Camas-Washougal Community Chest Launches Annual Fundraising Drive

The Camas-Washougal Community Chest launches its annual fundraising drive October 1, 2020 with a goal of raising $100,000 for the 2021 campaign. The money raised is used to fund grants to local non-profit organizations that serve Camas and Washougal residents in need, at-risk youth programs and address natural resource conservation and education. Beginning this year, the Community Chest will also support non-profit organizations whose programs strive to enhance diversity, equity and inclusivity in Camas and Washougal. Since 1946 the CWCC has been all about helping local charities thrive. In this year of the COVID-19 pandemic, local needs are greater than ever – please help if you can.

The CWCC just wrapped up a successful 2020 campaign which saw it fund 20 grants for a total of $113,850. Programs and projects funded in 2020 included support of the local food bank run by Inter-Faith Treasure House, funding for family support programs run by Children’s Home Society of Washington, funding to help homeless families find permanent housing run by Family Promise of Clark County, funding habitat improvements in the Gibbons Creek watershed conducted by the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and funding for food and food service supplies for the local Meals on Wheels People program.

Other grants provided funding for meals for veterans, funding for several local reading programs, funding computer upgrades for the local pregnancy clinic and for temporarily housing at-risk youth in a secure facility. A full list of the grants awarded is listed below.

Major support for the 2020 fundraising campaign came from Georgia Pacific employees and the Georgia Pacific Foundation. Other major donors in 2020 included HP employees and the HP Corporation, Camas School District employees, City of Camas employees, Port of Camas-Washougal employees, Waste Connections and Your Party Center. The following foundations provided major support: Windermere Foundation, The Jean Vollum Fund. The Fontenette Family Charitable Fund, the Tidland Christian Development Fund and the Hinds Charitable Fund.

To reach its $100,000 goal for the 2021 campaign, the CWCC needs 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. Individuals and businesses can also donate by participating in Fred Meyer’s Community Rewards program and Amazon’s Smile program. Details and electronic links to the two community support programs can be found at the Website listed above.

The CWCC is a registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization for federal charitable tax deduction purposes. Says CWCC Co – President Joelle Scheldorf, “giving to the Community Chest is an easy and efficient way to help people in need in our hometown.”

Local non-profit organizations planning to apply for a grant can download the 2021 application form from CWCC’s website after October 15, 2020. Applications for 2021 grants are due by no later than December 15, 2020. Applicants will be informed during March 2021 as to whether their project or program is funded and at what level. Grant payments are made quarterly beginning with initial payments in March 2021.

To be eligible for a grant, applicants must provide services in Camas and/or Washougal, be a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and provide service in one or more of the following areas: education, youth activities, aid to people with special needs, natural resource conservation, health and welfare programs, crisis and emergency services. Beginning this year, programs to enhance diversity, equity and inclusivity in Camas and Washougal will also be eligible to apply for a grant.

2020 Grant Program Summary

Total number of grants awarded – 20
Total value of grants awarded – $113,850
Estimated number of individual services funded by grants – more than 18,000

Community Programs/Projects Funded in 2020

Family Promise of Clark County
Helps cover a portion of the cost for a part-time Resource Manager to be located at a Day Center hosted by St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Camas. The Resource Manager will offer life skills classes to the clients. Helps cover the cost of temporary housing, food and hygiene supplies.

Children’s Home Society of Washington – 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.

Inter-Faith Treasure House
Helps fund emergency and daily food needs, school backpack food program, emergency utility assistance and person-in-crisis outreach 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.

REACH Community Development
Funds supplies and materials for Kids Club programs and community building events at REACH’s Gateway Gardens and Town Square Apartment neighborhoods in Washougal. Also funds rent and utility assistance, food, school supply and gift giveaways programs.

Clark County Veterans Assistance Center
Helps buy food for daily breakfast or lunch meals at Center and for monthly food box program to assist veterans and their families.

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.

Meals on Wheels
Purchases food and food service supplies for Camas and Washougal Meals on Wheels People program.

ReFuel Washougal
Buys 25 waterproof sleeping bags, a refrigerator/freezer, C-Tran bus passes and a Food Service License to serve Friday and severe weather meals at the Washougal Senior center.

Camas Farmers Market
Helps cover the general operating costs of the Camas Farmers Market so quality local food can made available to local residents, as well as, supporting local farmers.

Impact CW – St. Matthews Lutheran Church
Helps purchase $50 local grocery (Safeway, Grocery Outlet and Costco) gift cards that will be distributed to families in need in Camas and Washougal.

Camas School District – Principal’s Checkbook Helps Camas school principals provide for basic student needs to give low income or homeless students equal opportunities at school.

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.

Kiwanis Camp Wa-Ri-Ki
Helps fund a climbing wall at the gymnasium and make repairs to an existing walking bridge.

Friends and Foundation of the Camas Library
Supports the Camas Library’s summer reading program for kids and teens.

Dance Evolution
Helps pay for free dance lessons for toddlers 0 to 5 and young girls ages 9 to 15. Future plans call for adding free programs for boys and students with developmental disabilities.

TreeSong Nature Awareness and Retreat Center
Helps pay for an outdoor sink and covered structure for outdoor programs so they can continue to offer children’s nature education groups and family nature adventures in the rainy season.

Pathways Clinic
Purchases tablet computers to streamline client intake process. Buys software upgrades for the existing “Earn While You Learn” curriculum.

Police Activities League of Southwest Washington Buys books and pays for police staff time to present five literacy events for 2 Camas and Washougal School Districts.

General Federation of Women’s Clubs
Helps buy age appropriate books, backpacks and other learning tools for a Reach for the Stars with Books program at Hathaway Elementary School. Program aimed at youth from birth through age 5 to grow their school readiness skills and strengthen their social interaction skills.