The Department of Health and Social Services is offering a new round of grants to help maintain Delaware's cemeteries.
The Distressed Cemetery Fund was established in 2009 to keep graveyards from falling into disrepair. Along with donations, it’s funded by a $2 fee that’s added onto each copy of a death certificate.
"The grants are important because it provides distressed cemeteries the option to repair some long-term issues that they have and make the place safer and more maintained-looking," says state cemetery board chair Mark Christian.
He says in the last few years, they’ve used the funds for fence replacement, tree removal and more.
“We’ve done a lot of monument repair and maintenance in several cemeteries, which include straightening learning memorials, repairing broken memorials, resetting memorials that have fallen," Christian says.
To date, the Cemetery Board has awarded just over $120,000 to 13 cemeteries. The maximum available for each cemetery is $10,000 every two years. Its members are appointed by the DHSS Secretary.