Pacific Power Foundation announces 15 grants to support Central Oregon safety, health and wellness programs

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Across the West, local organizations are caring for their most vulnerable neighbors and working to create safe, supportive, healthy communities where everyone can thrive. To help them turn their aspirations into reality, the Pacific Power Foundation is donating $245,000 in new grant funding throughout Oregon, Washington and Northern California. 

The grants will fund a diverse range of programs, including many that provide meals for those facing food insecurity, offer shelter for those who are unhoused or facilitate health care for underserved communities. There are projects to increase public safety and services for teenagers, families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and victims of child abuse and domestic violence. 

"These local organizations are doing critical work that uplifts all of us,” said Ryan Flynn, director, Pacific Power Foundation. “This funding by the foundation will help amplify their efforts to support our neighbors and improve the day-to-day lives of people in all parts of our communities.”

Safety and wellness grants are made through one of four grant cycles offered by the Pacific Power Foundation each year. The foundation assists a diverse variety of organizations in the communities that Pacific Power serves.

The following 15 grants, totaling $26,250, were given to local nonprofits supporting communities in Central Oregon:

CASA of Central Oregon to recruit, train and support volunteer court-appointed special advocates so more children involved in the child welfare and court systems due to abuse and neglect can have an advocate.

Family Kitchen to help provide a "Services Hub" that will offer unhoused community members showers, laundry facilities, job counseling and other support at the shelter’s new location, along with partner services co-located on the property.

High Desert Food and Farm Alliance to expand the Grow and Give fresh food donation program, which works to ensure that nutritious produce reaches those who need it the most and provides access to fresh produce that would otherwise be out of reach for many.

Home More Network for the HMN Hand Up Grants (or HUGs) program, which provides one-time grants of up to $1,000 per individual for unhoused people working through emergency circumstances.

Jefferson County Faith Based Network to replace an outdated office phone and computer, enabling the interdenominational network to improve access, intake and delivery of services for individuals and families in financial need.

KIDS Center to provide evaluation services, trauma-informed therapy and family advocacy resources to children and their families in households with increased risk of child abuse and neglect.

Lines for Life to help fund continued expansion of classroom education, community outreach and recruitment of youth volunteers for the YouthLine program, which supports young people in Central Oregon experiencing mental health challenges.

MountainStar Family Relief Nursery to support program services, including three therapeutic classrooms serving children ages 3 and under in an outreach program that provides crisis intervention and ongoing services to high-risk families, as well as child developmental assessments, home visitations, transportation services, emergency food boxes and referrals for mental health services.

NeighborImpact for Fresh Alliance, their food recovery program which collects fresh produce, dairy and deli products, grains and meat from Deschutes County grocery stores and farmers, keeping 35 tons of food out of landfills each month and delivering it to partner agencies that operate local pantries, shelters and food distribution programs.

QSTI to train two professionals in QST, an at-home, touch-based autism intervention which parents perform with their children, as part of the organization’s Autism Family Access Initiative to help address an identified shortage of pediatric autism services in Central Oregon.

Redmond Oasis Village Project to help purchase construction materials for an additional tiny shelter unit, part of a planned expansion from 15 to 30 units that will be constructed by the Redmond High School construction technology class, Heart of Oregon Corps or the Central Oregon Community College Pre-Apprenticeship program to provide unsheltered people with non-congregate housing.

Shepherd's House Ministries to help purchase a commercial refrigerator for their low-barrier shelter in Redmond, which plans to serve over 50,000 meals to people experiencing hunger and homelessness as the shelter expands from a winter seasonal facility to a year-round operation.

The Center Foundation to provide education and support to coaches, parents and guardians on caring for mental health challenges of young athletes, as well as best practices and protocols for concussions and athletic injuries.

The Giving Plate to support the food pantry’s ability to purchase fresh food, which can be cost-prohibitive for community members facing food insecurity.

Treehouse Therapies Associates to support the Interdisciplinary Family Integrated Behavioral Program for Children, a collaborative interdisciplinary approach that uses intensive and in-home interventions to address the needs of children and their parents and facilitates a positive impact on a population that experiences significant healthcare inequities.

About the Pacific Power Foundation:

 The Pacific Power Foundation is part of the PacifiCorp Foundation, one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States. The foundation was created by PacifiCorp, an energy company that serves over 2 million customers across a diverse six-state region in the West as Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California) and Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming and Idaho). The foundation’s mission, through charitable investments, is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power. Since it started in 1988, the PacifiCorp Foundation has awarded more than $60 million to nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net/foundation.