A new grant campaign aims to help people in need across Somerset County.

The Somerset County Community Fund (SCCF) is launching the Somerset County Gives campaign: a five-year campaign to raise $1 million.

The initiative will focus on four areas: children, youth and families, cultural and heritage, veterans and volunteer firefighters.

“The cost of equipment is tremendous,” said Dale Russian, President of the Somerset County Fire Chief’s Association. “Naturally, that’s just going to translate to help the people in our community to buy whatever item or equipment we need so we have it on hand for whatever the emergency might be.”

The campaign will allow the SCCF to increase funding to nonprofits in the area from $20,000 a year to $70,000 a year.

“The community foundation allows us to have the funds available to help [the community] during a hard time,” said Danielle Bowers, Director of the Salvation Army Service Center.

To donate or learn more, contact the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies website.

You can also contact Pamela Tokar-Ickes by phone: 814-525-9020 or email: ptokarickes@cfalleghenies.org.