Partners 2025 artners in Giving fall edition
Central Oregon embodies the ethic of “see a need, fill a need.” And it’s built on a generous spirit of giving. That’s what makes this a special place, where people want to put down roots.
Dedicated local people staff and volunteer for an array of nonprofits committed to making life better for all Central Oregonians.
They are enabled to do their invaluable work by the generous support of a giving community — you and me. We are the partners of these dedicated outfits.
Volunteer or donate — and keep the circle unbroken.
Providing key family support in Sisters Country
In Sisters Country, community is more than a word — it’s a promise. Whether it’s a ride to the doctor, a meal on the table, or a check-in for a neighbor living with dementia, local nonprofits work to make sure no one is left behind. But none of it happens without community partners — the donors, volunteers, and businesses who believe that livability starts with compassion.
This month, Sisters Transportation and Rideshare (STARS) launches its second annual Sponsor-A-Ride – “Gift a Ride. Change a Life.” campaign, inviting the community to help keep neighbors connected to medical care. Every $50 donation sponsors a round-trip ride for a senior, veteran, or community member. The campaign runs through Dec. 31 and on Giving Tuesday will celebrate the power of local generosity.
In 2024, STARS volunteers provided over 726 rides — more than 32,000 miles of free transportation — helping aging, disabled no matter the age, and underserved residents reach essential healthcare appointments. More than 6,000 volunteer hours were donated by local drivers, dispatchers, and coordinators. Behind every number is a story: a veteran receiving post-surgery care, a senior managing chronic illness, a neighbor keeping a cardiology appointment they otherwise would have missed. These small acts ripple outward — improving health outcomes, reducing isolation, and strengthening the fabric of Sisters Country.
Research has shown, over and over again, that children and youth experiencing trauma or adverse living conditions benefit tremendously from the availability of accessible outdoor
activities and spaces. Because of this, Circle of Friends Shaeleen Hughes, youth program lead, has spent the better part of the year creating programs and activities that get children outside and into nature.
“They have been skiing, hiking, fishing, riding bikes, swimming, kayaking, working with animals, and many other activities which improve mental and physical health,” said Executive Director Nicole Woodson. “Looking ahead to 2026 we hope to provide even more opportunities for our children and youth to get outside and enjoy the amazing playground that is Central Oregon. We need both monetary gifts, as well as gifts of time and skill. If you have a talent or passion, we would love to match you with a child who is eager to learn from you. And if you want to help, but don’t have the time to give, your donation can help us purchase lift tickets, trail passes, bicycles, and other equipment which allow our children access to these transformative experiences.”
Over many years, Sisters Graduate Resource Organization (GRO) has built a strong base of support to ensure that every graduating senior at Sisters High School gets assistance in pursuing their post-graduation dreams. This year, they are upping the ante, raising the minimum amount that each student will receive.
According to Executive Director Regan Roberts, “each student who applies should receive at least $1,000 this year.”
That is a real boon as families face increasingly steep costs for college. Sisters GRO is also getting set up for endowed scholarships.
Donors can set up a scholarship in their name or the name of a loved one — and they direct its purpose.
activities and spaces. Because of this, Circle of Donors can set up a scholarship in their
“It is truly the donor’s scholarship and I just facilitate it,” Roberts said.
General fund donations are welcomed as a means of funding operations of an increasingly vital service for students.
Children in foster care need particular attention to make sure they have the best chance at thriving and succeeding. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) recruits and trains volunteers to work within the court system in collaboration with key agencies to advocate for children.
A volunteer training is upcoming in January. Volunteers make a two-year commitment that includes 40 hours of training and approximately 10 to 15 minutes of work per month with an average caseload of two children.
Sisters Kiwanis Club supports students with financial scholarships, and youth in many other ways, from providing funding to CASA and Sisters Family Access Network (FAN), as well as providing grant money to adults who are looking to improve or change their careers.
Secretary Jan Failing notes that they couldn’t do what they do without community support. She highlighted the community turnout at their fundraising luau in the midst of the Flat Fire last summer.
