FAN receives major donation

Family Access Network (FAN) received an $8,900 donation from 110 Women Who Care.

After three local organizations made presentations - Seed to Table, Family Access Network (FAN), and Living Well With Dementia Sisters - FAN was chosen to receive the funds donated at last week's 100 Women Who Care Sisters quarterly gathering.

The donation was awarded to the nonprofit receiving the most votes from the women in attendance.

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100 Women Who Care selected Sisters FAN for a significant donation.

The $8,900 gift will benefit the Sisters FAN in a number of special ways. Theresa Slavkovsky has been the Sisters FAN advocate for almost 30 years. The information she shared on the work FAN does and the stories about families they have been able to help made a strong case for supporting their work.

FAN's mission in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties is to offer assistance, possibility, and hope to families in need by connecting them with crucial resources that will help their children flourish in school and in life. The FAN support team includes 27 advocates working in 65 schools.

Sisters is a little different from other offices. They work with all children and families within the Sisters School District boundary, but they also assist senior citizens and members of the Sisters houseless community. An average of 850 clients are served each year. As the advocate for FAN, Slavkovsky has worked with five other advocates, including Jaclyn Kordell and, prior to her, Dawn Cooper. The advocates are crucial connectors between those who have needs and the organizations and agencies that can be of assistance. Referrals are made to food banks, Neighbor Impact, medical services, Meals on Wheels and other senior services, churches, Sisters Leadership Initiative, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, realtors and other businesses, Sisters Cold Weather Shelter, service organizations, and others. There are also regular donors who help with special needs.

One donor told Slavkovsky, "You make me so happy when you call with a need."

"FAN has been so successful in serving the residents of the Sisters School District because of the incredible support of the Sisters community," Slavkovsky said.

The work done by FAN helps get people out of crisis, keeps them from spiraling further down, and helps them get back on their feet. With an annual budget close to $150,000, financial support is always needed. Federal Title 19 dollars, grants, and donations all help FAN carry out greatly needed services provided by two employees, plus 100 volunteers.

In 2023, 150 families received rental and/or utility assistance, and were connected to medical, dental, and vision care; 40 students received a scholarship for after school activities; 13 FAN students (100 percent) graduated from Sisters High School Class of 2023.

Slavkovsky told The Nugget, "I am honored and feel so privileged that our clients trust us with their stories. I also am so grateful for the community's trust in us as evidenced by their overwhelming generosity."

The other two organizations who made presentations - Seed To Table and Living Well With Dementia Sisters - are also strong supporters of Sisters Country.

Seed to Table's four-acre farm plot in the northeast corner of Sisters produces 100,000 pounds of fresh produce for the community. Forty percent of that produce is donated at no charge to partner food pantries, schools, and organizations. Each week, 2,200 individuals are provided with fresh, locally grown produce free or on a sliding scale. They also offer opportunities in farm-based education for 1,083 area students and are responsible for the Sisters Farmers Market. Anyone can sign up for fall farm tours (about 45 minutes) for small groups (up to 25) by going to http://www.seedtotableoregon.org. Donations are vital to their growth, using them for seed, fertilizer, tools, and outreach.

Living Well With Dementia Sisters is a relatively new organization whose mission is "to provide support and illumination, helping to lighten the path for those living with dementia and their care partners as they navigate the intricacies of living well with dementia."

Their dementia care partners support group offers a safe and supportive environment for individuals caring for loved ones with dementia. They also need volunteers to serve as a support group facilitator or to help with office work. On Wednesdays, they meet at Sisters Senior Living, 411 E. Carpenter Ln. For information, visit http://www.livingwellwithdementiasisters.com/events-3. They are offering Demystifying Dementia at Sisters Library on Thursday, October 3, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.