ACAF Announces $11,795 in Fall 2026 Grant Awards

Five Allegany County organizations are receiving a combined $11,795 in grant funding from the Allegany County Area Foundation (ACAF) to strengthen essential services and expand community resources.

This grant award will provide funding for the Belfast Historical Society to repair water-damaged flooring, supporting the continued preservation of the community's historical resources.

To address an urgent building need, this grant award will help Clarity Wellness Community purchase and install a new furnace at its Wellsville Clinic.

“Grant support for this emergency replacement will allow Clarity to address a critical facility need without diverting funds from mental health, substance use, and supportive services relied upon by community members throughout Allegany County,” Clarity CEO Kate Lewis wrote.

As local demand for food assistance continues to grow, efficient storage is increasingly important for food pantry operations. This grant will help the Salvation Army Wellsville Corps purchase additional shelving units, increasing its capacity of food donations.

“The expanded space will allow the food pantry to receive, organize, store, and distribute larger quantities of food safely and efficiently,” Wellsville Corps Manager Natascha Lamoureux said. “This improvement will strengthen our ability to meet increasing demand and provide reliable nutritional support to more households throughout the community.”

New technology can provide emergency responders with valuable information during time-sensitive search and rescue operations. This grant award will help the Wellsville Volunteer Ambulance Corps (WVAC) purchase a DJI Matrice 4TD Thermal Drone, equipped with aerial thermal imaging, a spotlight, a loudspeaker, and a field monitor.



“Thermal imagery would help crews identify areas for closer investigation in low-light conditions,” WVAC Chief Executive Officer Andrew Sweezy said. “The aerial view would complement ambulance and ground-rescue operations and help incident personnel direct rescuers and resources.”

The YMCA of Wellsville will use this grant to support the purchase of a Styku 3D Body Scanning System. This equipment helps individuals better understand their physical fitness progress.



“Styku technology offers a comprehensive approach to tracking physical progress by providing detailed body measurements, body composition estimates, and visual representations of changes over time,” YMCA Twin Tiers CEO Jeffrey Townsend said. “These insights can help individuals recognize improvements, remain motivated, and develop sustainable habits that contribute to healthier lifestyles.”