HARRISBURG, Ore. — The H.A.R.T. Family Resource Center received a $2,500 grant from Pacific Power’s charitable arm, the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning, to improve services to the area’s Hispanic community.

H.A.R.T.’s Cultural Connection project provides literacy and family support resources to Harrisburg’s growing Hispanic community. Funds also will be used to purchase curriculum for English class and other needed material.

“H.A.R.T. is the only organization reaching out to the Spanish speaking population,” said Peggy Purkerson, H.A.R.T.’s director. “Some of the services we hope to expand include job information and referral, translating forms and correspondence, job training, and to serve as a resource center for businesses, social services and schools.”

The Center is offering an English class during the day once a week, and hopes to add another class to offer working parents a chance to attend a class.

H.A.R.T. Family Resource Center, in its seventh year, serves the diverse needs of Harrisburg-area families. It offers a parent cooperative preschool, parent education, after school youth activities, and information and referral to social support services.

“H.A.R.T. is reaching out to an important part of our community and we’re proud to support their efforts,” said Doris Johnston, regional community manager for Pacific Power.

In its latest round of grants, the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning awarded nearly $63,000 civic and community grants to 14 nonprofit education programs throughout Oregon. It also awarded $12,500 to small capital improvement projects in Portland, Moro and Medford.

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