United Way grants aid La Pine after-school, Bend bike repairs

Youth in La Pine and those in need of transportation options in Central Oregon got a boost Wednesday when United Way of Deschutes County announced it will provide grant funds totaling $5,300 to La Pine Park & Recreation District and to Bicycle Re-Source of Bend.

A grant totaling $3,600 was awarded to the La Pine Park & Recreation District in support of its expanded After-School Program. The funding will allow the organization to continue the Community School Program through June of this year.

La Pine Park & Recreation District has been successfully providing the only afterschool program for youth in the community for several years. The program launched what promises to be a successful pilot afterschool program for elementary age children in 2015.

This emergency grant would enable the program to complete the pilot period. These after-school programs and services for elementary and middle-school age students provide much needed after-school tutoring and enrichment activities for children in the La Pine area.

A second grant of $1,700 was awarded to Bicycle Re-Source of Bend to purchase new tools to replace worn out tools used in their shop to repair donated bicycles.

The funds will enable the group to continue to repair bicycles at the rate that an increase in demand is driving. Bicycle Re-Source of Bend has been repairing bicycles for donation to needy youth and adults in Central Oregon for approximately 4 years.

All bicycles are donated by the community, are repaired by trained volunteers and are then provided to individuals who need a bicycle for their basic needs. Typically many of the people who receive a bicycle are homeless or can’t afford a car and this bicycle is the difference between their ability to hold a job or to get other services that they need.

United Way chose to fund the South County project because of the tremendous need in the area for more after-school programs that can provide kids with positive activities and adult supervision.

“Youth need a safe, structured environment after-school. For some kids the programs that will be offered are a safe and fun alternative to going home after school to an empty house” said Mike Stanley, Chair of the United Way of Deschutes County’s Community Impact Committee.

In funding the Bicycle Re-Store of Bend request, United Way is proud to invest in programs that help youth and adults achieve their potential and access the education and services they need or to get to work.

“These funds will help Bicycle Re-Store support a growing need to provide free transportation to those in need and provide an opportunity for people to become successful in their lives,” Stanley said.

Those interested in learning more about the La Pine Park & Recreation District After-School program can call the La Pine Park & Recreation District office at 536-2223. And those interested in learning more about Bicycle Re-Source of Bend can call 541-382-6977

United Way of Deschutes County is committed to building community by changing people lives. The organization recently reported it is still working to meet its annual fund raising goal of $1.4 million to help meet BASIC NEEDS, get kids off to a GREAT START in life, keep YOUTH on TRACK for success and keep children and families SAFE from VIOLENCE and ABUSE.

People interested in making a donation to the current United Way campaign can call 389-6507 or go online to http://www.deschutesunitedway.org/