McDONOUGH – The Town of McDonough is making good use of an annual round of private grants which are offered each year as a means of improving the local community.

Money comes by way of a nearly $1 million endowment left to the McDonough community by the late Evelyn Emerson, a long-time resident of McDnough. Various town entities are eligible to apply for grant money taken from accrued interest on the endowment each year.

In the past, grant funds have been used to improve safety and quality of life for McDonough residents by supporting causes such as the food pantry or funding equipment purchases for the McDonough Fire Department.

Foremost, the endowment helps the Oxford School District. If any money is available after, then town entities may apply.

McDonough was eligible for a three-part grant this year which will ultimately improve safety for all town residents, explained Kenny Thompson of the McDonough Fire Department. Nearly $13,000 totaled in grant funds allowed town officials to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine for Town Hall; an autopulse machine for the McDonough rescue squad; and CPR mannequins and facilitated CPR training courses for community residents.