Six grants from Premier Mushrooms to Colusa County nonprofits will go a long way in the local community.
Colusa Swim Team, Colusa County Library Free Library (Literacy Program), Stonyford Museum Youth Club, Maxwell Park and Recreation District Auxiliary, Williams Art Club, and Pacific Flyway Quilters each received awards of $200 or more for the 2021 gant cycle.
Premier Mushrooms has provided small community grants since 2010 to help local nonprofit organizations fulfill their missions.
“I love what we do,” said General Manager Laura Deniz. “The way this grant works is that we donate all the mushrooms that are sold at the Colusa Farmers Market. That is how we raise the money.”
Representatives from several organizations accepted their awards at the annual grant breakfast on March 24 at Market Street Grill, hosted by Premier Mushroom and the Colusa County Chamber of Commerce, which facilitates the sale of mushrooms at the market and hosts the annual Farm-to-Fork Dinner, which also contributes funding for the grant program.
Swim Team members Melissa Ortiz and Fernanda Vanetta accepted a grant from Premier Mushroom to purchase large clocks for the Colusa Town Pool, so lifeguards do not have to rely on – and risk distraction from – the use of cell phones. Ortiz said the pool and public area are undergoing enhancements, and the Swim Team and City of Colusa are working together to create a welcoming environment for swimmers and their families.
Colusa County Librarian Stacy Costello accepted a grant to help fund the summer reading program for children age 5, as well as the Opportunity Club for young teens, an age group the library seldom gets funding to serve.
“What will happen is that we will give 10 kids a book,” Costello said. “They will read the book and have discussions. Then they will watch the movie at the library for contrast and to see what they liked better.”
Costello said the 0-5 program is also very popular.
“With grant funding, we can expand it to other branches,” she said.
Stonyford Museum Director Penne Arbanasin accepted a grant to provide additional hands-on learning experiences for the Youth Club, which has about 20 members of all ages.
MPR Auxiliary member Tish Nerli accepted the Premiere Mushroom grant, which funds the annual Easter Egg Hunt.
The grant covers the cost of the plastic eggs and the prizes.
“We usually get most of the candy donated by the community,” Nerli said.
Representatives of Williams Art Club and Pacific Flyway Quilters did not attend the breakfast.
Jennifer Diaz, Chamber of Commerce manager, runs the Certified Farmers Market in Colusa, June through September.
Diaz encouraged the public to attend the market and purchase the mushrooms, which cannot be purchased any fresher because they are picked at Premier Mushrooms that day.
“It’s been great working with them and being able to do something like this,” Diaz said.
Since the grant program started, Premier Mushrooms have awarded more than $30,000 in small community grants to nonprofits, including many who apply and receive grants each year for community projects.
All Colusa County nonprofits are eligible to apply for the grant by Dec. 31 of each year.
Ben Felt, treasurer of the Community Foundation of Colusa County, also attended the awards breakfast.
The Community Foundation is the umbrella organization for many local nonprofit groups and serves as the umbrella organization for the grant program. ■