The Camas-Washougal Community Chest and the Camas-Washougal Rotary Foundation are pleased to announce the award of a record 35 grants totaling a record $140,290 to non-profit organizations delivering services, exclusively, to children and families in Camas and Washougal. The Rotary commitment to Service above Self also adds volunteers to the mix as they work to make a difference for many families.”
The grants will fund such diverse services as emergency food assistance, aid to families in crisis or needing emergency services, safe temporary shelter for at-risk youth, a severe weather shelter program at the Washougal Senior Center, a homeless family day center located at Saint Thomas Aquinas in Camas and enhancing the habitat of Gibbons Creek in the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. New organizations receiving grants for the first time are offering services such as a suicide prevention program in Washougal High School; occupational, speech, physical and specialty therapy services; English Ivy removal on Camas public lands; water quality monitoring in the Lacamas watershed and construction of an 18-hole disc golf course on the Odyssey Middle School and Discovery High School campus.
Some of the non-profit organizations being funded in 2022 include Inter-Faith Treasure House, Children Home Society’s East County Family Resource Center, Janus Youth Program, Pink Lemonade, Family Promise of Clark County and Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership. First-time grantees include Unite! Washougal Community Coalition, Partners with Camas Parks and Recreation – Camas Ivy League, Odyssey Discover PTO, Innovative Services NW and Parks Foundation of Clark County – Lacamas Watershed Council. For a complete listing of the grant awards see the grant summary below.
Thanks to CWRF and major donations from the GP Foundation, GP employees, Camas School District employees, City of Camas employees, Port of Camas-Washougal employees, Windermere Foundation, and Watercare Industrial Services, CWCC is well on the way to funding these grants. To reach its 2022 fundraising goal, however, the CWCC needs additional donations from individuals and businesses in Camas and Washougal. More information and donation forms can be found on the CWCC’s website at www.CamasWashougalCommunityChest.org. The CWCC and CWRF are registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations for federal charitable tax deduction purposes.
2022 Grant Program Summary
Total number of grants awarded – 35
Total value of grants awarded – $140,290
Estimated number of individual services funded by grants – more than 45,000
Community Programs/Projects Funded in 2022
Inter-Faith Treasure House
Helps pay utilities (electricity, water, sewer, garbage and natural gas) so IFTH can continue to operate the east county food bank.
Children’s Home Society – East County Family Resource Center
Helps fund staff at Resource Center. Helps fund parent education groups, youth support groups, emergency basic assistance, behavioral health services and health care services.
Washougal School District – Principal’s Checkbook
Helps Washougal school principals provide for basic student needs to give low income or homeless students equal opportunities at school. Funds a portion of Adult Transition Program which trains students with disabilities for transition into appropriate work placement. Funds supplies such as shoes, clothes, hygiene products and food for Panther Den. Funds mobile laptop cart for families without access to technology and internet services.
Janus Youth Programs
Provides funding for outreach efforts and overnight facility stays for Camas and Washougal runaway youth at risk for abuse and neglect. Re-introduces kids to safe housing. Provide case managers to help youth access community services to help them achieve stability.
Unite! Washougal Community Coalition
Helps fund Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program at Washougal High School. Also helps fund Positive Community Norms Campaign “Love Your Life” in the Washougal Community. The programs seek to improve mental health and discourage harmful drug abuse activities.
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
Provides classroom lessons and outdoor applied learning programs for youth, including habitat enhancement projects adjacent to Gibbons Creek in the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Campen Creek in Mable Kerr Park.
Meals on Wheels People
Provides funding for Senior Preparedness, Emergency Action and Resilience (SPEAR) project which aims to disseminate senior-friendly supply kits for isolated older adults who are vulnerable when catastrophe strikes.
Friends and Foundation of the Camas Library
Supports the Camas Library’s summer reading program for kids and teens.
Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation – Washougal Branch
Supports the Washougal Community Library’s summer reading program for kids and adults.
Friends of the Columbia Gorge
Helps fund the Explore the Gorge classroom lessons and outdoor environmental education program for sixth graders in Jemtegaard and Canyon Creek Middle schools in Washougal School District.
REACH Community Development
Helps buy groceries, baby essentials, cleaning supplies, hygiene products and similar basic household needs. Buys school supplies and holiday food baskets. Serves Gateway Gardens and Towne Square communities in Washougal.
