Sickle Cell Foundation, aging agency and local nonprofits brief county commission on services and funding needs

Representatives from several local nonprofits told the Montgomery County Commission about services, waiting lists and funding needs, and asked the commission to consider continued or increased support as the county finalizes a tight FY 2026 budget.

Monica VanDiver, executive director of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Greater Montgomery, said the foundation serves 13 counties but has a higher caseload in Montgomery County and asked the commission to consider increasing the county’s annual support. VanDiver told commissioners the foundation had historically received $21,000 about 20 years ago, later was cut to $15,007.50 and that this year’s request was to bring the county contribution closer to $20,000. “If we don't recognize these babies upfront, they will die,” VanDiver said, stressing the foundation’s newborn screening and patient support work and its need for bilingual outreach staff, transportation assistance and help with medications during extreme weather events.

Commissioners acknowledged the foundation’s long record of service and said the county is in an unusually tight budget year. A commissioner noted the county auditors had restricted some targeted contributions in prior years and asked the foundation to provide updated data showing the number of Montgomery County residents with sickle cell disease or trait and the organization’s financials.

Jolanda Evans, executive director of Central Alabama Agency on Aging (CAAA or CAAC in the presentation), outlined the agency’s programs for older and disabled residents across Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery counties. Evans said the agency provides free services including in-home care, meals and caregiver respite and supports 19 senior centers in Montgomery County, serving more than 3,000 local clients and delivering more than 1,800 meals through those centers. She reported a waiting list of about 1,100 clients for meal delivery and more than 100 for home modification programs that reduce fall risk. She thanked the commission for annual dues that help match federal Older Americans Act funds.

Thomas Raines, executive director of the Judge Frank Johnson Institute, summarized civics programming the nonprofit offers free of charge. Raines said the institute has interacted with about 5,000 people since 2019 and engaged roughly 1,500 people during the most recent program year; he described teacher and student programs that drew participants from across the region. “We are seeing a continued interest and continued growth in our programming,” Raines said, and he thanked the commission for prior support.

Community organizer William Boyd asked the commission to consider continued appropriations for the annual Grama Parade on New Year’s Day on Fairview Avenue, now in its 21st year, and to consider participation by county commissioners on a dedicated parade float. Miss Mitchell (identified in the meeting as a community representative) asked commissioners to consider a local Montessori nonprofit’s request for playground equipment and classroom supplies; a commissioner asked the group to provide standard nonprofit documents (financials, IRS filings and budget) to county staff for review.

Commissioners repeatedly emphasized fiscal constraints during budget season. They said county priorities include employee compensation, facility maintenance and preventive maintenance for county buildings, and they urged nonprofit representatives to submit data, financial statements and any required documentation so the commission could evaluate funding requests. One commissioner suggested alternate grant sources for playground and equipment funding, such as the Mid South RC&D Council grants that open in the spring.

No formal funding decisions were made at the meeting.