News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Christmas is a season of giving, and nothing feels better than giving to organizations that contribute to the life of the Sisters community throughout the year.
Sisters Country is home to many active nonprofit organizations that enrich lives, aid distressed people and animals and reach out to other people in need across the globe. Your generous contributions are the life-blood of these groups; your help makes their work possible.
Here are a few local groups who need your support this holiday season:
• Wolftree: This innovative science education organization has administrative offices in Portland and Sisters. Countless students from Sisters schools and from across the Pacific Northwest have learned about ecosystems through their hands-on education approach. They are also leaders in ecosystem restoration. For more information visit
• Wild Wings Raptor Rehabilitation: The all-volunteer organization's mission is to treat, rehabilitate and return injured and/or orphaned raptors to their natural habitat whenever possible.
The goal of any wildlife rehabilitation center is to bring the animal back to health to be released back to the wild. When release is not possible, every attempt is made to find the bird a home in an education facility. Wild Wings has sent birds to permanent homes as far away as New York and California, and as close to home as Sunriver Nature Center, the Oregon Zoo, and the High Desert Museum in Bend. Contact Wild Wings at
http://www.wildwingsrehab.org.
• Many giving people from Sisters Country have worked extensively in Africa, from water projects to the development of a market for coffee to the creation of vocational opportunities for women. Find out more at Hope Africa's website, http://www.outwardprojects.com.
• Sisters-based Ten Friends has made a major impact in the lives of Nepali people through the provision of medical and rescue equipment to water projects and education programs. Ten Friends has also broadened the horizons of many Sisters youths by giving them the opportunity to work with the charity in Nepal. Help a local charity with a long reach by visiting http://www.tenfriends.org.
• In the wake of the death of her son, Penny Whipps of Sisters founded Just One Time (Just1x) "to motivate students to stop living dangerously in a world that accepts substance abuse and self-destructive behavior and to challenge peers to break the code of silence and seek help for their friends." Their goal is to take Just1x to as many schools across the nation as will open their doors to them. To donate, send a check to P.O. Box 3500-180, Sisters, OR 97759. For more information visit http://www.just1x.com.
• Sisters Family Access Network (FAN) is a vital resource for people in need in Sisters Country. Contact Sisters FAN at 541-549-0155. For more information visit www.
familyaccessnetwork.org/donate.
• Paso by Paso provides a safe refuge for abused or neglected horses, or those who are in need of a dignified "retirement." Costs on feed and supplements (herbs, vitamins, minerals) continue to rise; the organization depends on the generosity of people in Sisters Country to keep up its operations. They accept donations by mail at Paso by Paso, 67474 Trout Ln., Bend, OR 97701 or visit
• Deschutes Land Trust's mission is "to work cooperatively with landowners to conserve land for wildlife, scenic views and local communities." A great deal of that work has been done in Sisters Country, in beloved places such as the Metolius Basin and along Whychus Creek. DLT plays a vital role in restoration of riparian habitats in those areas, which will eventually allow for reintroduction of salmon and steelhead runs. They are also involved in an effort to preserve Skyline Forest, which lies on the southern horizon of Sisters Country. For more information visit http://www.deschuteslandtrust.org.
• The Hispanic Coalition of Sisters welcomes Hispanic residents and advances cross-cultural understanding within the Sisters community. They provide education, support services and opportunities for community involvement for Hispanic residents. The coalition also sponsors English classes, after-school programs and community events. For more information contact Wendy & Bill Birnbaum at 541-588-6298.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
Reader Comments(0)