HEALTH & WELL-BEING • CONSTRUCTION • REAL ESTATE
Giving
2020
Partners artners in Giving
One of the most notable characteristics of Sisters Country is the exceptional generosity of the community. This is evidenced by the many nonprofit organizations that provide not only a handout to those in need, but a hand up to those who seek to improve their lot so they themselves give back to the community. Whether they are serving struggling youth, or vulnerable seniors, or combat veterans who gave a part of themselves in the defense of their country, these organizations help people in our communities build or rebuild
satisfying, meaningful lives with a sense of belonging and purpose. Those who operate these critical nonprofit organizations give daily of themselves — and right now they are doing so under trying circumstances, where it is challenging to deliver services and resources are painfully stretched. Fortunately, the communities at large share their generosity of spirit. Folks from Sisters contribute generously and consistently of their time and their resources, knowing that they are, through their efforts, enhancing the communities they love and helping all of its citizens become more capable and resilient.
The rewards of supporting the work of this region’s remarkable nonprofits and service organizations are many: There is satisfaction in giving back through donations and gifts of time when we have been greatly blessed, and there is camaraderie and solidarity in pulling together to make our communities a better place to live for everyone in them. In these pages you will meet true givers. Join them in making Sisters and Central Oregon strong.
Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief
A special section presented by The Nugget Newspaper COVER PHOTOS COURTESY KATIE GUERRERO PHOTOGRAPHY (GIRL ON HORSE) AND ISTOCK.COM
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Partners in Giving // The Nugget Newspaper // November 4, 2020
How to contribute... For all local nonprofits, the most critical need right now is financial support. All of these organizations rely on community support to provide the vital services they offer in the community — and that support is needed now more than ever. Central Oregon Veterans Ranch Donations can be made via COVR’s website www.covranch.org or mailed to 65920 61st St., Bend, OR 97703. For more information call 541-706-9062 or email info@covranch.org. Warfighter Outfitters Donations can be made at www.war fighteroutfitters.org/donations-warfighter-outfitters or send checks to Warfighter Outfitters, 160 S. Oak St., Sisters, OR 97759. Beulah’s Place Donations can be made securely through the website at www.beulahsplace.org or a check may be sent to P.O. Box 518, Redmond, OR 97756. Partners in Care Support the capital campaign to build a new 12-bed Hospice House at www.partnersbend.org/campaign/. J Bar J Donate to any of the J Bar J programs via www.jbarj. org. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon’s Comedy for Kids’ Sake virtual event and auction can be accessed at www.jbarj.org/ events-and-news. Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch The faith-based equestrian program can be supported with donations through www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org. Blazin Saddles Each year, Blazin Saddles asks the community to donate bikes in decent or better condition to gift to community members during the Christmas season. This year, the staff is extending that program to assist people in the McKenzie Bridge-Blue River area hardhit by fire. The staff has connections there and hopes to give a small boost to the devastated community by providing bikes. Bikes can be dropped off at 413 W. Hood Ave. in Sisters November 15-December 15.
photo provided
Council on Aging of Central Oregon Volunteers are needed as drivers for grab-and-go meal programs and for Meals on Wheels. Donations support a wide array of resources for seniors. For more information visit www.councilonaging.org. Sisters Kiwanis Club Sisters Kiwanis Club provides a wide range of programs to the local community in addition to its vital food bank. Service projects include: cleaning Sisters’ highways, reading to children, improving our city’s parks, sponsoring our scout troops, and manning Red Cross blood drives. For information on joining or donating to Sisters Kiwanis visit www.sisterskiwanis.org. Oliver Lemon’s Shoppers can contribute December 1-31 for when the need is greatest in February at Oliver Lemon’s “Food for February” drive benefitting Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank. Contribute any amount at the register when you shop at 160 S. Fir St. in Sisters. Ray’s Food Place Buy $25 worth of food for $20 in a prepackaged bag in the Ray’s Food Place Stuff the Truck drive at the Sisters store. Food donations go to Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank. United Way of Central Oregon United Way of Central Oregon partners with agencies and nonprofits across the region to build resilience in the community. To learn more about how to get involved with their programs or to donate in support, visit www.unitedwaycentral oregon.org.
Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch The ranch exists to Rescue the Equine, Mentor the Child, provide Hope for the Family and to Empower the Ministry. For 25 years Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch has been a strong and compassionate support to Central Oregon. Always free of charge, our mission has been to shoulder with families, children, and equine to share the hope of Jesus Christ within the tri-county area.
For all who have contributed to the ranch these past 25 years — we thank you. Your faithful giving is the powerful foundation for us to continue into the next 25 years of service. We are so deeply grateful to partner with you into the next season of loving assistance to our community.
www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org | 541-330-0123
The Nugget Newspaper // November 4, 2020
WE’RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR DONATIONS Thirteen years of providing food, shelter, and guidance leading to successful life paths for homeless, at-risk teens and victims of sexual exploitation that can’t afford to pay for shelter to keep themselves warm or meals to keep them healthy.
BeulahsPlace.org 541-526-0445
// Partners in Giving
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Kiwanis Club of Sisters On a Mission of Giving Year-round The Kiwanis Club of Sisters has been serving Sisters Country since 1977. In addition to the SISTERS FOOD BANK, we provide FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIPS for Sisters High School seniors. Sisters Kiwanis also SUPPORTS YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS such as: Circle Of Friends • Family Access Network Sisters Park & Recreation District SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) Heart of Oregon Corps Healthy Start • Camp Sunrise and others as the need arises.
Local donations fund the CAREER OPPORTUNITY FUND which provides grant money to Sisters residents that wish to improve, or change, their careers.
To Donate or Volunteer call 541-588-6441
Sisters Kiwanis Club is a totally volunteer organization so 100% of the money raised goes to the charities we support.
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Partners in Giving // The Nugget Newspaper // November 4, 2020
The Nugget Newspaper // November 4, 2020
// Partners in Giving
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Nurturing the bonds of the Central Oregon community Those of us who chose Central Oregon as our home are blessed to live in a beautiful, healthful environment where we can nurture the bonds of a vibrant community. We recognize that not everyone shares in the bounty that life in Central Oregon offers, and many people and organizations reach out into our community with a warm embrace and a hand up for those in need. When youth in our community get off to a rocky start, there are many mentoring hands to help them find the right path. J Bar J Youth Services operates a number of different programs aimed at facilitating positive change for youth. J Bar J marketing creative Eva Gill explained that the J Bar J residential program is oriented around the belief that mindset and outlook produce choices. The key to youth setting aside self-defeating behaviors and making good choices lies in a positive mindset that understands that freedom and responsibility go hand in hand. “They come and stay with us for a year and a half and they restructure their thinking,” Gill said. The residential boys ranch is just one of a number of programs under the J Bar J umbrella. The Academy at Sisters is a therapeutic boarding school for girls; Cascade Youth and Family Center provides resources for runaway and homeless youth and family mediation; Grandma’s House is a nonprofit home and outreach, providing emergency and transitional shelter to homeless or abused pregnant, parenting young mothers, and young mothers choosing adoption for their child; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon matches adult mentors with youth. All of these programs rely on fundraising — and the organization lost its main fundraiser this year due to COVID-19. The High Desert Classic equestrian event is not only a major fundraiser, it has become a signature Central Oregon event. “We lost a big chunk of funding that we’re struggling to replace, basically,” Gill said. “We need the community support more than ever, financially.” On November 12, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central
