Partners 2024 artners in Giving
Hospice of Redmond is a Level IV We Honor Veterans par tner and has been ser ving Central Oregon veterans for 45 years. We are also honored to suppor t our local veterans by funding the Veterans Lunch at the Redmond Senior Center on the third Wednesday of ever y month. Join us at 12 p.m.!
Some of the ser vices available to veterans through Hospice of Redmond’s prog rams include:
• Connection to Veteran Ser vice Off icers (VSOs) for ser vice-related disabilities
• Access to resources in the community
• Flag lines at veteran funerals
• Flag pinning for hospice patients
• Suppor t for family sur vivors of a patient
Central Oregon embodies the ethic of “see a need, fill a need.” And it’s built on a generous spirit of giving. That’s what makes this a special place, where people want to put down roots.
Dedicated local people staff and volunteer for an array of nonprofits committed to making life better for all Central Oregonians.
They are enabled to do their invaluable work by the generous support of a giving community — you and me. We are the partners of these dedicated outfits that serve children, veterans, seniors, the disabled, and anyone else in need — including our furry friends. Volunteer or donate — and keep the circle unbroken..
Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief The Nugget Newspaper
Volunteers with Think Wild help technicians care for injured wildlife.
Photo courtesy Think Wild
Providing for fundamental needs in Sisters
There are many folks in Sisters who need help meeting basic needs like shelter, food and clothing. There are many caring people who step up through local and regional nonprofits to help meet those needs, treating all with respect, compassion and dignity.
The need has grown along with Central Oregon’s population. The Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank served 5,152 people in 2020-21. Through 2023-24, that number has grown to 12,318. Thanks to tremendous community support — and a cadre of hardworking volunteers — the organization has been able to keep pace with the demand. And it is deeply appreciated.
“It’s nice that we have a place in town that helps people in need,” said Scott. “The people that work here are very kind. It’s much appreciated.”
Andre said, “I not only come for the food — which covers every need — but also for the community. The volunteers treat each person with dignity, and as a neighbor. I cannot say enough about the quality of care. It highlights the best of Sisters.”
“The food bank has been a life-saver in helping with food
for families — and you are always welcomed with open arms,” said Janet. “The people are so wonderful.”
Each year at this time, Ray’s Food Place operates a “Stuff the Truck” drive that allows customers to conveniently purchase food that goes directly to the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank.
Having good school clothing is vital to youth success. Assistance League of Bend, through their Operation School Bell program, provides new clothes and shoes for children in grades K-12 in Deschutes County. New clothes elevate self-esteem, improve attendance, promote peer acceptance, foster learning, boost graduation rates, and inspire hope. They also provide emergency clothing bundles to children entering or transitioning within the foster care system. They loan new and gently used long and short dresses, as well as accessories, to students in need at local high schools so they can attend their formal dances.
Donations in any amount can be targeted to support the program, or other programs that support children and
families in need.
Bethlehem Inn is a community-supported, high barrier emergency shelter that provides a warm, safe place to sleep, nourishing meals, and case management services for adults and children experiencing homelessness in Central Oregon. There are locations in Bend and Redmond. Case management means connecting people with resources, and providing wellness services that give people the potential for change, not just a little temporary comfort.
“The goal of our work is to address the reasons for homelessness, rather than putting a bandaid on it,” said Development Manager Caroline Greenlaw. “We want to be sure the people leave here with more than they came in with.”
Winter is a busy season for Bethlehem Inn, as the need for supplies and food grows more acute.
“As we enter winter, we are looking for perishable and nonperishable foods,” Greenlaw said.
Donations of winter clothing are welcome, too. They can be dropped off at 20363 Mervin
The goal of our work is to address the reasons for homelessness, rather than putting a band-aid on it.
— Caroline Greenlaw
Sampels in Bend or at 517 NW Birch Ave., Redmond. There is a donation portal on the website, and a $10,000 match is in play.
“Every donation will go to feed someone in need,” Greenlaw said.
