Ellis High School gets $10K grant from thrift store group

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Ellis Thrift Grant to EHS — Coleen Dinkel, Vera Haver, Bob Young, Melanie Fischer and Katelyn Herl display the oversize $10,000 grant check from Ellis Thrift, LTD. to Ellis High School and USD 388. Ellis Thrift board members not pictured are Michelle Bieker and Tammy Meerklein.

ELLIS — The Ellis Thrift Store opened seven years ago with a two-fold purpose — to sell gently used items in its storefront and use the proceeds to benefit the community. Ellis Thrift Ltd. was formed and the grant committee awarded its first matching grant last week.

A $10,000 matching grant was presented Friday to Bob Young, USD 388 superintendent. The grant money will be used for a new sound system at the Ellis High School auditorium.

“They received this grant because the sound system fits the giving criteria of Ellis Thrift Ltd. It will impact and be used by a large number of community members in Ellis and will used for many years to come,” said board secretary-treasurer Vera Haver.

“Our board of directors is thrilled about giving back to the community of Ellis in a big way, and this amazing opportunity follows through with our mission to rebuild, reuse and recycle in Ellis,” she added. “We want to thank everyone for supporting what we call the ‘Ellis CommUNITY Thrift Shop.’ ”

The next round of grants will be awarded July 31. Information is available at the Ellis Thrift Shop.