The Scurry County Museum was recently awarded two grants for operating expenses to offset financial losses due to COVID-19.
Museum Director Nicole DeGuzman said that nationwide, 13 percent of museums are closing permanently due to financial losses caused by COVID-19.
“Our museum, like all nonprofits in the nation right now, is facing fundraising challenges as physical distancing measures prevent events and programs,” she said.
The Summerlee Foundation, which focuses on animal protection and Texas history, awarded the museum $5,000, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which supports institutions that study, preserve and share America's history and culture, awarded $15,000 to the Scurry County Museum.
“These grants help us tremendously because we had to cancel a very large community festival due to COVID-19, and those fundraising losses were devastating,” DeGuzman said.