Martin County Positive Impact
Together We Are Making
a Positive Impact in Our Communities
City of Loogootee Pavilion
The City of Loogootee has transformed a vacant lot into a welcoming park in the heart of downtown. The park includes green space, sidewalks, benches, lighting, trees, and an open pavilion. MCCF provided a $250,000 Vision Grant toward the construction of the Pavilion. The parks first official event was this year’s Summerfest. Future plans for the park include a farmers market, outdoor movie nights, and holiday events. The park and pavilion provide a wonderful gathering space for the community to come together to strengthen bonds and create memories.
Martin County Historical Society
The Martin County Historical Society received a grant to purchase and install an interpretive historical marker telling the story of a train wreck that occurred in Martin County during the Civil War. A train carrying 250 men from the 19th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was passing through Martin County and crossing Beaver Creek when the bridge collapsed killing 28 men and injuring another 100.
Be sure to visit the site, just west of Willow Valley, to learn more about this interesting historical event.
Shoals Community Schools
Rox Center
Shoals Community Schools created the Rox Center as a welcoming environment for students in Grades 6-12 seeking mental wellness support. Utilizing a large space within the high school, they constructed three counselling offices, a conference room, a Minds in Motion room, and a comfortable waiting/gathering space. A mural in the gathering space creates an inviting atmosphere. Set apart from the school office, the Center provides privacy and confidentiality for students.
The school utilized an MCCF Grant to cover the cost of the materials for the renovation, mural paint, and sensory items for the Minds in Motion room. Construction was completed by the Constructions Trade II class. This provided invaluable experience for the construction trades students in addition to lowering the cost of the project. These students can feel a sense of pride in what they accomplished whenever they see the Center. This project is a win for everyone.
Martin County 4-H Club Council
To meet the needs of the growing poultry program, the Martin County 4-H Club Council was awarded an impact grant to update the poultry barn and purchase tables, cages, and other supplies to accommodate more poultry for showing. As an older, metal building with no windows the poultry barn was dark and very hot. Updates to the lighting and ventilation were needed for the comfort of the birds, 4-H poultry participants, and visitors, and to improve the visibility for judges. Existing lighting was adapted to accommodate fluorescent lights and quiet, wall mounted fans were installed. Tables, plywood platforms, cages and cage cups were purchased to house birds. The poultry program has grown from 23 birds in 2021 to 57 birds in 2023. The caging will now accommodate chickens, turkeys, waterfowl, gamebirds, and pigeons. The plywood platforms support larger cages on the tables and allow for stacking as necessary to accommodate all the birds. After the improvements were made, a clerk that came with the poultry judge remarked that the Martin County 4-H “poultry barn building and set-up is the best he has ever seen for a 4-H poultry show.”
Loogootee Pickleball
A dedicated group of pickleball enthusiasts utilized MCCF grants and other funding to develop a four-court pickleball complex at Loogootee City Park. With a goal of providing an avenue for physical activity for residents of all ages, the group started raising funds in October of 2022. In the summer of 2024, they had achieved their dream, and the courts officially opened. Tackling a project of this size was at times daunting, but the group never faltered.
Loogootee Pickleball leaders estimate that over 200 area residents have participated in the sport, many at clinics hosted by the group. They are looking forward to holding more clinics, hosting tournaments, and, of course, playing pickleball.
Pickle ball was invented by a group of enterprising dads who developed the game in response their children’s summertime complaint of “I’m bored!” It is played on a court about the size of a badminton court with a net height of 34 inches in the center. Players use a composite or wooden paddle about twice the size of a ping pong paddle and a perforated plastic ball. An estimated 48.3 million people in the United State play Pickleball. It is the fastest growing sport in the country.
Martin County
Cancer Patient Services
In 2023, Martin County Cancer Patient Services was founded with a mission to assist individuals fighting cancer and managing the difficulties that come with it. Through their HUGS4U2 initiative, they offer cancer support essentials like Ensure and Boost dietary supplements, ostomy bags and accessories, head coverings or wigs, walkers, canes, and more. With the help of an MCCF Boost Grant, MCCPS was able to procure and distribute many of these items.
The volunteers at MCCPS, manywith personal experiences of cancer, truly understand the challenges faced by patients and families dealing with this illness. They gladly offer assistance and understanding. One man, in particular, who suffers from esophogeal cancer and cannot consume solid food, received as been particularly appreciative of this support. He has esophogeal cancer and can’t eat solid food, received liquid nutritional supplements from MCCPS. This support not only ensures he receives essential nutrients but also eases the financial strain of battling cancer. MCCPS has made a robust start and remains committed to aiding individuals in Martin County confronting cancer.
Town of Shoals
In early 2020, MCCF prioritized health, wellness, and recreation after working with E-Solve Solutions and the READY Martin County Coalition. in Alignment with this focus, the Town of Shoals received a $130,000 grant from MCCF to install a preschool playground, new walkway lighting, safety netting for the existing playground area, and new fencing for the front part of the main ballfield at the Shoals Community Ballpark. The playground includes a jungle gym with slides and climbing apparatus, a tunnel, and addaptive swings. The collaborative grant from MCCF was made possible with support from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its $100,000 leadership grant from Lilly Endowment’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) VII initiative.
The City of Loogootee
Park Board
The Loogootee city square has had a water fountain for decades. As travelers passed through Loogootee on US 231, they couldn’t help but see this landmark. The citizens of Loogootee and surrounding areas often stopped and visited the fountain. It was a place to meet friends, sit and relax, and enjoy community events. Unfortunately, the fountain deteriorated to the point it needed constant repairs. This prompted the city, Park Board, and Hoosier Uplands to team up to try and obtain a new fountain. With help from a $20,000 grant from the Martin County Community Foundation, funding from the City of Loogootee, Hoosier Uplands, and personal donations, that new fountain is now a reality.
Finding a fountain to fit the original fountain’s footprint was a challenge. That challenge was magnified by the request of some of the private donors to include lions in the design. The pandemic added further challenges, but the Park Board never gave up, a beautiful fountain has been installed, and people are once again visiting the fountain and enjoying the city square.
Martin County
Humane Society
The Martin County Humane Society received a $10,000 Impact Grant to help them expand their shelter to provide spay/neuter and wellness services to the region. For six years the Martin County Humane Society has partnered with Pets Alive, a non-profit clinic, for their spay/neuter services. As a non-profit, Pets Alive offered their services at an affordable rate. Recently Pets Alive informed the Humane Society they were closing and there wasn’t another non-profit clinic within a 50-mile radius. To meet their own spay and neuter needs and to fill a void in the area, the Humane Society decided to create their own clinic. Their plan is to have a full-time veterinarian, veterinarian technician and a receptionist/custodian. Over the last six years the Martin County Humane Society has provided spay/neuter services through Pets Alive and local vets for over 1,500 dogs and cats in Martin County.
