WINCHESTER, Va. (WHSV) – Thursday, Oct. 9, marked the 12th Annual Community Philanthropy Day at the Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, and the foundation is celebrating by awarding $100,000 dollar grants to local nonprofit organizations.

One of those nonprofits that received grant money was the Congressional Community Action Project of Winchester. Executive Director Andrea Cosans said that with recent cuts to Medicaid and benefits, the grant helps sustain the project’s mission.

She said that the organization has seen a 26% increase in clientele this year, which will lead to a 23% decrease in the next year over its ability to source free food. Therefore, this grant money will make a difference on whether or not they can will continue to help people in need.

“USDA’s cut $500 million, and then we’re going to see people who get cut off of their benefits or their Medicaid,” Cosans said, “so we are going to be, probably by mid-year next year, over capacity.”

Cosans said reveiving the grant money is a game changer in the amount of resources the Congressional Community Action Project can provide.

“We’re going to have to either give people less or turn people away, so small grants really make up the bread and butter of our budgets so that we don’t have to give up a diaper program, so that we can help families stay housed,” Cosans said.

She said that moving forward, she believes that receiving the grant money will have a long-lasting impact and will help her organization continue to grow and accomplish important goals.

“[The] Community Foundation gives us about $3,000 a year for our diaper program, which is about a quarter of our diaper program, so that’s amazing ,” Cosans said. “I am hoping as they grow, we can get more money to sustain our diaper program That is my hope. That’s the plan.”

One of the nonprofit’s biggest focuses is serving families by giving out diapers, which Cosans said most people may not realize are in high demand, just like food and shelter.

“Last year, we gave out $80,000 diapers, and I could never find enough sources for people donating. So, grants are amazing,” she said. “Diapers are the fourth largest expense for families after rent, food, utilities. And so to be able to give out a package of diapers a month, plus an emergency pack, is an amazing boon to families who are struggling.”