Granny’s Attic has given two significant grants as part of the first round of its new funding cycle.

The nonprofit thrift shop recently awarded $20,000 to the DoVE Project, Vashon’s anti-domestic violence program, and $35,000 to Vashon Community Care.

Earlier this summer, Granny’s announced it would change how it distributed funding, ending its monthly subsidies of Vashon’s health clinic and adopting a grant-based approach that will provide financial support for a variety of health-related programs.

Granny’s director Tim Johnson said Granny’s members voted unanimously to award the two recent grants. The organization is still accepting grant requests and estimates it will give out $175,00 to $200,000 this year. Johnson said some funding will likely go to the health center, now called the Franciscan Medical Clinic – Vashon Island after its merger with the Franciscan Health System.

“Our goal is to keep pumping money out there,” Johnson said. “That doesn’t imply we’re not working with the clinic anymore.”

Johnson said the bulk of the grants will be given in September, but Granny’s members decided to give to VCC now because the grant will be issued in multiple payments, and to DoVE because the young organization is still working to establish a solid funding base.

“They’re getting up and running and they need some anchor grants to get them off the ground and help them win other grants,” Johnson said.

DoVE director Elizabeth Archambault said the $20,000 grant was significant for the nonprofit and would go to support its crisis hotline as well one-on-one advocacy for domestic violence surviviors.

“It really shows the community is getting behind the DoVE Project, which is fantastic for us,” she said.

At VCC, a nonprofit Granny’s has supported for several years, the $35,000 grant will cover the “Medicaid gap” for one resident — the difference between what the center receives from the government for the cost of care compared to the actual cost of that care.

VCC administrator Janelle Ansell said the funding was more needed than ever, as costs are constantly rising, the center is caring for more people than ever and Medicaid funding is still at 2009 levels. Ansell called Granny’s Attic “a champion of health care on the island.”

“VCC has made a commitment to not turn away people that run out of money. … Every little bit we get helps,” she said.