Community Chest looks to business community

Storey County's only social service agency is hoping area businesses can help fill a gap caused by a loss of local government revenue.

The county ended funding for Community Chest, Inc., last year during a fiscal crisis, and has not budgeted any money for this year.

Shaun Griffin, executive director of the Community Chest, said although no funding was available from the county now, it might be in the future.

"(Storey County) wants to help; they want to find a way to do that," he said. "That's where it's at right now."

Community Chest needs additional funds to continue the work it has been doing since Griffin and his wife, Debby Loesch-Griffin, founded the organization in 1991.

Back then, Community Chest was a volunteer organization with two paid staff, a $50,000 budget and a simple mission - help others help themselves.

That is still the primary mission, but with some additions - to help build strong families and communities and serve as a lighthouse for change and a center for resources.

The organization, which offers about 30 programs for residents of Storey, Lyon, Washoe and Douglas counties and Carson City, has a 18 employees and a budget of about $1 million.

The nonprofit enterprise offers statewide advocacy for the homeless and service learning, which, Griffin said, involves in-school curriculum projects students can do to improve the lives of others.

Among Community Chest programs for youth is the Classroom on Wheels, which visits Virginia City, the Virginia City Highlands, Lockwood, Fernley, Silver Springs-Stagecoach, the Mark Twain Estates and Dayton.

At its headquarters in Virginia City, the group also offers before- and after-school programs, activities that teach teens to help in their communities, a full-time summer youth program, and the Cowbus, a bus painted like a cow that takes children to programs.

Community Chest also has programs for youth and adults, including counseling of all kinds - domestic violence, family, individual, drug and alcohol and anger management.

Community Chest is at 991 S. C St. in Virginia City; call (775) 847-9311.