Sixteen local churches and one community center were recipients in the most recent round of Change for Children grants, the Holston Conference Children’s Ministry Team recently announced.

Checks totaling $36,978 have been mailed to the following children's ministry groups: 

* Hunt Memorial UMC, "Chief's Kids," Abingdon District --$2,500
* John Wesley UMC, "Support Bristol Children," Abingdon District -- $1,000
* First Pennington Gap UMC, "Food for Their Souls," Big Stone Gap District -- $2,500
* Hurst UMC, "Hurst Wednesday Night Program," Chattanooga District -- $1,665
* Tyner UMC, "TASK," Chattanooga District -- $2,500
* First Dayton UMC, "Wednesday Night Live," Cleveland District -- $2,500
* Cherokee UMC, "C4K Community Kids Activity Club," Johnson City District -- $2,500
* Cassidy UMC, "Backpack Ministry," Kingsport District -- $2,500
* Mafair UMC, "Mafair Kidz in the Community," Kingsport District -- $2,500
* Cokesbury UMC, "Susannah's House," Knoxville District -- $2,500
* Middlebrook Pike UMC, "Kid's Hope, USA," Knoxville District -- $1,500
* Wesley House Community Center, "S.T.E.P." Knoxville District -- $2,500
* Oakland UMC, "Day Camp," Maryville District -- $2,000
* St. John UMC, "Rock Out!" Maryville District -- $2,000
* Sycamore Tree UMC, "Children's Day Camp," Maryville District -- $2,500
* Randolph Avenue UMC, "Character Matters Most," Wytheville District -- $2,500
* Willis UMC, "Little Hands, Big Hearts," Wytheville District -- $1,313

In addition, the committee recently awarded $22,000 to Ishe Anesu Project in Zimbabwe.

Change for Children funds are collected by Holston churches throughout the  year and used to support children's ministries. The grant guidelines call for applications for new and existing ministries with economically disadvantaged children and their families.

For more information, visit Holston.org.