SOAR needs support

In the 1980s, Sisters had five full-time police officers; Black Butte Ranch had six. Youth vandalism was rampant and uncontrollable, from Sisters to Tollgate to Black Butte Ranch. Burglary was common in Sisters’ businesses. Mine was struck three times.

Two events changed this picture: Building a high school in Sisters and initiating SOAR (Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation). With the high school more teenagers could be involved in extra-curricular activities. SOAR became the center of fulfilling the Lights-On-After-School concept for younger children. SOAR is also a recreation district with a strong focus on providing a wide range of experiences and education for youth.

In the last year, SOAR granted $16,806 in scholarships to children and teens. These scholarships have allowed access to SOAR programs to youth whose families could not have otherwise afforded daycare, recreation, and outdoor and educational activities.

Adult programs and Taekwondo pay for themselves. Most programs involving scholarships don’t, simply because of family financial realities.

Because of SOAR, parents whose workday ends several hours after the school day have the security of knowing their young children are safe and supervised at SOAR, giving families the security and stability in their day-to-day planning.

Working parents of pre-school children have that same opportunity with all-day childcare, where children learn interaction and begin their education. Barbara Turner, SOAR’s longest-serving employee, proudly says that the kids in her tutelage know their alphabet and numbers by the time they move on to kindergarten.

Head Start, a federal program that nearly closed because of congressional budget reductions, thrives at SOAR in a joint Head Start—SOAR pre-school program.

In another cooperative effort, Sisters Middle School sports have continued because SOAR and the school district developed a means of keeping them alive. SOAR has been the administrator of middle school sports for the last five years.

The outdoor and wilderness programs are not just activities, but are means to teach youth survival skills, enhance their understanding of cooperation and give them huge boosts in their self-esteem and willingness to be courageous. SOAR staffers and parents note the dramatic leaps of confidence in the young charges who return from outdoor, sports and snow camps, led and taught by Programs Director Greg Garretson and his assistants.

In the very popular world of sports tournaments Matt Macauley has continued the legacy of SOAR’s reputation as a great place to compete. Sisters again benefits, in its retail stores, restaurants and motels, when these tournaments are in town, adding an estimated $1.2 million dollars to the annual economy.

The Teen Center is a gathering place during high school lunch period, supplying teens with their own “hangout.” Last year, the Teen Center promoted many special-events evenings for both middle and high school students.

Every one of these programs has scholarshipped youth, dependent on the generosity of the local community. SOAR’s philosophy is to never turn a kid away for lack of funds.

The Teen Center has not been opened in the evenings since last spring. The tutorial programs, highly lauded by schoolteachers, have been cut. SOAR closes an hour earlier, which has caused some families to seek alternatives.

Other program closures are imminent.

How can the community help? 1) Join SOAR with an annual membership ($20 to $50) and receive shopping benefits every time you use your member card; 2) Consider a tax-deductible donation equal to what your “yes” vote would have added to the current 22-cents-per-thousand tax base (by 15 cents).;3) Simply send a tax-deductible donation to the SOAR Foundation. Help SOAR keep the doors open to every kid in the district and allow recovery of some programs lost.

Act from your heart. Consider a donation to SOAR, with a recognized benefit to yourself and your community. Mostly, do it for the kids.

Bonnie Malone is the SOAR District Board Chair.