There are many resources in Central Oregon for those in need — but sometimes it’s hard to find your way to what you need on your own. Thrive Central Oregon meets families and individuals in public spaces to connect them with the assistance they are looking for. They utilize a holistic, individualized approach to services, and in doing so help access affordable housing and financial security in a sustainable way. Honoring the dignity and worth of everyone is a key tenet of their work.
See NEEDS on page 3
United Way of Central Oregon continues to work to build resilience in the community by promoting health, education, and financial stability. They work throughout the region, and support local direct-service nonprofits and programs through grants. Individuals and companies can both contribute through donations, planned giving, giving campaigns, and more.
Sisters Cold Weather Shelter’s primary mission is to provide shelter, advocacy, and resources for the unhoused community in Sisters Country. They seek to provide shelter during the coldest months of the year, warm meals, and connections to resources available in the area. The organization is actively engaged in forest outreach, bringing vital supplies to people living in the forest around Sisters. The need is more acute as we move into winter, and they are seeking contributions from the community to purchase propane and other potentially life-saving cold weather gear. Donations of cold weather clothing are welcome.
There are volunteer opportunities for the forest outreach team and for monitors for a
laundry and showering program and other programs that are in development.
Seed to Table brings the vital power of farm-fresh food to bear in a wide range of services and activities in Sisters Country — from sponsoring the Sisters Farmers Market to providing educational opportunities for youth across the region.
Seed to Table seeks to build a vibrant and resilient community where everyone has access to fresh produce that is nourishing, locally grown, and in keeping with their preferences. From a four-acre farm plot, Seed to Table strives to model a food system that restores ecosystems while providing equitable access to fresh foods and opportunities for community members to engage positively with farm-fresh foods.
Thousands of pounds of produce are donated to 13 Central Oregon partners, including two local food pantries.
Sisters Farmers Market promotes access to quality fresh food by accepting SNAP benefits, and promoting Double Up Food Bucks.
Donations from the community are vital to sustaining the farm and all of its community outreach work.
Kiwanis Club of Sisters
Mission of Giving Year-round
Offering compassionate support in times of need
Life in Central Oregon is beautiful — but it can also get hard. And eventually it comes to an end. There are caring, compassionate people who make it their mission to help make the hard times as comfortable and as navigable as possible.
Living Well With Dementia Sisters is a support group for caregivers, adults supporting parents or siblings, and those living with dementia to come together and discuss challenges and successes.
Living Well with Dementia Sisters’ mission is to provide support and illumination, helping to lighten the path for those living with dementia and their care partners as they navigate the intricacies of living well with dementia. They provide resources for families and education. The group sponsors a support group that meets the second and fourth Wednesdays at Sisters Senior Living (formerly The Lodge) in Sisters.
There are opportunities to volunteer to support others in need, and to donate directly to help provide free resources, workshops, and support groups.
The Peaceful Presence Project provides non-medical, thoughtful
support to individuals and families facing serious and terminal illness.
Their work is founded on the Compassionate Community model of care. The Peaceful Presence Project describes this as a public health approach to palliative care, based on the understanding that we all have a part to play in supporting our neighbors, family, and friends in the last stage of life. The Peaceful Presence Project offers: education to improve death and grief literacy; holistic and proactive planning for advanced illness care and compassionate bedside presence.
The Peaceful Presence Project also offers doula training. Doulas are people who are trained to serve. There are birth and postpartum doulas, who serve families during and after the birth of a child; end-of-life or death doulas serve families on the other end of the life cycle.
Monthly donations help The Peaceful Presence Project sustain their work by providing the resources needed to reach the people who desire our services.
Partners in Care offers a wide range of services to people and their families who are facing a significant health crisis and/or
end-of-life.
Their Transitions program is a no-cost, non-clinical case management program for medically fragile individuals with a limited prognosis, including those who may not qualify for home health or hospice.
