministries: $12,000 for operating expenses.

Mike Lewis covers business, the economy and other issues. Follow Mike on Twitter: @MiLewis.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County Gaming Commission awards more than $2.5 million