Note:  The Talon ran a version of this story last month that had not been edited.  We apologize for the mistake.

Skills USA received a $10k grant from Lowe’s to improve FBLA’s Food for Families bus. The money was used to purchase new equipment to better the service for the families.

On April 11, Skills USA applied for a grant that was given for one of two reasons; a specific need for the community or a school improvement. Skills USA members noticed that the bus had turned into a business, so they chose to apply to help out the community by improving the Food for Families bus.

Shortly after, on May 9, Skills USA advisor Stacie Fleck received an email saying they had received the grant. They used the money to purchase new shelving, freezers, carts, more lighting, one portable generator and a back up generator. “The grant helped us build up the organization. It helped get the word out about the bus and organization,” said Alondra Barrera, member of FBLA. Skills USA keeps Lowe’s updated with monthly reports, and return unused funds.

“I felt pretty good, I was really exciting because we put in a lot of work and it’s lots of money we get to give to our community,’’ said Caeley Stone, a Skills USA member that contributed in applying for the grant.

“We are very grateful that Lowe’s participated with the FBLA organization,” said Jerry Vyong, president of the FBLA club.