Cleone's Closet and WHEN receive truck

Rotary 21 and Union Gospel Mission Motors teamed up together to help the West Plains community. The two companies helped provide a truck that will be used to pick up food for Cleone's Closet Food Pantry and other items for Women's Healing and Empowerment Network (WHEN).

Cleone's Closet is currently located at 13514 West Sunset Highway in Airway Heights and reopened at the beginning of October. The food is donated by Second Harvest and it is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon – 3 p.m.

WHEN is a faith-based, non-profit organization that was founded in 2008 as a response to the growing need for programs and services to address the issues of domestic violence and sexual abuse in communities. It helps to provide healing and empowerment to individuals, families, homes, churches, schools and other organizations through education, and counseling in the areas of domestic violence and related abuse.

"This is a great story showing how networking and collaboration has blessed the community with the food pantry and how non-profit organizations are supporting each other," Mable Dunbar, President/CEO of WHEN and Cleone's Closet said.

Marie Marx Strohm, the co-chair of the civic chairs committee at Rotary 21, was a part of the process in getting the $2,500 grant for the vehicle.

"These folks applied for a grant for a truck to help people," Strohm said. "They made a very compelling case for the need of this transportation. We heard of their story and the list of ways they would use it. So as a board, we voted unanimously to give them the grant."

Dunbar was able to buy the truck for $2,000 from UGM Motors and has money left over for the insurance and registration.

"The bottom line is Mable's request was very typical of the items we (civic affairs) fund and we are happy to do it," Strohm said.

The way the money comes to Rotary 21 is from the Rotary Community Service Fund. Their members give what they can and they fund the six spending committees of their organization.

"Rotarians are the most generous group of public servants," Strohm added. "It is wonderful to be in a position where we find the need. And there is a lot of need in this town."

The other key part to the organization purchasing the truck was from Phil Altmeyer, from UGM Motors. He helped Dunbar find a reliable and good truck while offering her a good price on the vehicle.

"Rotary has been a part of the UGM for years and we are excited to partner together," Altmeyer said. "It is a picture of coming together as a community and helping people in the future."

UGM Motors tries to help one charity a month and helping the community of the West Plains with the transportation was their recent choice.

"I love it (the truck)," Dunbar said. "It is nice and the timing could not be more perfect."

Grace Pohl can be reached at [email protected].