Local organizations receive grants from Mushroom Festival

KENNETT SQUARE >> Housing Partnership of Chester County and Family Promise of Southern Chester County were awarded grants by the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival.

Housing Partnership of Chester County received $1,000 to assist with its Winter Fuel Assistance Program for residents living in the Kennett Square area, the organization announced. Family Promise of Southern Chester County (FPSCC) was awarded $1,200 by the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival to assist with (the Every Child Deserves a Home: Promise House program). The grant comes from proceeds from the 2022 Mushroom Festival.

While the Mushroom Festival is a weekend event, it’s impacts last all year long in Kennett Square and surrounding communities.

Each year proceeds from the famous Kennett Square Mushroom Festival are awarded to local community organizations and nonprofit organizations. Over the past 20 years, the Mushroom Festival has donated more than $1 million in funds to local organizations for things like books, playground equipment, food, transportation, and healthcare services, among other projects.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant,” said Ken Hutton, Executive Director of Housing Partnership of Chester County. “The money will help the agency provide convenient outreach programs in and around Kennett Square on budgeting, credit counseling, and first-time home buying.

“These programs teach real-life, practical skills that bridge the divide between struggling and thriving. We will help neighbors learn to manage their money, understand and improve their credit, and negotiate the turbulent waters of firsttime homebuying.”

Said Carol M. Lowe, Executive Director of Family Promise of Southern Chester County: “We are so thankful to the Mushroom Festival for Making it possible for us to realize our dream that ‘Every Child Deserves a Home’ and making us so proud to be a part of the Kennett Community.

In the Promise House program, FPSCC rents apartments from landlords to be used as emergency housing.

The 2023 Mushroom Festival will be held September 9 and 10, on State Street in Kennett Square.