Hospice care is a medical specialty for people living with an advanced, terminal illness and not expected to recover. Hospice care is tailored for specific needs and offers a wide range of support from light intervention to intensive support available in the last months of life.
The focus and philosophy of the Partners in Care team is to tailor the end-of-life experience around a person’s wishes and lifestyle, while maximizing dignity, quality of life, and comfort.
The work can have a profound effect.
Bev, a transitions client of Partners in Care said, “I was paired with a Transitions Coordinator who visited me at home, listened to my needs, and offered compassionate support after moving here to be with my daughter once my health began to decline. The Transitions Coordinator assisted me with completing a Dial-A-Ride application,
enabling me to regain some independence and explore my new community at my own pace. Thanks to generous donors who support the Transitions Program at Partners In Care, I’ve rediscovered a sense of community and feel supported again.”
Programs help families as much as patients. Nate, a family member, reported, “As we (my wife and I) worked with Transitions first and then Hospice, and we got a nurse and social worker, they started settling me in to the caregiver role. The nurse taught me everything. It became a very rewarding thing. At first I thought I couldn’t do it, but when I look back on it, caring for my wife during this time was the best thing I ever did.”
Partners in Care Hospice patient Donald said, “The people at Hospice House just treated me right. They kept me upbeat, they took care of me. If I was cold laying in bed, they’d come in immediately and wrap me up in a nice warm blanket. It was little things like that, that were so appreciated.”
In dark and difficult times, volunteers and staff with Central Oregon’s nonprofits shine a light.
Supporting children, families, and veterans
Sisters has a quality of inestimable value, one that is increasingly hard to find in the fractured and fragmented modern world: A quality of neighborliness. We look out for each other, and support each other in good times and hard times.
Many of the nonprofits that grace Sisters and Central Oregon focus on supporting children and families — the fundamental building blocks of a healthy and happy society.
Circle of Friends recognizes that one of the key elements of success for young people is strong connections with caring adults — and not just members of their families. The Circle of Friends mentorship program offers children experiences and opportunities to ignite their passions and curiosities. In addition to in-house programming such as Lego Robotics, art, STEAM, sewing and cooking, they partner with local business and organizations to provide sports, music, swimming, riding, farming, gardening, day and summer camps.
“We’re always, always looking for new mentors,” said Executive Director Nicole Woodson. “An hour a week, that’s all we ask for.”
Mentors thrive as much as the kids they serve in forging
connections that are solid and meaningful. Direct donations are also very helpful in funding programs and after-school activities ranging from cooking to crafts to fishing.
KIDS Center is a vital resource for children and families in Sisters and across the region when they are facing some of the hardest moments people can face.
KIDS Center provides comprehensive child abuse evaluations
Mission 22 is a Sisters-based veterans nonprofit with a national reach.
Photo courtesy Mission 22
that include a head-to-toe medical exam, child-friendly forensic interview, family advocacy, and mental health services to children and families impacted by abuse. All of their services are free to every family who needs them.
“We rely on a lot of community support to help families at a very stressful time,” said Dawn Boone, a marketing specialist with KIDS Center. “We don’t ever want cost to be a barrier to healing.”
In addition to the evaluations, KIDS Center also provides training in the prevention of child sexual abuse, and Safety Net training for parents on how to protect children from the vulnerabilities created by access to technology. Volunteers are an important part of the organization.
There are many different volunteer opportunities at KIDS Center, from helping out at the front desk to supporting an event. Visit the website for details on volunteer opportunities.
Boone notes that “protective support ripples out through the community. The more adults we train, the safer kids are.”
In addition to direct donations through the website, community members can also purchase gift cards.
“We give them to families all year long and they are specifically designed for families that are under severe financial strain,” Boone said.
Advocates for Life Skills & Opportunity (ALSO) works toward full community inclusion and independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing residential supported addition
See SUPPORT on page 8
SUPPORT
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living services for individuals and families in their homes, workplaces and communities. Financial contributions help fund the gaps in services and support the organization can provide. Beyond financial donations made directly through their website, you can also make contributions through Fred Meyer Rewards, Wish List, and Cans for Cars. Contributions go directly toward safe and affordable housing needs, assistive and adaptive
technology, accessible transportation, and more.
