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

PORTLAND, Ore. — 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 healthcare 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 96 grants, totaling $245,016, were given to local nonprofits supporting communities in Oregon, Washington and Northern California:

Oregon

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Jefferson County Faith Based Network to replace an outdated office phone and computer, enabling the interdenominational network to improve access, intake and delivery of services for individuals and families in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

Eastern Oregon

Athena Weston School District to help supply the Weston Middle School food bank and make it possible for more families to receive food boxes.

Athena Weston School District to expand the TigerScot Treasure Truck hygiene and clothing program into the high school, where students will gain real-life skills learning to sort, wash and organize clothing donations and run pop-ups for distributing the clothes.

Homestead Youth & Family Services to help fund a new asphalt pad and basketball hoops for a deteriorating outdoor recreation space that plays a critical role in serving the facility’s residents, at-risk youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

Made to Thrive to create opportunities for safe, supportive and fun after-school activities for young people from low-income homes and youth involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems in rural Umatilla and Morrow counties.

Winding Waters Medical Clinic to offer a Community Cooking for Medical Conditions class to the Wallowa County community, facilitated by a registered dietician and focusing on the creation of simple, affordable meals appropriate for specific chronic health conditions.

Klamath Falls

Klamath Advocacy Center to support the establishment of a transition house where clients can have a safe and stable housing option after they reach the maximum stay in the center’s emergency shelter, which serves people who have experienced interpersonal violence or trafficking.

Klamath Basin Senior Citizens' Center to sustain and expand the annual foundation campaign and support nutritional programs to provide more than 50,000 on-site and delivered meals, along with other assistance to area seniors.

Klamath Falls Gospel Mission to help complete much-needed repairs to the mission’s kitchen, which is used to prepare hot meals for people experiencing homelessness in Klamath County.

Lake County 4-H Association to purchase two portable sound/PA systems that will replace worn equipment used to support the Lake County Fair and Round-Up, county dog and horse shows, and other community events.

Sanford Children's Clinic Preventative Food Pantry to purchase nonperishable, healthy and kid-friendly food options for the clinic’s food-insecure patients and their families.

North Coast

Astoria School District to create a fund for children of migrants to receive individual and group therapy sessions at school and telehealth therapy.

City of Astoria Parks and Recreation to supplement installation of playground equipment in conjunction with planned improvements at Fred Lindstrom Park.

North Coast Food Web to purchase food from local producers for the launch of a new micro-retail project that will expand existing online farmers market programming to increase community members’ access to affordable food and provide farmers with new opportunities for in-person product sales.

Reborn Bikes for support of three school and neighborhood-wide bicycle festivals offering safety and clinic stations, bike fitting, group ride fun, instruction and a no-cost giveaway bicycle package to families in need.

Sunset Park and Recreation Foundation for the addition of stage curtains to improve the stage area in the recreation center's 1950s-era main gym and to create a performance space for the local community.

Westwind Stewardship Group for a project to prepare the site and handle emergencies in the remote campground, a high-risk area for wildfires, tsunamis and other natural disasters. Grant funds will be used to purchase "go-bags" for each cabin at Westwind and equip them with supplies to be quickly accessed in case of an emergency.

Portland area

Albertina Kerr Centers for their Crisis Psychiatric Care for Youth program, which serves Oregon children experiencing mental health emergencies and helps them return to their homes, schools and communities in a more stable condition with plans for follow-up care.

AMP (Artist Mentorship Program) to provide 9,000 nutritious meals and distribute 20,000 pounds of food through an expanded food program that will support the nonprofit’s mission to build healthy, relationship-centered communities through music and art.

Black Parent Initiative for the Mental Health Bridge Program, which provides culturally specific mental health counseling and wraparound services that act as a bridge to support clients through crises or while navigating long waitlists from external providers.

Bradley Angle to continue supporting survivors of domestic violence and their families by providing emergency shelter services, including safe shelter beds, and participant assistance funds to cover emergency medical needs, transportation, childcare and housing placement.

Community for Positive Aging to expand food delivery and other health and wellness services for seniors with low incomes.

Friendly House to provide case management, information, referral services, transportation assistance, essential supplies and a virtual community-building program to help older LGBTQ adults maintain their dignity and independence.

Hand Up Project for The People’s Pantry, which offers a “shopping style” emergency food pantry designed to offer a choice of food staples, respect families’ individual and cultural dietary needs and provide vital access for diverse and underserved communities.

Hood River Valley Adult Center to purchase food for Meals on Wheels and Congregate Meals programs that help provide food security for seniors in Hood River County.

Legacy Health Foundation for Legacy Oregon Burn Center’s Burn Education and Prevention Program, which provides critical education and outreach to help reduce the number and severity of burns among children, adults, seniors and high-risk professionals throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Oregon Food Bank to support food acquisition and distribution that enables the Oregon Food Bank network to provide 80 million free, nutritious, culturally specific meals through regional food banks and partners.

Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon for a School Meals for All program that supports providing free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 students in Oregon to minimize stigma, relieve the administrative burden on schools and ensure no child goes hungry.

Quad Inc. to purchase and install automated external defibrillators, CPR and first aid kits in the organization’s five independent-living apartment buildings, which provide affordable housing for low-income individuals living with physical disabilities.

Rahab’s Sisters for their Community Health Program, which coordinates direct access to resources and care networks for women and gender-diverse individuals marginalized by poverty, homelessness, sex work, violence and substance use.

Returning Veterans Project to support recruiting, training and retaining volunteer providers for their Community Supported Health Services for Veterans program, which offers no-cost mental and physical health care for post-9/11 veterans, service members and their families.

Rose Haven to support the organization’s Advocacy and Mental Health Program staff of professional social workers, who offer one-on-one support, referrals and financial aid for women and gender nonconforming individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.

Special Olympics Oregon to bring health and wellness screenings and programming to the greater Portland and Bend/High Desert areas to help improve health outcomes for the historically underserved community of people with intellectual disabilities.

Store to Door to expand an information and referral program that provides short-term case management to homebound seniors and adults living with disabilities and refers them to community organizations that provide services beyond Store to Door’s scope, including weatherization, yard maintenance, in-home caregiving and other assistance.

Sunshine Division for food purchases to ensure sufficient inventory and variety across the organization’s programs and to meet their goal of serving at least 120,000 Portland Metro area households in 2024.

Transition Projects to create and distribute move-in kits that provide household essentials such as kitchenware and bedding for people transitioning from homelessness into permanent housing.

Trauma Recovery EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program to strengthen and grow the Portland Trauma Recovery Network, a group of mental health professionals trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) trauma therapy, who volunteer to assist in times of emergency and to address ongoing circumstances contributing to trauma in their local communities.

Vision to Learn to support programming expenses for a mobile vision care clinic that travels to schools in the Portland Metro region, bringing in opticians and optometrists to examine children who may have vision disorders and providing glasses for students who need them.

Volunteers of America Oregon for the Al Forthan Memorial Scholarship, which helps make college possible for high school students whose lives have been impacted by addiction in their families.

WomenFirst Transition & Referral Center to provide emergency food to Black women and women of color when they arrive at the center.

YWCA of Greater Portland for a holistic program to help survivors of domestic or sexual violence and their children find safety and security during and immediately after fleeing from an abusive situation.

Rogue Valley

Crossing Bridges Therapeutic Riding Center to provide scholarships to qualifying students ages 3 and up for an equine therapy program that encourages positive behaviors and choices.

Josephine County Foundation to replace failing mechanisms that open the Williams Fire Department’s station doors, which must be in good working order for crews and equipment to exit the station promptly on emergency calls.

Josephine County Foundation to equip their brush fire engine with a Mobile Data Computer which can provide radio communications including maps, fire condition updates and other functions essential for optimizing the engine’s capabilities and response time.

La Clinica to help make mental health services accessible inside Central Point and Medford elementary schools, with qualified professionals providing one-on-one and group skills training for students, along with coaching for teachers and parents so they can better support children.

Mercy Flights for two ground medical scene bags filled with medical supplies and medications necessary for providers to do their jobs away from a clinic setting and provide mobile health care in the field.

Redwood Foundation for Education to help reduce food insecurity by providing packaged foods at local elementary schools and allowing children to self-select items to take home before the weekend.

Rogue Community Health to continue operating the GoCheckKids pediatric vision screening that provides vision checks at every well-child visit, along with providing books to every child treated through the related reading program.

Rogue Valley Mentoring to provide first-tier mental health support for students through in-school mentoring that includes early crisis detection, prevention and intervention.

South Coast

Bear Cupboard to support distribution of donated food to Coos Bay families and people experiencing disabilities, and to support a community-based clothing program.

Operation Rebuild Hope to help create a family room within The Den, a 16 single-unit rapid-rehousing complex for veterans so that residents can gather with each other and their loved ones.

Powers Food Pantry to cover costs of purchasing food and delivering it to the remote food bank, which must truck in all the resources it needs to serve the community of Powers in Coos County.

Umpqua Valley

Camp Millennium for the Camp M kids camp, a cost-free residential eight-day summer camp for Oregon and Southwest Washington children ages 5 to 16 who are dealing with cancer, offering them a chance to “be a kid again,” whether they are contending with a cancer diagnosis for themselves or a family member.

Friendly Kitchen Meals on Wheels Roseburg to support the program, which brings dietician-approved meals to a vulnerable population five days a week, helping them maintain independence, health and dignity.

