Sunriver Women’s Club awards funds to area nonprofits

SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) --The Sunriver Women’s Club has a long history of supporting south Deschutes County nonprofits and the community they serve. This spring, the annual grant program awarded $50,000 to local nonprofits and $16,000 from a special new fund, COVID-19 Nonprofit Emergency Fund, created to address specific community needs resulting from the pandemic.

Additional awards from this fund will be made in the months to come.

The Annual Grant Program

Fourteen grants were awarded totaling $50,000. These annual grants are awarded to nonprofits serving women, children, families, and seniors by providing basic necessities. A few of the awardees are highlighted here to share how they impact the lives of south Deschutes County residents.

     The 1017 Project award will enable them to double the amount of beef they provide to food pantries in south Deschutes County. The pantries only pay for the butchering and processing costs, thus getting high quality protein at about $.89/pound.

     The Central Oregon Council on Aging grant eliminates their waitlist for the Meals on Wheels program. The program provides nutritious meals while at the same time checking on seniors’ welfare, which allows seniors to stay healthy and, in their homes, as long as possible.

     The PTA at Three Rivers K-8 school award replaces three lab computers the District removed because of obsolescence. These computers are part of a lab that allows students to take online classes, advancing their education and staying on par academically with Bend students.

     Other 2020 nonprofits receiving awards include: AAUW Tech Trek Camp for middle school girls, Family Access Network for summer activity programs, Care & Share for food boxes, In Our Backyard for a human trafficking education program, La Pine Community Kitchen for hot meals, La Pine Parks and Recreation for summer daycare/activities, NeighborImpact for energy assistance, Rising Stars Preschool for scholarships, St. Vincent DePaul for emergency shelter vouchers, Sunriver Music Festival for the after-school orchestra, Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory for education outreach and Wonderland Express for food gift cards to low income attendees at a holiday event.

     The annual grant program is supported through various fundraising activities throughout the year and has provided $676,000 to the community since 1999.

The COVID-19 Nonprofit Emergency Fund

     So far, six south Deschutes County nonprofits received financial support from the COVID-19 Nonprofit Emergency Fund during April and May to deliver essential services during the pandemic. The fund was formed because club members knew that local nonprofits were going to need additional support if they were going to meet the increased demand for services during the pandemic and remain viable in the future.

     Early in the pandemic there was the urgent need for food. As time passed local families were struggling to pay their bills, and the need for housing and utility assistance emerged. The following nonprofits have received support:

• La Pine Community Kitchen ($6,000) to support a 200% increase in meals served on a to-go basis.

• Council on Aging of Central Oregon ($2,000) to support two senior food programs –- Meals on Wheels and take-out community meals.

• La Pine Senior Activity Center ($1,000) to support their transition to delivery and to-go meals. They have seen a 100% increase in meals served.

• La Pine Community Health Center ($1,000) to support prescription medications for under-insured or uninsured clients.

• Habitat for Humanity of La Pine Sunriver ($3,000) to help their home ownership program families with mortgage assistance.

• NeighborImpact ($3,000) for their utility assistance program including the necessities of heat, water, sewer, garbage and even cell phones, as phones can be people’s connection to jobs and
• other needed services.  Check the SRWC website for updates or to join the effort at

https://sunriverwomensclub.com/COVID-19-Emergency-Fund.

     In addition to these two philanthropy programs, the SRWC has several other programs that support the community. Since 1999, the SRWC has invested over $700,000 in south Deschutes County through contributions to non-profits and the important services they provide.