Oregon will host a virtual Comedy for Kids’ Sake event and an online auction. For more information visit www.jbarj.org/ events-and-news. Beulah’s Place helps to lead young people in Central Oregon away from homelessness, suicide and being preyed upon by sex traffickers and other predators. Andi and Ed Buerger help youth in desperate straits find emergency shelter; provide support for rescued youth to go to college through $2,000 college start scholarships; and provide gas, food and personal supplies and toiletries. Services include food, clothing, and safe shelter for 18- to 21-year-olds, temporary day-shelter for 14- to 19-year-olds, mentorship, job acquisition assistance, work skills training and transportation to/from work or school. On a case-by-case basis, they provide medical and dental care, rent assistance, educational assistance for completion of high school and college start scholarships. There are also opportunities for young people to volunteer and “pay it forward.” All of that takes funding, and Beulah’s Place relies on community support that has become pinched due to COVID-19 — just when need is getting more acute. “We got hit hard by COVID,” Andi Buerger said. “Right now, winter is going to be tough for us. We won’t be able to rescue as many kids.” Direct cash donations are most helpful because they can be targeted at the most urgent needs. Donations can be made securely through the website at www.beulahsplace.org or a check may be sent to P.O. Box 518, Redmond, OR 97756. Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch creates a safe place for families to connect with horses in a Western ranch setting. Many of the horses are rescued animals. “We’re doing our best in these weird COVID times,” said public relations director Katie Guerrero. The faith-based program often works with children for years, up to the age of 18. “I’ve had a child I worked with from age 10 to 18, when she aged out and went to college,” Guerrero said.
Some of the children mentored at the Ranch come back for an 18- to 25-year-old internship program. “Those are the volunteers that actually learn to work with the kids on our program,” Guerrero said. Learn more about Crystal Peaks efforts to inspire children and families and contribute to those efforts at www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org. Caring for others extends all the way up through the end of life. Partners in Care provides no-cost, non-clinical case management for those living with a life-limiting illness through its Transitions program, and hospice services to the broad Central Oregon community. While volunteer visits to patients’ homes have been curtailed due to COVID-19, hospice nurses continue to provide services, in concert with a full team of professionals. Their Hospice House is the only in-patient hospice facility in Central Oregon — and one of only very few in the state of Oregon. Partners in Care is currently in the midst of a $6 million capital campaign to construct a new, 12-bed Hospice House, which will be one of only three such facilities in Oregon.
photo provided
Construction is underway even as the campaign is in process. To learn more and to contribute, visit www.partnersbend.org/ campaign/. Council on Aging of Central Oregon has found that food services continue to be a critical need for seniors. The coronavirus pandemic has curtailed in-person community dining, but the organization continues to provide a “grab-andgo” meal program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from noon to 12:30 p.m. at Sisters Community Church and they also provide a Meals on Wheels program. Volunteers will continue to be needed as drivers for food programs. During the holiday season, “we will be identifying seniors… who could most use a gift from Santa” in a Be a Santa for a Senior program, according to Denise LaBuda, the Council’s communications director. Food needs are at the forefront for many people during the winter, and two Sisters markets are pitching in to assist. Oliver Lemon’s Food for February program runs the month of December. Customers can donate any amount of money for Food for February at the register. Oliver Lemon’s will match up to $5,000. The funds are then used to purchase food at wholesale pricing from the Sisters Kiwanis shopping list to help feed our hungry neighbors. Last year, customer donations totaled $8,545; with the Oliver Lemon’s matching funds of $5,000, Food for February donations totaled $13,545. Ray’s Food Place invites customers to purchase prepared food bags at $20 to “Stuff the Truck” in their annual donation drive for Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank. The food in each bag is valued at $25. “We’re kind of the vehicle to make it happen that makes it easy for the customers to donate,” said Store Manager Jeff McDonald. The drive provides food valued at approximately $18,000 to $19,000 each year. With generosity of spirit, hard work, and innovation, Central Oregon nonprofits truly partner with the community to build resilience through the toughest times.
