NeighborImpact launches Capital Campaign “Feed the Need”

Groundbreaking Ceremony on February 25th at 11:30 kicks off NeighborImpact’s Capital Campaign “Feed the Need” to raise $100,000 to expand the Emergency Food Warehouse. The Food Bank is the backbone of the Emergency Food System in Central Oregon. The expansion effort would be tripling the storage area available for food storage of fresh, frozen and dry products. Since 1992, NeighborImpact has increased the pounds of food from 450,000 to over two million pounds annually. This expansion will allow NeighborImpact to increase the food received from Oregon Food Bank and local grocery stores that then goes to feed over 14,000 individuals monthly.

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Click here to download the official press release

13th Annual $1 Million Giveaway to Fight Hunger

For the 13th consecutive year, Alan Shawn Feinstein of Cranston, Rhode Island, will divide $1 million among anti-hunger agencies nationwide. The Feinstein Challenge matches money donated to NeighborImpact’s Food Bank between March 1st and April 31st. NeighborImpact has set up the Virtual Food Drive on their website to help promote the Feinstein Challenge and make it easier for people to donate to the Food Program. The more money collected during the challenge, the larger percentage the Feinstein Foundation will give to the Food Bank, making this an ideal time for anyone who has considered donating to NeighborImpact’s Food Bank. The Virtual Food Drive can be accessed by clicking here and then clicking on the Virtual Food Drive Link. For more information, contact Sandy Klein at sandyk@neighborimpact.org or call 541-548-2380 x 148.

Click here to download the official press release

Mad City Chickens Fundraiser For NeighborImpact’s Food Bank

The Season, Your Backyard Farm Center, presents a movie about urban chickens, Tarazod’s Documentary: Mad City Chickens. Mad City Chickens is a sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical look at the people who keep urban chickens in their backyards. From chicken experts and authors to a rescued landfill hen or an inexperienced family that decides to take the poultry plunge—and even a mad scientist and giant hen taking to the streets—it’s a humorous and heartfelt trip through the world of backyard chickendom. Anyone interested in learning about having chickens within city limits, and what is needed to successfully keep urban chickens is encouraged to attend. Duane and Julie Schiedler from Celebrate the Season in Bend will give a short presentation before the movie on raising and keeping urban chickens, Sydney Leonard and Sandy Klein will talk about the NeighborImpact Food Bank and Community Food. The aim is to educate the urban population on the benefits of raising ones own food, and to bring to light the misconceptions people might have about the raising of poultry in an urban setting. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and will include a no host wine and beer bar, refreshments, and a silent auction featuring many items for the backyard chicken keeper. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door and seating is limited. Call 541-Chicken (541-244-2536) for ticketing and information or e mail 541chicken@gmail.com.

Click here to download the official press release

Welcome to Oregon - Pair Embarks on 50-State Journey to Promote Civic Responsibility

On January 4th of this year, Tim Malcolm and Kirsten L’Orange, founders of The Civic Projects, began a 14,000-mile cross country journey to promote social awareness and service by volunteering at 50 community organizations in 50 states in 50 days. The cross-country journey is also serving as a fundraiser for the 50 non-profit organizations in which The Civic Projects will be donating their time. On February 19th the Civic Projects will be arriving in Central Oregon to help bring awareness to community-based service organizations hard-pressed by today’s economic climate. Partnering with NeighborImpact, The Civic Projects will be serving within the agency’s Food Program and Head Start. “In light of the current economic environment, there has never been a better time or better motivation to volunteer,” Kirsten said. All of the funds accrued during Tim and Kristen’s journey will be equally divided among the 50 organizations visited throughout their 50 day journey. If you wish to follow the progress of The Civic Projects journey, please visit: http://www.thecivicprojects.org/thecivicprojects/Home.html.

