Unifour grants include support for Burke food, reading and science programs

Burke County food assistance, summer reading and children’s science programs are among the local efforts receiving support from the Unifour Endowment this year.

The endowment, a fund of the North Carolina Community Foundation, awarded $259,240 in grants to 36 organizations serving the Unifour area, which includes Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties.

At least three of the grants are aimed directly at Burke County programs, totaling $21,580.

Burke United Christian Ministries received $14,080 for food programs. The Morganton-based nonprofit provides food pantry services, meals and crisis assistance for people facing poverty, homelessness or other emergency needs.

Book Harvest received $2,500 for Books on Break in Burke County, a program that helps children build home libraries by allowing students to choose new books to keep for summer reading.

Catawba Science Center received $5,000 for Little Scientists of Burke County, supporting science learning opportunities for young children.

The grants are part of a broader round of Unifour Endowment awards supporting nonprofit work in education, food assistance, health, youth development, the arts, housing, recovery services and programs for older adults.

“Supporting local nonprofits and charitable organizations helps keep our communities vibrant, healthy and connected,” said Suzan Anderson, grants committee chair of the Unifour Endowment. “We turn generosity into lasting community support, so resources are there year after year.”

The Unifour Endowment was created to promote the general welfare of residents in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties. It was established at the North Carolina Community Foundation in 1998 with proceeds from the sale of the Hickory Merchants Association’s credit reporting company to Equifax.