photo provided
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Partners in Giving // The Nugget Newspaper // November 4, 2020
The Nugget Newspaper // November 4, 2020
// Partners in Giving
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Nurturing the bonds of the Central Oregon community Those of us who chose Central Oregon as our home are blessed to live in a beautiful, healthful environment where we can nurture the bonds of a vibrant community. We recognize that not everyone shares in the bounty that life in Central Oregon offers, and many people and organizations reach out into our community with a warm embrace and a hand up for those in need. When youth in our community get off to a rocky start, there are many mentoring hands to help them find the right path. J Bar J Youth Services operates a number of different programs aimed at facilitating positive change for youth. J Bar J marketing creative Eva Gill explained that the J Bar J residential program is oriented around the belief that mindset and outlook produce choices. The key to youth setting aside self-defeating behaviors and making good choices lies in a positive mindset that understands that freedom and responsibility go hand in hand. “They come and stay with us for a year and a half and they restructure their thinking,” Gill said. The residential boys ranch is just one of a number of programs under the J Bar J umbrella. The Academy at Sisters is a therapeutic boarding school for girls; Cascade Youth and Family Center provides resources for runaway and homeless youth and family mediation; Grandma’s House is a nonprofit home and outreach, providing emergency and transitional shelter to homeless or abused pregnant, parenting young mothers, and young mothers choosing adoption for their child; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon matches adult mentors with youth. All of these programs rely on fundraising — and the organization lost its main fundraiser this year due to COVID-19. The High Desert Classic equestrian event is not only a major fundraiser, it has become a signature Central Oregon event. “We lost a big chunk of funding that we’re struggling to replace, basically,” Gill said. “We need the community support more than ever, financially.” On November 12, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central
Oregon will host a virtual Comedy for Kids’ Sake event and an online auction. For more information visit www.jbarj.org/ events-and-news. Beulah’s Place helps to lead young people in Central Oregon away from homelessness, suicide and being preyed upon by sex traffickers and other predators. Andi and Ed Buerger help youth in desperate straits find emergency shelter; provide support for rescued youth to go to college through $2,000 college start scholarships; and provide gas, food and personal supplies and toiletries. Services include food, clothing, and safe shelter for 18- to 21-year-olds, temporary day-shelter for 14- to 19-year-olds, mentorship, job acquisition assistance, work skills training and transportation to/from work or school. On a case-by-case basis, they provide medical and dental care, rent assistance, educational assistance for completion of high school and college start scholarships. There are also opportunities for young people to volunteer and “pay it forward.” All of that takes funding, and Beulah’s Place relies on community support that has become pinched due to COVID-19 — just when need is getting more acute. “We got hit hard by COVID,” Andi Buerger said. “Right now, winter is going to be tough for us. We won’t be able to rescue as many kids.” Direct cash donations are most helpful because they can be targeted at the most urgent needs. Donations can be made securely through the website at www.beulahsplace.org or a check may be sent to P.O. Box 518, Redmond, OR 97756. Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch creates a safe place for families to connect with horses in a Western ranch setting. Many of the horses are rescued animals. “We’re doing our best in these weird COVID times,” said public relations director Katie Guerrero. The faith-based program often works with children for years, up to the age of 18. “I’ve had a child I worked with from age 10 to 18, when she aged out and went to college,” Guerrero said.
Some of the children mentored at the Ranch come back for an 18- to 25-year-old internship program. “Those are the volunteers that actually learn to work with the kids on our program,” Guerrero said. Learn more about Crystal Peaks efforts to inspire children and families and contribute to those efforts at www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org. Caring for others extends all the way up through the end of life. Partners in Care provides no-cost, non-clinical case management for those living with a life-limiting illness through its Transitions program, and hospice services to the broad Central Oregon community. While volunteer visits to patients’ homes have been curtailed due to COVID-19, hospice nurses continue to provide services, in concert with a full team of professionals. Their Hospice House is the only in-patient hospice facility in Central Oregon — and one of only very few in the state of Oregon. Partners in Care is currently in the midst of a $6 million capital campaign to construct a new, 12-bed Hospice House, which will be one of only three such facilities in Oregon.
