Sisters FAN sees increasing need, dwindling funds

Sisters FAN (Family Access Network) continues to serve new and returning clients facing tough times in the Sisters Country.

FAN connects Sisters-area residents in need with appropriate services, from medical care to food assistance.

"More families are in need of food stamps and come to FAN to receive assistance in completing the food stamp application," noted Sisters FAN family advocate Theresa Slavkovsky.

In the January-March 2010 quarter, Sisters FAN served 152 clients; 42 were new clients that had not been to FAN in the 2009-10 school year.

Of those, 25 received food assistance by connecting them to the local food banks; 36 received housing/shelter assistance; 47 received utility/heating assistance; 37 received dental assistance through the local dental van partnered with Medical Teams International and the Children's Kemple Dental Clinic; 55 received hygiene products for their households.

As the need increases, donations have declined, Slavkovsky reported.

However, Sisters FAN got a boost last week when TR and Jennifer McCrystal made a donation to the organization from proceeds of the soft opening of the new Thyme restaurant at the FivePine campus in Sisters.

"Presently, FAN emergency funds are low, and we are grateful for the recent donation from Thyme," Slavkovsky said.

Slavkovsky noted that people who have lost their health insurance can get medical care for their children with help from FAN.

"With the Healthy Kids program, free or low-cost health care coverage for Oregon children without health insurance is available," she said. "This program expands the success of the Oregon Health Plan. At the FAN office we help families with the application process and make sure they have all their income documentation in order before sending them to the Department of Human Service office in Bend or Redmond for application

processing."

In the last quarter, 55 children were connected to the Oregon Health Plan.