The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS) would like to thank the city of Homer Grants Program administered through the Homer Foundation for the operational grant of unrestricted funds that we recently received. Operational funds are difficult to raise, yet extremely important to the administrative and overall functions of a nonprofit organization. We are one of many nonprofits that offer important services to Homer residents. These local government dollars support our efforts to bring outdoor education programs to the community of Homer throughout the year and promote stewardship of our local resources. 

Among the many ways that we try to contribute to the community are through conducting monthly story hour programs at the Homer Library, hosting multiple programs at our headquarters building during the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival and during the school year, producing a weekly Kachemak Currents radio broadcast on the natural history of Kachemak Bay, providing monthly programs for the residents of the senior center and offering fun, engaging kid’s activities at the Homer Farmers’ Market in the summer.  We also have conducted an annual cleanup of Kachemak Bay that involves more than 600 volunteers — many of them students in our local schools. Through the annual CoastWalk cleanup our local volunteers typically remove more than 2,000 pounds of marine debris. Support from the city of Homer also helps us leverage funds for other grants like the one that funds our marine debris community art project of creating large scale sculptures to raise awareness and repurpose marine debris.

Operational funds are critical to “keeping the doors open” throughout the year. Thank you, city of Homer, for all you do to support local nonprofits who are working hard to contribute to the great quality of life we all appreciate in Homer.

Beth Trowbridge, executive director

Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies