Council awards community grants

City councilors considered requests totaling $50,699 from 18 Sisters organizations when awarding the $15,000 allocated for this year's Community Services Grants.

Seven of the requests came from groups applying for the first time and seven from organizations that have received grants for at least each of the past three years, and a few more than three.

The largest grant, $3,000, was awarded to Family Access Network (FAN) for utility services assistance for families in the Sisters School District. Two-thirds of the 18 applicants were awarded grants, ranging from FAN's $3,000 to the fledgling Three Sisters Historical Society's $300.

Each year the City budgets a certain amount of money to be given as Community Services Grants to organizations providing services or programs within Sisters Country. This year's $15,000 was a reduction from the past several years, due to budget constraints. When grants are awarded in July, Council attempts to keep a small amount in reserve for needs that may arise later in the budget year.

To be eligible to receive funds, an organization must meet at least one of the three criteria: provides assistance for essential utilities, food, clothing or shelter; provides educational or recreational opportunities for children or seniors; or generates/supports economic activity in Sisters.

In evaluating requests, the Council considers the following: the ability to meet one or more of the above criteria; the requesting organization's history of success; the organizational and financial stability of the requesting organization; the number and types of community members served by the request; and the ability to measure and track the effectiveness of the project or service. Community Services Grant funds may not be used for travel, budget deficits, or for routine operating expenses.

This year's awards were made to the following organizations: Circle of Friends, $1,500 for program development at the middle and high schools; Citizens 4 Community, $400 for a civility pilot program with the students at YouthBuild; Family Access Network, $3,000 for utility services assistance; Habitat for Humanity, $1,000 for campground fees for volunteers; Rotary Club of Sisters, $820 for books and backpacks for first-graders; Seed to Table Program, $1,800 for food bank produce and expansion project; Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District, $1,200 for senior health and safety program; Sisters Cold Weather Shelter, $1,200 for food and coffee supplies for shelter guests; Sisters Outdoor Leadership Experience (SOLE), $375 for outdoor leadership and counseling program at the middle school; Three Sisters Historical Society, $300 for startup costs; VFW Post 8138, $700 for repair and replacement of flags; and Warfighters Outfitters, Inc., $1,200 for education and recreation for wounded veterans.

The Council elected to keep $1,505 in reserve for possible requests later in the year.