Camas Farmers Market
Helps implement “Produce Pals”, a weekly activities program to educate children about where and how food is produced. Kids completing weekly program receive a $2 token to spend at Camas Farmers Market – grant will buy supplies for take home activity bags and tokens.
Opera Quest Northwest
Helps pay for creating a series of 5- to 10-minute videos focused on History of Opera and Musical Storytelling Around the World. Also pays for producing supporting materials for teachers. Provides videos and supporting materials to local schools at no cost. Aimed at students grades 3 through 5.
Silver Star Search and Rescue
Helps buy an adjustable litter handle system to augment a recently purchased Stokes litter. The handles decrease rescuer fatigue and strain and provides improved litter control and patient safety.
Pathways Clinic
Helps buy ultrasound supplies, pregnancy test kits and COVID – 19 PPE and supplies.
Innovative Services NW
Helps low-income children with special needs to access occupational, speech, physical and specialty services.
Camas-Washougal Historical Society
Helps fund the preservation and exhibition of Native American Woven baskets donated by Gracia Ough Jones, the granddaughter of Princess White Wing.
Clark County Historical Museum/Society
Funds help produce, plan, promote and conduct three walking tours including Historic Downtown Camas, The Pakersville National Historic site and the Pioneer Section of the Washougal Memorial Cemetery. These walking tours will be offered free to Camas and Washougal residents.
General Federation of Women’s Clubs
Helps General Federation of Woman’s Clubs with purchasing books for all children in Pre-K programs in the Camas and Washougal School Districts. The program is aimed at all Pre-schoolers to grow their reading skills.
Journey Theater Arts Group
Helps fund stipends for show directors and choreographer to put on Broadway-style live theater performances involving local students between the ages of 8 to 18.
TreeSong Nature Awareness and Retreat Center
Helps fund a platform and deck and electric service for a recently purchased Yurt to be installed at the retreat center.
Teen Reach Adventure Camp (T.R.A.C.) – Camas
T.R.A.C. is specifically designed to meet the needs of foster children ages 12 to 15. The funds would used to rent a climbing wall and provide KONA Ice treats during the summer of 2022.
Family Promise of Clark County
Helps fund New Beginnings, a financial literacy program that includes information, coaching, and support regarding budgeting, spending, borrowing, credit, banking, saving and taxes. Eligible families include families of color, families experiencing poverty, families with members who have disabilities and families that are mobile and/or are migratory.
Police Activities League of Vancouver
Buys books and pays for police staff time to present literacy events for 2nd and 3rd graders in the Camas and Washougal School Districts. Pal Patrol is where an officer adopts a classroom for a full school year, visiting that class at least once a month for one hour. Prospere is a small group mentoring program.
ReFuel Washougal
Helps buy bivy bags (waterproof, one person tents), sleeping bags, bus passes and hotel rooms if Refuel Washougal can’t open severe weather shelter for homeless persons because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Impact CW – St. Matthew Lutheran Church
Helps buy food and grocery gift cards for families in need in the Camas and Washougal School Districts.
Dance Evolution
Helps pay for full year dance scholarships for youth in need ages 6 to 13.
Kawanis Camp Wa-Ri-Ki
Helps fund outdoor education activities for 6th grade classes using modules from NASA GLOBE Goes to Camp such as Lego Land Cover Station, Natural Arts Station, and Trees Station.
Partners with Camas Parks and Recreation – Camtown Youth Festival
Helps buy arts and craft supplies to provide some of the free event activities for kids attending this outdoor youth festival.
Partners with Camas Parks and Recreation – Camas Ivy League
Helps buy tools for English Ivy removal on Camas public lands by Camas Ivy League volunteers.
Parks Foundation of Clark County – Lacamas Watershed Council
Helps pay for volunteer training and buying water quality monitoring equipment and supplies. Water quality samples will be collected in the Lacamas watershed, including Lacamas and Round lakes.
Pink Lemonade Project
Helps fund Pink Practicalities, a financial aid and assistance program. Covers costs that health insurance doesn’t, such as groceries, transportation services, lymphedema sleeves, lost wages, rent/mortgage payments, etc.
Lunchmoney Indoor Skatepark
Helps fund scholarships for foster kids, kids on public assistance and or families that cannot afford skate time to use an indoor skatepark offering supervision and mentoring.
Odyssey Discovery PTO
Helps fund an 18-hole disc golf course on the campus of Odyssey Middle School and Discovery High School.
Boy Scouts of America – Camas/Washougal Troops
Helps fund Campership Awards so that families in need can send their scouts to summer camp.