MARQUETTE, Michigan (WLUC) – Health resources are expanding in Upper Michigan.

This is thanks to the Superior Health Foundation. SHF is awarding $270,000 in 13 fall grants.

“Mental health, substance abuse disorder programs, emergency services. Access to care, transportation,” said Megan Murphy, CEO of SHF. “It’s pretty open, pretty open to anything health-related.”

One of the fall grant recipients is the Fork Farms Foundation. With its $65,000 grant, Fork Farms will help 13 schools across the UP grow their own fresh food year-round and indoors using hydroponic technology.

According to Kim Kolasa of Fork Farms, access to fresh, nutritious food is a key aspect of food security.

“We’re bringing it right into the classroom, the ability to grow plants and learn about them,” Kolasa said. “Learn how to care for them, learn how to nurture them. And ultimately, how to harvest these fresh foods and incorporate them into your diet.”

Kolasa says this approach paves the way for children to reach their full potential.

“By this we mean that it improves their overall health, both physical and mental, and their well-being,” Kolasa added.

Murphy adds that these grants support the foundation’s mission to improve health across the UP

“We appreciate the fact that there are so many local nonprofits doing this work to help people, and we want to be a part of it and support their work,” Murphy said.

Click here to view a complete list of scholarships being awarded this fall.

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