Celebrate GivingTuesday on November 29, 2022, and help WAGAP with its mission of strengthening community by inspiring hope and helping people help themselves. Volunteer, donate, and lend your voice to issues that create positive change around the world!

Keeping children warm in cold weather is a goal of local winter clothing drives throughout the region. Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) partners with the efforts of Coats for Kids and Skyline Health’s Winter Outerwear Drive to keep kids safe.

With severe weather hitting the region, Mid-Columbia Community Action Council and its partners are ensuring our most vulnerable community members can access shelters, emergency lodging, and street outreach resources.

Photo by Mihály Köles on Unsplash

As a child growing up in Mexico, one of Alicia Ramirez’s dreams was simply to be able to graduate from high school.

When starting any new childcare business, individuals may feel overwhelmed by regulatory hurdles and the cost of startup expenses. Klickitat County Childcare Committee can help connect people with local resources to make it possible to open an at-home business.

Beginning in November, the new Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative (MCHC) will present to city councils and county commissions as it shares its vision.

The call for donors is starting early this year to meet the demand for the Tree of Joy holiday gift project in Klickitat and Skamania counties.

“Group Health Foundation is working to transform the balance of power to ensure equity and racial justice in Washington and beyond,” said Bruce Bolme, President of the WAGAP Board of Directors. “As a Community Action Agency with roots in the Civil Rights Movement, WAGAP’s mission and goals align well with that work.”

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Local Klickitat County substance misuse prevention coalitions join the National Drug Take Back Day on October 29 to help get medications out of the hands of children.

WAGAP staff will hold in-person visits to local senior meal sites to help seniors apply for assistance with energy, water, and weatherization needs in October and November. Senior Services staff will also help seniors with PUD and water discounts at the same time.

Domestic violence affects millions of people each year and has far-reaching consequences that directly affect the survivor and their family members. You can be connected with personal advocacy assistance, support groups, and online counseling services by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) will expand operations of a new Mobile Food Bank into Skamania County in October in addition to routes in Klickitat County.

In a unique turn of events, the Washington State Community Action Partnership secured $7.3 million of state funding in 2022 as a match to federal Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) funding. This funding helps Washington State’s 30 Community Action Agencies to stabilize and equip families and individuals to exit poverty for good through a network of local organizations.

After ten years of nonprofit service, Jennifer Pauletto, the new associate director of Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP), sees the people of the Gorge through a lens of equity.

A new fiesta, El Grito, will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month on the Washington side of the Gorge on Sunday, September 18, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Rhinegarten Park in White Salmon. Admission is free, and the event is open to all.

“Over the past few months, several new developments have taken place that positively impacts KCCC’s work to add to the capacity of childcare options in the region,” said Leslie Naramore, executive director for Washington Gorge Action Programs.

WAGAP will begin operations of a new Mobile Food Bank in Klickitat County in September, with plans to expand to Skamania County in October. Read more for information on the initial route.

WAGAP received a surprise $25,000 donation from First Interstate Bank, and bank officials received an impromptu tour of operations. The funds are part of the bank’s Believe in Local campaign and will support a new Mobile Food Bank set to launch in September.

In Part 3 of a 3-part series, we learn about how some immigrants live with the uncertainty of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

In Part 2 of a 3-part series, Patty Gallardo shares more about her experiences. Life was a struggle, even though she had lived in the States since she was eight. She had not finished high school, had difficulty learning English and worked under the table because she did not have a social security number.

For someone living undocumented, finding work with stable conditions may be impossible. In Part 1 of a 3-part series, one woman shares the story of her path to becoming documented, which empowered her to build a better life for her family.

Parents are invited to register for Guiding Good Choices, a free and confidential series designed around promoting healthy development and reducing risky behavior for children as they enter their teenage years.

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash

Agencies and nonprofits are partnering to provide Emergency Cooling Shelters and relief from unhealthy air quality events for vulnerable populations during this summer’s expected extreme conditions.

Part II of II: June 15 is Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Don’t be a bystander. If you see something, say something. Even if you just suspect abuse, report it. Call local law enforcement and Adult Protective Services. If you need help, contact Programs for Peaceful Living for assistance at 509-773-6100 or 509-493-2662.

For the past two years, WAGAP’s housing team has been developing services and a drop-in center to support teens and young adults at risk of becoming homeless or who are currently homeless. The team is opening the doors from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022, at this new location in Goldendale at 125 West Main Street. They invite the public to drop in to see what it is all about.

In Part I of II of a series for Elderly Abuse Awareness Month in June, Teresa Clyne of Programs for Peaceful Living shares warning signs of elder and vulnerable person abuse.

Over the past two years, community action agencies like Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) have expanded services to help local communities. The continuing demand has led to a need to adjust staffing levels. WAGAP recently announced a new associate director position is open to support the organization.

As a teen, Allie Mercer lived through homelessness and understands what it means to feel unsafe and not have a support system. She was lucky that a change in her situation brought her to Goldendale, where she could create a new life and build a new family. She now makes it her mission to offer other teens and young adults a support system to help them through tough times.

Adults can take one simple step to help to keep expired and unwanted medications out of the hands of youth and may prevent tragic overdoses and future addictions to drugs such as opioids.

Did you know sexual abuse can occur online as well as in person? It can affect children as well as adults. Help Programs for Peaceful Living in the movement to build online communities centered on respect, inclusion, and safety - where harassment, assault, and abuse are taken seriously.

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