17 Area Programs Receive City Grants

Seventeen community groups in the San Fernando Valley will receive a total of $10,000 in city grants, according to Los Angeles City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski.

New Directions for Youth, a nonprofit organization in Van Nuys, received a $1,000 grant. The group provides counseling, alternative education, and computer and job training to at-risk youths 8 to 21.

New Directions plans to spend its grant money to buy sandblasting equipment to remove graffiti.

Keep Youth Doing Something, a program that provides enrichment tutoring sessions, literacy projects and after-school activities for 30 students at Van Nuys Middle School, will get a $750 grant.

The KYDS program will use its money to buy model building materials, board games, arts and crafts supplies, and sports equipment. It also will help pay stipends for volunteer tutors.

“I’m ecstatic,” said John Hankins, executive director of KYDS. “It helps us to add more [money] directly into the program. It’s going to be put to good use for the kids.”

Also receiving money was Meals on Wheels, managed by the Bernardi Senior Center in Van Nuys.

According to program manager Kim Pixler, many seniors and disabled residents cannot afford the $5 fee for the sack lunches and hot dinners delivered daily.

In all, the City Council’s 15 districts were given $300,000 this fiscal year, said Glenn Barr, press deputy for Miscikowski.