SIDNEY — Scott Barr, Shelby County United Way executive director, recently announced that 18 Special Project Grants totaling $48,668 were awarded during fiscal year 2015-2016.

The Special Project Grant process provides the board of directors the discretion and flexibility to fund impactful programming outside the allocations process. Some Special Project recipients receive funding on an annual basis.

The following grants were made this year: Shelby County Historical Society, $1,500 for the 2015 school year Pioneer Days and $1,500 for the 2016 Pioneer Days at the fairgrounds; Workforce Partnership, $5,000 for annual sponsorship of programming; Holy Angels Soup Kitchen, $3,500 for food purchases to assist with hot meals; Elizabeth New Life Center, $3,500 to fund the “Empowering Moms for the Workforce” curriculum.

Also, Family and Children First Council, $4,300 annual sponsorship that provides assistance to families and children; Sidney Police Department, $3,000 to purchase and train a dog; Mark’s Bike Drive, $3,500 to purchase bicycles for the Christmas Toy Drive facilitated by the Salvation Army; Shelby County Special Olympics; $1,500 for Track and Field Day; First Presbyterian Church’s Munch Bunch program, $4,940 for the delivery of 200 bags of food weekly to fight weekend hunger.

Also, New Choices, $3,500 for window replacements; Shelby County CASA, $803 to sponsor Stewards of Children training; Adult Day Services, $3,500 for branding and marketing materials; the Sidney Cooperative School, $1,800 for a literacy teacher; Midwest Regional ESC, $1,500 for a key counselor position; Wilson Health, $3,500 to sponsor a community heroin presentation by former NBA player Chris Herren; Family and Children First Council, $325 for a booth at the Shelby County Fair; and Agape Distribution, $3,500 to purchase food for the mobile food pantry.