Click here to download the official press release

NBC’s The Biggest Loser’s Pound for Pound Challenge Benefits Local Food Bank

NBC’s The Biggest Loser, General Mills, Subway, 24 Hour Fitness and Feeding America have partnered on the Pound For Pound Challenge, a program that encourages residents of Central Oregon and Americans across the country to lose weight nationally to help provide hunger relief locally. For every pound of weight participants pledge to lose, 14 cents will be given to NeighborImpact’s Food Bank. That is the monetary equivalent to one pound of food that NeighborImpact can distribute. The Challenge runs through June 30, 2010. To join the challenge, simply visit the Pound For Pound website at www.pfpchallenge.com or www.biggestloser.com and click on the button that says PLEDGE. For every pound of weight participants pledge to lose, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 14 cents to Feeding America. Although it is a National Challenge, by entering your zip code and pledging for the Oregon Food Bank, proceeds will be forwarded to NeighborImpact. NeighborImpact’s Food Bank is the Central Oregon regional affiliate for the Oregon Food Bank. Approximately 14,000 people (7% of Central Oregon’s population) are accessing meal sites, brown bag sites and emergency food boxes throughout the area every month. With the rapidly increasing need for donations, everyone can do their part to their part to spread awareness of the hunger issue and become part of the solution. In addition to pledging to lose weight, at pfpchallenge.com, you can create a PFP Challenge team on Facebook, invite friends and family to join the Challenge via e mail, donate directly to Feeding America and find other tips on eating right and weight loss. For more information or for team toolkits for your organization, or to become a Challenge Champion, please contact Sandy Klein at sandyk@neighborimpact.org or call 541-548-2380 x 148.

Click here to download the official press release

Empty Bowls Cookbooks Available!

In conjunction with NeighborImpact’s feature annual community fundraising event, Empty Bowls, Empty Bowls Commemorative Cookbooks are now on sale at several locations. The cookbook features recipes from NeighborImpact staff, committee members, board of directors, friends and family and recipes from local professional chefs. Featured in the cookbook is everything from crockpot meals and soup recipes to an introduction on how to read a recipe from the head of the Cascade Culinary Institute, Julian Darwin. In addition to the NeighborImpact office in Redmond, the cookbooks are available at the following locations in Bend:
Devore’s, 1124 Newport Ave,
Camalli Book Company, 1288 SW Simpson Ave,
Allyson’s Kitchen, 375 Powerhouse Dr
Kitchen Complements , 137 NW Minnesota Ave
The Open Book, 155 NE Greenwood Ave.
The Curiosity Shoppe, 25 NW Minnesota Ave #7
Between the Covers, 645 Delaware Ave.

Commemorative Empty Bowls Cookbooks are being sold for $12 with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit the NeighborImpact Food Bank. For more information, call 541-548-5262 x 148 or e-mail sandyk@neighborimpact.org.

Click here to download the official press release

NeighborImpact Opens New Office in Bend

NeighborImpact has opened a new office in Bend which combines a variety of services in one location to better serve the residents of the greater Bend area. The services available at this new location include:
• Energy Assistance
• Energy Education
• Rental Assistance
• Housing Counseling
• Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
• Individual Development Account services
• Home Rehabilitation services

The new office opened in early October and has been serving the public since that time. Public Hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

NeighborImpact has had scattered offices in Bend for a number of years. It is the organizations desire to enhance its visibility in the Bend community and to improve the accessibility to services for the residents of the area. This new office location offers the services in one location and affords the opportunity to provide larger learning opportunities in a NeighborImpact facility.

Click here to download the official press release

Virtual Food drive a new, interactive way to support the NeighborImpact Emergency Food Bank

NeighborImpact has created a new, interactive way to support the Emergency Food Bank through its Virtual Food Drive program. Mainly a source of collecting funds, the Virtual Food Drive makes donating a little more interesting and meaningful and is easily accessed from any computer.

