The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sisters Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration will give $13,500 to community outreach programs next week. Funds were raised at August's Country Fair and Art Show.

Art show Treasurer and Outreach Committee Chairman Frank Guthrie announced that all organizations that received funds last year will again be funded this year.

The 13 organizations that will receive funds are: Sisters Habitat for Humanity; Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank; Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation; Sisters Middle School Arts Discovery Program; Bethlehem Inn; Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch; COBRA (Battering and Rape Alliance); FAN (Family Access Network); Head Start; SMART (Start Making A Reader Today); TFC (Together For Children); IVC (Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers); and VIM (Volunteers in Medicine).

Guthrie said, "We have voted to give the same amount of money already. And now we are going to spend some time rather than just give an even amount. It would have been $1,000, to each group; rather than do that we are going to say does somebody need more money more than others do."

The committee will then decide what amount to give to each recipient organization. Most organizations will receive $1,000; all will receive at least the same amount they received last year. Checks will be mailed to the 13 organizations on Tuesday, September 26.

Guthrie mentioned that the Every Dollar Feeds Kids program (EDFK), the church's international outreach recipient, will not be funded this year through proceeds from the Art Sale and Country Fair.

A special golf event was held on Thursday, September 21 at the Glaze Meadow course at Black Butte Ranch to fund EDFK this year (See related story, page 13).

The church raised exactly the same amount of money this year from the Art Sale and Country Fair as it did in 2005.

Guthrie said, "The difference is that last year we had EDFK in there." Guthrie continued that since they will not be funding EDFK from Art Sale and Country Fair proceeds but from the golf tournament, there is more to give to each of the 13 area organizations that will be receiving funds this year.

Guthrie continued, "We won't give money to any organization unless somebody will champion that organization and come to us and fight for a contribution. They don't have to be part of our church. I mean somebody from across the street could come and say, hey, I want to be the champion for my favorite charity and have you guys consider it, and we will do that. We require a local champion, somebody that cares enough about it to help us understand what's the relative need."

For more information contact the church at 549-7087.