photo provided
Construction is underway even as the campaign is in process. To learn more and to contribute, visit www.partnersbend.org/ campaign/. Council on Aging of Central Oregon has found that food services continue to be a critical need for seniors. The coronavirus pandemic has curtailed in-person community dining, but the organization continues to provide a “grab-andgo” meal program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from noon to 12:30 p.m. at Sisters Community Church and they also provide a Meals on Wheels program. Volunteers will continue to be needed as drivers for food programs. During the holiday season, “we will be identifying seniors… who could most use a gift from Santa” in a Be a Santa for a Senior program, according to Denise LaBuda, the Council’s communications director. Food needs are at the forefront for many people during the winter, and two Sisters markets are pitching in to assist. Oliver Lemon’s Food for February program runs the month of December. Customers can donate any amount of money for Food for February at the register. Oliver Lemon’s will match up to $5,000. The funds are then used to purchase food at wholesale pricing from the Sisters Kiwanis shopping list to help feed our hungry neighbors. Last year, customer donations totaled $8,545; with the Oliver Lemon’s matching funds of $5,000, Food for February donations totaled $13,545. Ray’s Food Place invites customers to purchase prepared food bags at $20 to “Stuff the Truck” in their annual donation drive for Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank. The food in each bag is valued at $25. “We’re kind of the vehicle to make it happen that makes it easy for the customers to donate,” said Store Manager Jeff McDonald. The drive provides food valued at approximately $18,000 to $19,000 each year. With generosity of spirit, hard work, and innovation, Central Oregon nonprofits truly partner with the community to build resilience through the toughest times.
photo provided
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Partners in Giving // The Nugget Newspaper // November 4, 2020
Giving back to those who served The Central Oregon community is known for its support of military veterans. Many organizations across the region provide support and services for those who gave a part of themselves in the defense of their country. Prominent among them are the innovative programs of Central Oregon Veterans Ranch (COVR). The Ranch has been in operation since 2015 on a 19-acre property between Bend and Redmond. COVR is based around peer support — veterans helping other veterans. COVR offers structured and unstructured opportunities for peer support — through groups, team volunteer projects, events, traumainformed education classes and more. Since July, COVR has been partnering with the Central Oregon Vet Center to offer safe, social-distanced PTSD support groups outside on the property grounds or in a GP Medium military tent. They’re building a fire pit for additional safe outdoor meeting space and a place to foster camaraderie and connection. “This is about building on people’s strengths; it’s about giving them a new sense of purpose and community,” said Alison Perry, COVR’s founder and executive director.
The Ranch is an innovator in hydroponic agriculture. Working in agriculture provides opportunities for outdoor, physical work that is beneficial for veterans dealing with PTSD and other issues. COVR was awarded a two-year Oregon Department of Agriculture grant to convert their greenhouse to a hydroponics system and will offer online and some hands-on classes in growing lettuce hydroponically in Central Oregon. COVR also partners with High Desert Food & Farm Alliance to implement the USDA Beginner Farmer Rancher Development Grant, which pays local farmers and ranchers to mentor veterans. The work is productive as well as therapeutic: Last season, the greenhouse produced approximately 600 pounds of lettuce that was donated to local food providers. Working at the Ranch and interacting with peers in an environment of cooperation and camaraderie helps to overcome the sense of isolation that many combat veterans who suffer from PTSD experience. That sense of isolation and vulnerability can become more acute as veterans age and near the end of life — and COVR is engaged in a major effort to address the need for specialized end-of-life care for such veterans. COVR is raising $250,000 to launch a specialized end-of-life care
photo provided
program, including a four-bed home on the Ranch, that will address the unique needs of veterans at end of life, connecting different generations of veterans to each other for healing and helping veterans to have a peaceful death. Perry notes that vulnerability and a loss of autonomy at the end of life can bring on acute PTSD symptoms — high anxiety levels; nightmares; flashbacks. “When somebody is at the end
of life, they’re more vulnerable than they’ve ever been,” Perry said. “We need to take care of them till the very end.” She noted that the program will specifically address the challenges that moral injury poses in helping a veteran to have a peaceful death. “Once funds are raised for this program, monies will be spent to hire staff, obtain licensing from the state to operate the home as an adult foster home, and partner with
CENTRAL OREGON VETERANS RANCH NEEDS YOUR HELP TO ACHIEVE OUR $250,000 GOAL BY THE END OF 2020: Partner with COVR to open our fully remodeled ranch-home for specialized end-of-life care to help veterans heal from the wounds of war and find peace in their final days. Your monetary contribution will support hiring caregiving staff to open the facility and programs that train veterans. Since 2015 we have served hundreds of veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress, moral injury, and reintegration issues through vocational and therapeutic agriculture and peer-support programs.
