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Dickinson County awards $2,500 to Neighborhoods Neighbour for immediate assistance
Summary
After a presentation by Neighborhoods Neighbour about staffing shortages and rising demand, the Dickinson County commission approved a one-time $2,500 payment to help the nonprofit cover emergency support for clients; commissioners said they will consider larger requests during the budget cycle.
Amanda Robinson, executive director of Neighborhoods Neighbour in Abilene, told the Dickinson County Board of Commissioners the nonprofit runs a 24/7 food pantry and provides rent, utility and transportation vouchers for people across the county. "We are a nonprofit that serves Dickinson County, and we help people … with rent, utility assistance, gas vouchers," Robinson said.
Robinson said the group recently lost its grant writer, leaving two-and-a-half payroll staff and volunteers to manage all operations and grants work. She described a budgeted emergency-support line of about $1,500 per month for immediate needs and said the pantry served "over 600" people in a recent month.
Commissioners pressed for financial detail, asking how prior county funds would be tracked. Robinson said any county grant would be recorded in the emergency-support fund or the operation side of the budget and that the organization keeps grant reports and documentation. She estimated about $67,000 in the organization’s bank accounts, mostly invested in certificates of deposit.
After discussion about whether to address the request now or during the formal budget process, a commissioner moved to approve a $2,500 payment to Neighborhoods Neighbour for immediate relief. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Robinson thanked the commission for the assistance.
The commission indicated larger funding requests (Robinson had mentioned a $20,000 shortfall earlier) would be considered during the appropriation process. Commissioners asked staff to review fund sources and to include any formal grant considerations in the upcoming budget discussions.
What’s next: The $2,500 will be paid from county funds as approved; commissioners left open the possibility of further support during the 2027 budgeting process.
