Suffolk City Council has approved a series of grants worth more than $30,000 for city departments and approved the appointment of a deputy city assessor.

The city’s Department of Fire & Rescue has received a $21,781 grant from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to go toward an emergency management salary match, according to City Manager Patrick Roberts.

The Obici Healthcare Foundation also awarded the city a $5,000 grant to support the Power of Produce Club for children ages 2-13 at the Suffolk Farmer’s Market. That money will be used to buy tables, children’s books on food and agriculture, activity materials and tokens to buy fruits and vegetables at the Farmer’s Market.

“That is a good thing, a big thing for our city,” said Councilman Tim Johnson.

The city also received a $1,959 grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to go toward the operating expenses of the Community Corrections Program for the Fifth Judicial District. The city is the program administrator and fiscal agent of the program, which provides a number of punitive sanctions and punishments for the Fifth Judicial District, General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts.

The program serves defendants who are placed under probation supervision when they have been either found guilty, or the evidence was sufficient for finding of guilt, for Class 1 or 2 misdemeanors or non-violent Class 5 or 6 felonies. Its service area includes the cities of Suffolk and Franklin, as well as Isle of Wight and Southampton counties.

For the city library’s literacy workshops and Stronger Through Stories program, the Suffolk Foundation gave it $877.50 to buy craft materials for STEM and literacy-based programming, as well as books for families impacted by incarceration.

The library also received a $500 grant from Walmart for the See You at the Library diversity and inclusivity initiative and will go toward buying diverse collection items.

Council approved the grant awards by a 7-0 vote at its Jan. 15 meeting. Mayor Linda T. Johnson was not in attendance.

Council also approved the appointment of Janey Culpepper as deputy city assessor in its consent agenda.