To donate, please visit our website www.covranch.org or call 541-706-9062
The Nugget Newspaper // November 4, 2020 national expert Deborah Grassman on developing the program that will train staff and returning veterans to work with veterans to help them to find healing and redemption and to have a peaceful death, while imparting their wisdom to younger generations of veterans,” Perry said. Donations can be made at www. covranch.org or mailed to 65920 61st St., Bend, OR 97703. For more information call 541-706-9062 or email info@covranch.org. Warfighter Outfitters, based out of Sisters, operates on the model of veterans helping veterans. The organization offers three types of experience: hunting trips; fishing; and “engagement missions.” Wounded veterans, many working through post-traumatic stress, come from all over the country to connect with each other and with activities that make them feel alive and engaged. Founder Brett Miller, himself a wounded veteran of the Iraq war, explained the engagement missions: “Basically it’s a sweat-equity service project. It’s like a working vacation.” Warfighter Outfitters now operates an engagement organization called Team Overland guiding outdoor adventures as an outlet for veterans to overcome challenges associated with service-related physical and mental health disabilities, and to facilitate veteran reintegration back into civilian society. The Veterans Back 40
Adventures program uses the term “dirt therapy” to relieve the daily stresses veterans encounter. All together, the programs utilize 33 volunteer guides across the Western United States. It’s all about giving opportunities for veterans to connect with each other, share experiences and challenges and rediscover the kind of camaraderie and sense of mission that they experienced while serving — aspects of service that are often sorely missed in civilian life. The coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on operations. “We’re down 68 percent due to COVID this year, so we’re just barely getting by,” Miller said. “(We’re) doing everything we can just to make trips happen and stay afloat.” Miller noted that the trips can be done safely. “A lot of what we do is social distancing anyway,” he said. The isolation that the pandemic and associated shutdowns creates is a real threat to veterans’ well-being, Miller noted. It’s more imperative than ever to offer a way of getting up off the couch and out into the world and into the company of fellow veterans. To support Warfighter Outfitters and its programs, donations can be made at www.warfighteroutfitters. org/donations-warfighter-outfitters or send checks to Warfighter Outfitters, 160 S. Oak St., Sisters, OR 97759.
Warfighter Outfitters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that provides fully guided and outfitted trips for disabled veterans at no charge.
100% of Donor Dollars Goes to Operating Costs All guides and board members are disabled veterans. There are no paid employees. Warfighter Outfitters is 100% volunteer-based and only spends donor dollars on basic operating costs of fuel and food. Our new Warfighter Pale Ale from Three Creeks Brewing is in stores in Central Oregon!
Would you consider making a donation to Warfighter Outfitters? 541-719-0565 warfighteroutfitters.org
// Partners in Giving
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photo provided
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Partners in Giving // The Nugget Newspaper // November 4, 2020