WATERVILLE — Inland Hospital recently announced its 2018 Community Benefit grants, created to improve the health and overall quality of life in the communities it serves, according to a news release from the hospital.

Through the program, the hospital contributed more than $60,000 to nonprofit organizations and schools in its hospital service area. It gives priority to health-related initiatives, programs or services serving vulnerable or under-served populations in the Greater Waterville area, and organizations that are working to make a measurable impact on health.

Sandy Hammond, operations manager of the Waterville Food Bank, with a new refrigerator donated by Inland Hospital's Community Benefit Grant Program. Waterville Food Bank photo

This year, the hostpital awarded grants to nearly three dozen local organizations for community-building projects and health initiatives that focus on obesity prevention, poverty and economic opportunity, substance abuse prevention, mental health, homelessness, domestic violence, healthy food access, transportation, and more, according to the release.

In addition, grants were awarded to 14 schools and childcare sites that are registered with Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0; a childhood obesity prevention program that Inland supports, according to the release.

The grant recipients were: Alfond Youth Center Boys & Girls Club of Waterville, Central Maine Growth Council, Essentials Closet — First Congregational Church UCC, Family Violence Project, 47 Daisies, Greater Waterville Area Food Bank, Hospice Volunteers of Waterville, Kennebec Behavioral Health, Kennebec Valley Community Action Program Transportation, Kennebec Valley Community College, Maine Farmland Trust — Veggies for All Program, Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers, Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, National Alliance on Mental Illness — ME Chapter, Revitalizing the Energy in ME, Spectrum Generations, Thomas College, Unity Barn Raisers and Waterville Opera House.

Let’s Go! sites include: Albert. S. Hall School, Waterville; Alfond Youth Center Before and After School, Waterville; Atwood Primary School, Oakland; Belgrade Central School, Belgrade; China Middle School, South China; China Primary School, South China; Educare, Waterville; George J. Mitchell Before and After School, Waterville; James H. Bean School, Sidney; Messalonskee High School, Oakland; Messalonskee Middle School, Oakland; Mt. Merici Academy After School Childcare Program, Waterville; Vasssalboro Community School Before/After Care Program, Vassalboro; Williams Elementary School, Oakland; Winslow Before and After School, Winslow; Winslow High School, Winslow; and Winslow Junior High, Winslow.

For more informaiton, visit inlandhospital.org..