Lewes finance panel green-lights nonprofit donations

Three Lewes nonprofits are in line to again receive donations from the city in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

The Lewes Finance Committee unanimously voted Dec. 16, to recommend mayor and city council approve three requests:

• Lewes Public Library - $20,000

• Lewes Fire Department - $20,148

• Lewes in Bloom - $33,000.

Jill DiPaolo, library director, said the request, which is double what the city donated this year, will go to upgrade entrance doors, upgrade ADA-compliant technology for the hearing impaired, add large print and audio materials on public access computers, and add additional drop-in tech sessions.

“We charge a small meeting room fee, but a tenet of a public library is to be fully accessible. That means everything we do is free of charge,” DiPaolo said. “We’re asking the city to help us make our library continue to be a safe and accessible space.”

Bernie Edmondson, the Lewes Fire Department’s chief marketing officer, presented a request of $20,148 to pay for 10 sets of water rescue equipment. The donation request is in addition to the $75,000 the city includes in its budget each year.

Edmondson said the department had 35 water rescues in 2024-25. He said the gear includes gloves, dry suits, wet shoes, personal floatation devices and helmets.

“Much of our current gear has surpassed its shelf life. Some of it has been removed because of damage,” Edmondson said. “The shelf life should be 10 to 15 years, but we could go out on one call and ruin everything.”

Ed Zygmonski, Lewes in Bloom and Art in Bloom co-chair, asked the committee to approve a $33,000 donation, the same amount as it received in FY 26.

“Although we have seen increases in the cost for tulip bulbs and annuals for the coming year, we anticipated those challenges, so with our fundraising efforts, and your help, we will be able to meet those challenges,” Zygmonski said.

Zygmonski said Lewes in Bloom’s 500 volunteers save the city as much as $480,000 per year in labor and maintenance costs. He said volunteers planted 33,000 tulips bulbs, more than 2,000 other spring bulbs, and several thousand pansies and violas in anticipation of the 17th annual Lewes Tulip Festival and the Lewes 250 celebrations in 2026.

Zygmonski said Lewes in Bloom will participate in the America in Bloom competition next summer. The city will incorporate a red, white and blue theme in its summer annual garden plans to complement the Lewes 250 Celebration.

Mayor and city council will consider the committee’s recommendations at a future meeting.