Source One Serenity to finance outdoor experiences for veterans in Douglas County, part of a larger plan to help guide veterans through recovery using nature-based activities targeted at reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, enhancing social engagement and improving overall quality of life.

Sunrise Enterprises of Roseburg to help fund construction of a tiny home, part of an operation the nonprofit has created to support their mission to help individuals with disabilities find inclusion and employment. The construction project will offer participants an opportunity to develop new job skills and support those who are experiencing homelessness.

Thrive Umpqua to launch two Neighborhood Wellness Hubs in Douglas County, working with community organizations to create strong, healthy neighborhoods that promote connection, encourage healthy behaviors and build resiliency to reduce chronic disease and promote health equity for all residents.

Willamette Valley

ABC House to support comprehensive child abuse assessment and support services for an increasing number of child abuse victims and their families in Benton and Linn counties.

Bit by Bit to build a temporary wheelchair ramp at their leased indoor arena to help clients with a wider range of disabilities and needs safely mount the horses and participate in equine-assisted therapy sessions.

CASA of Lane County to revitalize recruitment, retraining and retention of volunteers who advocate in the court system for children who have suffered abuse and neglect.

Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence to support a shelter program and comprehensive services in Spanish and English for survivors and their families, helping them build sustainable self-sufficiency.

Community Outreach Inc. for the Transformation Shelter program that provides individuals, families and young adults experiencing homelessness with wraparound services, referrals and tools for success as they transition to stable housing.

Corvallis Public Schools Foundation for the Family Support Program, a Corvallis School District initiative to address the challenges faced by students whose families are experiencing homelessness, chronic food insecurity and other adversities.

Family Building Blocks to support the Therapeutic Early Childhood Classroom Program, which offers services for children from birth to age 6 and their families as part of the program’s mission to stop the cycle of child abuse and neglect through prevention and early intervention.

FISH Lebanon for the food pantry to fill food boxes with nutritious items including proteins, canned and frozen food, cereals and seasonal fresh vegetables and fruit, enough to feed a family for several days.

Harrisburg Fire & Rescue to further education for volunteer members and provide equipment for training current and new volunteer members.

Liberty House to support Therapists in Hope & Wellness Services, a trauma-focused therapy program that serves children and adults in Polk and Marion counties, priced according to a family’s ability to pay.

South Lane Family Relief Nursery to provide outreach services, crisis support, free childcare and parenting education to underserved families with children 5 and under in the rural communities of Cottage Grove and Creswell, as part of the organization’s mission to improve the nature and quality of parent-child interactions.

Washington

Blue Zones Project Fiscally Sponsored by Blue Mountain Community Foundation to purchase water bottle filling stations that will be installed in public spaces in Walla Walla and College Place.

Camp Prime Time to help children with serious medical issues and their families attend summer camp in a safe, relaxing and accepting environment.

The Memorial Foundation to support expansion, remodeling and technology upgrades at the MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital Children’s Village with the purchase of radiant-heat warmers that can be lifesaving for infants during unexpected and emergency birth situations.

People for People Meals on Wheels to provide 145 shelf-stable emergency meal boxes for home-bound seniors in the program to ensure they have food when extreme weather or other conditions interrupt regular meal delivery.

Rod’s House for the Young Adult Emergency Home that provides longer-term sheltering services, case managers and therapists to help young adults who have been homeless or in unstable housing transition to positive housing options.

Voices for Children Foundation for the Buddy Bag program, which every year purchases more than 250 duffle bags filled with essential clothing, supplies and toiletries for children entering foster care.

Walla Walla Alliance for the Homeless to provide Shelter Community residents with access to laundry service, including transportation to a local laundromat, washer and dryer fees and soap.

Walla Walla Senior Citizens Center to support the center’s nutrition program, which served more than 100,000 meals last year as the demand for food assistance increased for older adults.

Yakima Union Gospel Mission to provide shelter and supportive care to area adults experiencing homelessness.

Yakima Neighborhood Health Services to purchase two noninvasive handheld jaundice meters that can detect jaundice when placed against a newborn’s forehead so infants will no longer need to undergo blood draws, with results available immediately.

Yakima School District to purchase 200 helmets for students at the district’s Health & Wellness Summer Safety Kick Off event to keep them protected when riding their bikes or scooters.

California

Copco Lake Fire Protection District to replace old and broken radios for the volunteer firefighters, who are also first responders and need up-to-date communication equipment when attending to medical emergencies, water rescues and wilderness wildfires.

Siskiyou Family YMCA to support adoption of a health and safety initiative that includes American Red Cross training for staff, CPR classes available to the public at reduced cost, and the purchase of an automated external defibrillator for the Yreka facility.

Valley Oaks Inc. to purchase chairs and tables for new fitness offerings and informational classes the organization is offering as part of their mission to engage and enrich the lives of older adults.