Having a bicycle is an important part of every kid’s life. It’s important to many adults, too. For the past decade, Blazin Saddles bicycle shop has been conducting a holiday-time bike donation drive that pairs donated bicycles in good condition to families with a need in Sisters Country. Bike technicians clean and prep the bikes. What they need most is for community members to identify families who could benefit from a donated bicycle. Contact them at info@blazinsaddleshub.com.
Seed To Table offers access to food and agricultural education to Central Oregon youth.
Photo courtesy Seed to Table
Hearth and home are fundamental to the well-being of families. For decades, Hayden Homes has been partnering with nonprofits who help bring the dream of home ownership within reach for families across the region and right here in Sisters. It is a fulfillment of a longinstilled philosophy of “give as you go.”
One of the most wonderful connections that can be made in the world is the connection
between a rider and a horse. Healing Reins provides people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to heal emotionally and physically through professionally recognized horse-centered therapies and riding lessons. They invite the community to connect with a joyful community through volunteering. With a 1.5 hour training, you can become a “sidewalker,” a job that is just what it sounds like — a person who walks alongside the rider.
“You don’t need to have any horse experience at all,” said Polly Cohen.
Circle of Friends kids at work caring for garden boxes.
A “leader” leads the horse on the ride — and also catches it up and saddles it.
“We do ask that they are ‘horsey,’” Cohen said. “We’re also happy to train people to become leaders.”
Volunteers find themselves part of a community at Healing Reins.
“It’s a very positive environment out here,” Cohen said. “It’s a feelgood place. They’re able to be part of that lesson, and part of changing
people’s life.”
Veterans are an integral part of our community. As Mischa Knea, CEO of Mission 22, says, “every single person’s life is impacted by a veteran.”
Mission 22 emphasizes “posttraumatic growth” for veterans, seeking to help them connect or
See SUPPORT on page 10
Photo provided
Blazin Saddles is asking for DONATIONS OF BIKES of all types and sizes in decent or better condition. We will clean, tune, and replace necessary parts, then donate the bikes to those in need.
ACCEPTING DONATIONS NOV. 15-DEC. 15
Bikes to be delivered Dec. 21-22. In the past 9 years,we have donated over 500 bikes to families! We work with numerous organizations including Sisters Schools and Habitat for Humanity to find those in need. Contact Blazin Saddles if you or a loved one could benefit from a donated bicycle. For all inquiries, please email info@blazinsaddleshub.com.
BIKES MAKE GREAT GIFTS! Shop our in-stock bikes now and we will offer layaway for Christmas (while supplies last).
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reconnect with a sense of purpose, and providing health and wellness programs to enhance their lives. The mission is critical in combating veteran suicide.
Mission 22 also recognizes that a veteran’s experience is a family’s experience — families live through all of the ups and downs that soldiers returning home do. The organization — Sisters-based with a national reach — developed a support program exclusively for spouses to take positive steps that renew their identities as individuals and the strengths they bring to their household.
Mission 22 programs require extensive funding support and direct donations are critical to
providing the comprehensive programs that build resilience and offer long-term success to those who have sacrificed to defend the American way of life.
Sisters Veterans — members of VFW Post 8138, American Legion Post 86, and the Sisters Chapter of Band of Brothers — are an integral part of the Sisters community. They honor military service through the annual Memorial Day observances at Village Green, maintain the Village Green Veterans Memorial, and stage annual flag displays. They also connect with Sisters youth in meaningful ways, including a recent partnership with Youth Build to clean and maintain Sisters’ Camp Polk Cemetery.
Donations from the community help sustain their special projects.
Seed to Table is committed to creating access to healthy, locally grown food.
