COCOA ‘Meals on Wheals’ receives grant
Last Wednesday,, at the Seven Feathers Convention Center in Canyonville, the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation awarded $460,685 to 63 non-profits in seven Oregon counties, including the Central Oregon Council on Aging.
Foundation Executive Director Carma Mornarich says, “The work done by these 63 non-profits is invaluable. Families, children, and community all benefit from their efforts. Supporting the fabric of community is what the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation is all about. We’re proud to partner with these organizations that are located in Cow Creek homeland territory.”
The mission of the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation is to offer assistance in youth education, strengthen youth and family, provide positive youth development, and add to the quality of life for people. Increasingly, the CCUIF has also put emphasis upon feeding hungry people.
Since 1997, the CCUIF has awarded $14,254,344 in grants to non-profit organizations. Awards are made semi-annually, in January and June. CCUIF awards are separate from and in addition to regular philanthropic gifts made by the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribal Board.
COCOA received a $4,000 award from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation for Deschutes County Meals on Wheels.
COCOA, which is Central Oregon’s federally designated Area Agency on Aging, has provided Meals on Wheels and other senior services for upwards of three decades.
Each year, COCOA provides more than 500 Deschutes County seniors with upwards of 65,000 meals delivered by more than 200 volunteer drivers. The Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation award will have immediate and direct impact on these seniors in the critical areas of basic need and hunger prevention.
COCOA is a private nonprofit organization and the designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA) responsible for providing services to meet the needs of senior citizens in the tri-county area of Central Oregon. COCOA services help seniors to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible, aging with dignity and respect.