“That was huge for us, and we were able to give $6,000 to the Sisters Middle School nature trail,” she said. “My heart is full for what our community does.”
Local donations fund Sisters Kiwanis, which also SUPPORTS YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS such as: Camp Sunrise - Court Appointed Special Advocates; Sisters Park and Recreation District - Train Your Brain; Oregon Adaptive Sports - Outlaw Black & White Club; Family Access Network and others.
The CAREER OPPORTUNITY FUND provides grant money to Sisters residents that wish to improve, or change, their careers.
Sisters Kiwanis Club is a totally volunteer organization so 100% of the money raised goes to the charities we support.
Taking care of the land and animals
Our natural environment is a critical part of our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Sisters Country is one of the most blessed places in the world when it comes to natural beauty, healthy streams, and the kind of outdoor experiences that profoundly enrich lives.
It takes devotion and a lot of work to protect and preserve those resources, especially in the face of ever-increasing impacts of wildfire, drought, and thousands upon thousands seeking to enjoy all the bounty that Sisters Country offers.
Nonprofits also play a key role in protecting and enhancing the natural environment that makes Sisters a beloved place to live and visit.
The Deschutes Land Trust’s mission is to conserve and care for the lands and waters that sustain Central Oregon, so local communities and the natural world can flourish together for generations to come.
The Flat Fire had a major impact on Deschutes Land Trust lands. Four preserves were burned in the August conflagration that ran up Whychus
Canyon, in some places burning at very high intensity.
The organization is focused on recovery from the fire and building resilience for the next one. Drone footage shows that the canyon bottom where work was conducted to restore natural stream channels withstood the blaze. Spring recovery tours are planned to give the public a look at fire impacts and recovery. However, the Whychus Preserve will remain closed through spring due to the large number of hazard trees left by the fire.
Community Outreach Director Sarah Mowry says that the Flat Fire impact “underscores the importance of support from the community” in conducting the Land Trust’s ongoing work. That support can be financial, but it also involves work on the ground.
“We’re going to start to have more and more volunteer opportunities,” she said.
Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) has become a critical element in creating community connections in Sisters Country. The trails the organization has created connect the community in a literal sense, providing miles upon miles of
hiking in areas both remote and near to the community, creating opportunities for adventure or simply casual enjoyment of nature. Their work also connects people, building vibrant social networks of people who are passionate about the outdoors in Sisters Country.
With ever-shrinking budgets, The U.S. Forest Service relies heavily on organizations like STA to do trail work, from planning and maintenance to new sustainable forms of recreation. When you donate to STA, you donate to doing more for your community trails and forests.
STA specializes in making trail maintenance a fun and safe way to give a little something back to the trails we love to hike, bike, walk, ride, and run. Join one of our specialized teams or volunteer for trail work parties. No experience is required.
Direct donations are also welcome, providing tools, materials, and training to keep the trail system in top shape.
The Pet Evacuation Team of Central Oregon (PET) plays a vital role in keeping animals and their families in Sisters Country
safe. They were very active in the Flat Fire, as thousands of people had to evacuate their homes at short notice, creating potential crisis with their pets and livestock.
PET exists to serve Central Oregon people and animals in crisis. Emergency animal evacuations and sheltering during disasters are critical to our community and save lives.
PET works in partnership with the Red Cross, law enforcement, and local emergency services during Central Oregon evacuations, providing care and a safe haven for animals who have been evacuated. PET also provides crucial support to individuals with animal/pet-related emergencies, and to law enforcement in animal seizure cases. Our allvolunteer, nonprofit organization serves all of Deschutes County, and parts of Jefferson and Crook Counties.
Donations are critical to helping the all-volunteer organization continue its mission, and new volunteers are always welcome. Donations or volunteering can both be accomplished through the website.
Taking care of each other
roles supporting children, older adults, caregivers, and families. Together, they form a compassionate network that ensures no neighbor is forgotten. And all are affected by diminishing resources.
Resources are particularly tight around issues of food insecurity. As always, the Sisters community steps up.
Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank operates a food bank that serves many in Sisters Country who are struggling as food prices rise.
Each year at this time, Ray’s Food Place operates a “Stuff the Truck” drive that allows customers to conveniently purchase food that goes directly to the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank.
“We have pre-built bags of groceries here in the store,” said Manager Jeff McDonald.
The customers pay $25 for a bag and secure $45 worth of groceries.
“The customer donates their portion, and we donate the rest,” McDonald said.
Seed to Table brings the vital power of farm-fresh food to bear in a wide range of services
and
activities in Sisters Country
— from sponsoring the Sisters Farmers Market to providing educational opportunities for youth across the region.
Seed to Table seeks to build a vibrant and resilient community where everyone has access to fresh produce that is nourishing, locally grown, and in keeping with their preferences. From a four-acre farm plot, Seed to Table strives to model a food system that restores ecosystems while providing equitable access to fresh foods and opportunities for community members to engage positively with farm-fresh foods.
Thousands of pounds of produce are donated to Central Oregon partners, including local food pantries.
“We became one of the largest and most consistent providers of vegetables for local food pantries,” noted S2T Executive Director Audrey Tehan.
Sisters Farmers Market promotes access to quality fresh food by accepting SNAP benefits, and promoting Double Up Food Bucks.
Donations from the community are vital to sustaining the farm
and all of its community outreach work. They have set a goal of raising $275,000 to sustaain programs. Donations may be made through their website.
Thrive Central Oregon helps connect Central Oregonians with resources they need — from food to shelter to employment and health care. Services are free and available by drop-in or by phone. There are multiple portals for help — and to offer help — at their website, https://www. thrivecentraloregon.org.
Living Well With Dementia has become a vital resource for families facing a tough diagnosis. They provide support and education to care partners, family members, and those who are themselves experiencing the onset of dementia.
Debbi McCune notes that Living Well With Dementia is currently developing a respite program.
“It’s important for the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of the care partner,” she said.
The program will offer a safe and engaging place where a care partner can leave their person for
a short period of time, getting a much needed break from a care cycle that often consumes them 24/7 — “a creative time where they can rejuvenate themselves a little bit.”
Volunteers and donations are welcome to support the work, which is ever more important as more and more people are diagnosed across Central Oregon, where resources struggle to keep up with demand.
Partners in Care has become a critical resource for those facing life-changing illness and end of life. Partners in Care is currently in the midst of its Queen of Hearts Campaign, seeking to build an endowment for Hospice House, a facility in Bend that has been strongly supported by donors in Sisters Country.
They are seeking 1,000 donors to donate $1,000 each to the cause.
“These donors can make that donation in their own name, or as a way to honor a woman in their life who is still with us or has passed,” said Tyler Carskadon of Partners in Care.
Many local businesses generously support nonprofits.
That includes Hayden Homes, who promote a “Give As You Go” program that matches the money employees contribute to the First Story program that provides affordable homes to first-time buyers. They also provide team members with two work days a year to volunteer for local community service programs.
The Sisters community is a generous one, with a see-aneed-fill-a-need ethic that only
becomes stronger as we move into the traditional season of giving.
As nonprofit leader Rennie Morrell notes, “As the season of giving begins, remember that your support stays right here in Sisters. Every contribution — whether it’s a ride, a meal, or a moment of kindness — strengthens our collective well-being. When we invest in each other, we keep Sisters healthy, connected, and strong.”
Pet Evacuation Team (PET) exists to ser ve Central Oregon people and animals in crisis. Emergency animal evacuations and sheltering during disasters are critical to our community and save lives.
DONATE TODAY petevacuationteam.com/ donations/
• Share a Thanksgiving message with the community as part of the November 19 ad in The Nugge
• Help build community as the ad pr the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner
• Provide financial support to buy food f the Community Thanksgiving Dinner (30% of your purchase!) To reserve your spot for call 541-549-9941 by Fri., N . 14.
