JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Shea Wise, a program manager with the Worcester County Commission on Aging, thanks the Berlin Town Council last Tuesday after it was announced the nonprofit was one of five local groups receiving a total of $30,000 in funding.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Nov. 22, 2018) Five area nonprofits received a total of $30,000 in grant funding from the Town of Berlin at a public meeting last Tuesday.

Recipients were:

• The Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee, $6,000 for a mural.
• The Shirley Grace Pregnancy Center, $5,000 for “ongoing bi-weekly support group meetings for women with addiction.”
• Worcester County Commission on Aging, $5,000 for the Berlin Senior Center.
• Worcester County Developmental Center, $7,500 for “staff to supervise clients while in the community.”
• Worcester County G.O.L.D., $6,500 to provide assistance to Berlin residents in need.

Town Administrator Laura Allen said nine nonprofits had applied for funding and the requests totalled $95,510. She said an orientation meeting was held in June and Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen and Human Resources Director Jeff Fleetwood helped evaluate applications.

Representatives from each group, except for the arts and entertainment committee, attended the meeting.

Worcester County G.O.L.D. Executive Director Sandy Sipes said the support “helps us help the residents here in the Town of Berlin.”

“We appreciate so much what you’re doing with the financial assistance,” she said. “Not only do we do financial services to meet emergency and basic needs, but we partner with [Town Attorney] David Gaskill and the Worcester Bar Association for 265 turkey meals. And then we also do … ‘Helping Hands for the Holidays,’ and last year we served over 800 children and 68 vulnerable adults, several here in the Town of Berlin.”

Shea Wise, a program manager with the Worcester County Commission on Aging, thanked the town as well.

“We just started a new program in Ocean Pines called ‘Community for Life’ … and we’ve had quite a few calls from people in Berlin asking for these services, such as transportation and [the many other services] that we’re providing,” she said. “We’re excited and very fortunate.”

Worcester County Developmental Center Board President Mark Cerbo also said he was appreciative.

“I just want to thank the mayor and councilmembers in the Town of Berlin for supporting our group [and] supporting our clients over the years,” he said. “We appreciate everything that you guys do for us.”