Photo courtesy Seed to Table
Nonprofits build community in Sisters Country
Sisters — and Central Oregon at large — is a community built on the work of dozens of nonprofits. You would be hard-pressed to find a community anywhere that more vividly embodies the ethic of “see a need, fill a need.”
There are more than 50 registered nonprofits in Sisters — and hundreds regionwide. The nonprofit organizations that thrive in Central Oregon work across a broad spectrum of needs — from the most fundamental need for shelter and food, to the need for cultural and creative fulfillment. And some nonprofits specialize in building and strengthening community.
Citizens4Community (C4C) is dedicated to building a vibrant, resilient rural community where everyone thrives and feels they belong. They produce local events and programs that bring folks together, build trust, enable cooperation, cultivate local pride, and help everyone get engaged in community building.
The most important way that local folks can support their mission is to participate in the work. Attend the events and get connected. A sense of community builds upon itself. C4C has programs that cultivate community leadership
to help everyone become involved and effective.
C4C also supports other nonprofits by creating a database that connects them and provides information to the community about their mission and services.
Age Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC) has served as an incubator of strong ideas for community service and support. They have nurtured two standout projects that have evolved into their own stand-alone entities after receiving initial sponsorship from AFSC — the STARS medical appointment transportation program, and Romeo’s Joy, which distributes animatronic toys to bring joy and comfort to Sisters residents.
“We’re looking for new projects, new ideas,” said Age Friendly Sisters representative Judy Smith. “We’re looking for new board members. It’s the season of giving, so we’re looking for contributions.”
High School (SHS) seniors, the sense of community it fosters may be even more important.
While Sisters Graduate Resource Organization (GRO) provides a conduit for important financial support to all graduating Sisters
“This is a way they can say, ‘We believe in you,’” said Sisters GRO Executive Director Regan Roberts.
Charlotte Seymour, a SHS graduate currently studying journalism, said, “The money of course is great,
but doing Sisters GRO, I think is wonderful.”
Participating in the scholarship awards event showed her how much the community supports its youth.
“It was so fun,” she said. “It was so special. It really reflects our community.”
Makenna Tingey, a 2019 graduate who is now an educator, echoed similar thoughts.
“I was so grateful to the Sisters community,” she said. “They supported me, really, since kindergarten.”
Roberts said that the organization is at a phase of working on long-term sustainability. Direct general fund donations are the best way to support that effort.
Sisters is world-renowned as an arts community. That’s largely thanks to people with a passion forming organizations to stage events, educational opportunities, and general support of the arts. Nothing exemplifies that more but doing Sisters GRO, I
See COMMUNITY on page 12
Romeo’s Joy uplifts seniors with animatronic pets.
Photo courtesy Age Friendly Sisters
COMMUNITY
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vividly than the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. SOQS started with a few quilts hung on Jean Wells’ quilt shop, and has blossomed into an event that draws people from all over the world to share in the love of the art form. The show is a tremendous economic boon to Sisters, and enriches countless lives through education, fellowship — and entertainment.
SOQS encourages the community to support the show — which does not charge for admittance — by becoming a “Friends of
the Show.”
“It’s also a way to honor your favorite quilter — by donating in their name,” said SOQS Executive Director Dawn Boyd.
For decades, the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce has fostered community connections by linking businesses and nonprofits in the community and supporting events that make the community hum with energy.
Nonprofits are a critical foundation for a vibrant, healthy community. There are many ways to support them — from direct financial donations to volunteering to simply sharing word-of-mouth about the important work they do.
Sisters O utdoor Q uilt Show™
Here is an opp ortunity to honor your favorite person with a gift to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. Your partnership and financial support allows us to continue to celebrate the beauty of qu ilts while positively impacting our community. And with your help, we w ill continue to produce an event that is culturally, artistically, and financially important to Sisters.
Your contribution now is vital as we prepare for ly 12, 2025. ormation visit qs.org/donate 541-549-0989
QS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit n is to celebrate the tage of qu ilting ber arts while enhancing the Sisters and Central iding enrichment r area youth.
