Local Farmer Gary Appleby Receives $2,500 Check for Everyday Needy Fund

Gary Appleby proudly displays the $2,500 check he received for the Everyday Needy Fund

By Doris Elmore
Staff Writer

Gary Appleby of rural Tuscola was one of several farmers who recently received a check for $2,500. Appleby’s check will go to the Everyday Needy Fund.

Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of life sciences company Bayer, awarded more than $4 million in grants to 250 charities and non-profit organizations throughout the United States. Each grant will go toward a program that supports Bayer Fund’s key focus areas: food and nutrition, STEM Education, health and wellness and community development.

Appleby has been a part of the Everyday Needy Fund for several years. This local fund is in place to assist residents with outstanding bills and help fund the school lunch program for low income families.

Appleby says all you have to do is apply for one of these grants, you might receive one and you might not, but he said “what did I have to lose?” But Appleby found out he had a lot to gain from his efforts. He added that one of the questions to qualify is that the farmer has to farm at least 250 acres. It is open to anyone.

“We’re proud to support these organizations and help strengthen them to make meaningful impacts in the communities,” said Al Mitchell, President of the Bayer Fund. “Now, more than ever, we need to make sure we provide them with the tools they need and other resources to support their communities in such unprecedented times.”

In 2019 alone, the fund awarded more than $14 million to over 3,200 charitable and nonprofit organizations to help address essential needs in food and nutrition, STEM education and community development. Over the last five years, nonprofit organizations across the United States have received more than $79 million from Bayer Fund.