Several years ago, some very community-minded individuals organized the Staples Community Foundation. This organization continues to play an important role in the Staples area by offering grants to other non-profit organizations, which function to make Staples a better community for everyone.

The Staples Community Foundation board recently granted $1,000 to the Staples All Veterans and Community Park Association to help develop its plans and drawings for the Veterans Park. The park is designed to be located along the new Highway 10 corridor between 8th and 10th Streets NE.

With the supporting funds from the Staples Community Foundation, the plans and drawing became available sooner than expected. It was then possible to share the plans with other organizations, which are also helping support getting the park started.

The Staples All Veterans and Community Park Association will have many needs in the future to complete the park according to the drawing. The association has developed a brochure to let the public know what the park will consist of and how members of the public can support the project early on.

Many other grants will be needed to make the park a reality. I am confident that even though the project will take time, it can readily be accomplished with determination and support by the community.

Along with the Veterans Park planning, other projects developed for the community were also funded in part, each with their own unique plans. It is amazing how a small town like Staples can have several organizations including the foundation which, by combining funds, can accomplish so much.

The Staples Community Foundation plays a very important role in assisting non-profit groups to get started and to carry out their roles, as defined in their mission statements, in the Staples community.

The foundation is like a spark that aids in getting the fire burning and has served as a major influence in the Staples area helping organizations to get started to meet their goals.

The Staples All Veterans and Community Park Association is one of those fortunate organizations which benefited by the infl uence of the Foundation’s funding.

Bob Hamann is president of the Staples All Veterans and Community Park Association.

EDITOR’S NOTE: To learn more about the Staples All Veterans and Community Park, call Huck Holst at 218-894-1715 or visit the City of Staples website at www.staples.goveoffi ce.com. Click on City Departments, then Parks and Recreation, then Veterans Park.

Applications are open until March 15 for the current round of grants through the Staples Community Foundation. See www.staplesfound.org for grant guidelines and applications.