Episcopal Church supports community

To support their causes, non-profit organizations in Central Oregon need both money and volunteers. Sisters Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, through its Community Outreach program, is significantly helping on the money side of the equation.

The church recently donated $15,600 to area non-profits with the hope that this monetary support will stimulate community residents to fill in the other side of the equation and volunteer.

Outreach committee chairman Frank Guthrie told The Nugget, "All of these organizations appreciate having money, but, you know, the thing they need the most is people - volunteers."

The church was able to give more to area non-profits this year than previously due to a deeply appreciated and completely unexpected $3,000 anonymous donation. The anonymous donation added to the $13,500 raised at the church's annual Country Fair and Art Show and provided the church with $16,500 to give.

The church donates both to organizations that are Sisters based as well as those that are Central Oregon based. Guthrie explained the reasoning, "Our test ...is if this service is not available around here and therefore people around Sisters ...have to go to Bethlehem Inn or Bend in order to get this service, then we are interested in supporting it."

To date $15,600 has been allocated to 15 area agencies. Additionally, during the holidays four families in need were each given $50 gift certificates at Ray's. Agencies that received funding are:

• The Arts Discovery program at Sisters Middle School - $1,000. Kit Stafford engages at-risk students who are referred through school administrators in a unique fine arts program. Stafford can be contacted at 549-2099.

• Bethlehem Inn - $1,000. The inn is Central Oregon's largest provider of services to the homeless. For more information visit http://www.bethleheminn.org.

• Central Oregon Battering & Rape Alliance (COBRA) - $1,000. Volunteers are needed. Call 382-9227 or go to http://www.cobra-dvsa.org.

• Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch (CPYR) - $1,000. Visit http://www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org.

• Sisters Family Access Network (FAN) - $1,000. Cwna Bell at 549-0155.

• Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank - $1,000. Located on the corner of Main Avenue and Oak Street and open on Thursdays, the food bank provides food stuffs to those in need.

• Sister Habitat for Humanity - $1,500. For information call 549-1193 or visit http://www.sistershabitat.org.

• Healthy Beginnings - $500. This organization provides free early childhood wellness and development screenings for Deschutes County children from birth through five years. Contact them at 383-6357 or visit http://www.healthybeginning.org.

• Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers - $1,000. Volunteers assist people to remain independent in their homes. For information call 548-7018.

• Neighbor Impact - Emergency Services program - $1,000 and Head Start - $2,000. Many volunteer opportunities are available. For details call 548-2380 or send e-mail to [email protected]

• SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) - $ 750. For information about volunteer opportunities in Sisters contact the elementary school at 549-8981.

• SOAR (Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation) - $1,000. Call them at 549-2091 or visit their Web site, http://www.sistersrecreation.com for information.

• Together for Children - $1,200. This agency strengthens families through parent education, parent and child interaction and community support. For information call 923-0389.

• Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) - $650. This donation was earmarked to fulfill a specific grant request to purchase a computer to assist with records keeping.

For information call 330-9001 or visit http://www.vim-cascades.org.