Caring for our land and animals
The glorious landscape of Central Oregon is a prime reason most of us have chosen to make our lives here. All of our love for the outdoors puts a lot of pressure on our natural environment — and it takes dedicated folks to help ensure that the land stays healthy even as we enjoy it.
The Deschutes Land Trust conserves and cares for the lands and waters that sustain Central Oregon, so local communities and the natural world can flourish together for generations to come.
Since 1995, the Land Trust has protected more than 18,700 acres in and around Central Oregon for future generations. The Land Trust owns and cares for many local nature preserves that are managed for the benefit of wildlife and people. Indian Ford Meadow Preserve outside of Sisters is a signature Preserve. Visitors can explore the meadow on a short trail and enjoy a scenic overlook with outstanding views of the Cascade Mountains.
The Land Trust is continually
working on new projects. Recent projects include a landmark effort to conserve the 33,000-acre Skyline Forest between Bend and Sisters. Each year, the Land Trust offers more than 100 free walks, hikes, and outings, an annual Nature Night lecture series, and a variety of volunteer opportunities. Volunteer or donate to give back to the land that gives so much to us.
Sisters Trails Alliance makes the forest surrounding the community accessible through the
creation and maintenance of a remarkable network of trails for hikers, equestrians and cyclists. They’re dedicated to the mission to protect and preserve the outdoor experience through the stewardship of multi-user, non motorized trails and their adjacent wild places. There are many opportunities to volunteer, and direct donations to the work are always appreciated.
The creatures who inhabit our forests and the high desert sometimes need our help. Think Wild,
a wildlife hospital and conservation center for Central Oregon, provides rescue and rehabilitation through a wildlife hospital to provide care for animals that have been injured or orphaned. That can be a wonderful — and serious — handson volunteer opportunity. Imagine holding the talons of a great horned owl while a technician feeds it mice infused with medicine...
“We have hospital volunteers who sign up for a once-a-week shift,” said Molly Honea of Think Wild.
People who encounter an injured animal can call their hotline to find appropriate help. Volunteers can help with rescue and transport, or plant willows for beaver habitat restoration.
“There are all kinds of handson opportunities,” Honea said. Pets, too, need our help sometimes.
Silver Linings Rescue Ranch rescues senior dogs in need of new guardianship, allowing them
See ANIMALS on page 14
Deschutes Land Trust is conserving some of the best places in Central Oregon, ensuring biological diversity and health. Photo courtesy Deschutes Land Trust
ANIMALS
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to spend their retirement years at the Ranch or in new homes. The Ranch is a haven where these loyal companions can enjoy their golden years surrounded by nature’s beauty and the warmth of human kindness. They also partner with local families and individuals who are interested in adopting these wonderful pets.
Furry Friends Foundation helps families by helping them with their pets — from offering pet food assistance through the pet food bank at 412 E. Main Ave. to free spay and neuter services and free vaccination.
According to Kiki Dolson, founder of Furry Friends, the
need for assistance continues to grow significantly. Furry Friends Foundation is distributing about 2.5 tons of food a month to families and individuals in Sisters Country, and they are providing a record level of spay and neuter services.
Donations of pet food are welcome, as are direct financial contributions through the Furry Friends Foundation website. Direct cash donations are especially helpful. You can also donate your redeemable bottles and cans (labeled OR 10¢) in the blue bins on the porch of The Nugget. Or pickup a few of our blue plastic donation bags to fill and drop off at Ray’s. One hundred percent of contributions goes to Furry Friends Foundation.
Hands-on volunteer opportunities abound at Think Wild, one of several nonprofits that care for animals in Central Oregon.
Photos courtesy Think Wild
Celebrate Thanksgiving with The Nugget!
• Offer your Thanksgiving greeting to the community as part of the November 20 ad in The Nugget
• Help build community as the ad promotes the Community Thanksgiving Dinner
• Provide financial support to buy food for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner (30% of your purchase!)