Click here to download the official press release

Click here to use the new Virtual Food Drive feature

Strictly Organic offers “Neighborly Blend” benefits NeighborImpact

For the next six months, you can buy “Neighborly Blend” at their store or on-line at www.strictlyorganic.com $4 of every pound sold goes to support NeighborImpact. NeighborImpact provides a diversity of services that not only meet basic needs for food and shelter, but also enrich people’s lives by providing access to education, skills, and hope for the future.

Click here to download the official press release

4-Class Series of Free Financial Fitness Classes to be Offered in Sisters

NeighborImpact, in partnership with Bank of the Cascades and the City of Sisters, will offer Financial Fitness classes to Sisters area residents for all interested, including high school students to community seniors. NeighborImpact, in partnership with Bank of the Cascades and the City of Sisters, will offer Financial Fitness classes to Sisters area residents for all interested, including high school students to community seniors.

Click here to download the official press release

Individual Development Account (IDA) Helps Low Income Households Save for Homeownership or Business Development

The IDA Program is a matched savings program intended to help low income households meet specific savings goals. Households must save a certain amount of their own income each month, as determined with a counselor. Each dollar saved is matched by $3 from the State if the household attains its savings and educational goals. NeighborImpact has been awarded a limited number of Oregon Individual Development Account slots to enroll low income households in a matched savings program that will help people on their way to attaining homeownership or the development or expansion of a business. Households in the tri-county area of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties who earn 80% or less of area median income adjusted for household size are qualified to apply for this unique program (for income limits call 548-2380 x120). Individuals must be enrolled in the program for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years. Households must save a certain amount of their own money each month and enroll and complete NeighborImpact courses such as Homebuyer Education and our Financial Fitness course series to receive the matched funds when they complete the program.

Click here to download the official press release

NeighborImpact Prints 2009-10 Tri-County Resource Guide

NeighborImpact has completed updating its bi-annual Answer Book. The guide provides a listing of services for low income clients in such areas as education, housing, emergency services, children and family, and legal. This is the first guide printed using the NeighborImpact name and logo. It is available in both English and Spanish for individual clients and in bundles of 50 for agency use.

Click here to download the 09-10 Answer Book in English

Click here to download the 09-10 Answer Book in Spanish

A Call to Serve: Opportunity with NeighborImpact’s Resource Development Committee

NeighborImpact, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of economically disadvantaged Central Oregonians, is looking to give interested individuals the opportunity to serve on the Board of Director’s Resource Development Committee. The Resource Development Committee is looking for people who are passionate about helping others and are willing to share their enthusiasm. The Resource Development Committee is charged with organizational fundraising and garnering community support. If you are interested in meeting others who share your passion and commitment to a better community, please consider this opportunity. Serving on a committee allows individuals to help out while learning more about NeighborImpact and can be a stepping stone to becoming a member of the Board of Directors. For more information regarding board and/or committee memberships please contact Holly Hutton at 548-2380 extension 106 or hollyh@neighborimpact.org.

Click here to download the official press release

Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Help Low Income Households Save for Homeownership, Business Development

NeighborImpact has been awarded a limited number of Oregon Individual Development Account slots to enroll low income households in a matched savings program that will help people on their way to attaining homeownership or the development or expansion of a business. Households in the tri-county area of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties who earn 80% or less of area median income adjusted for household size are qualified to apply for this unique program. (For income limits call 548-2380 x120.) Individuals must be enrolled in the program for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years. Households must save a certain amount of their own money each month and enroll and complete NeighborImpact courses such as Homebuyer Education and our Financial Fitness course series to receive the matched funds when they complete the program.

Click here to download the official press release

NeighborImpact Promotes Local “Grow-A-Row” For Hunger Program

NeighborImpact is promoting a local version of a national program “Grow-A-Row”. This program encourages gardeners and farmers to plant extra food to donate to area food pantries. The goal of the program is to increase access to healthy nutritional fruits and vegetables. Food pantries throughout Central Oregon are excited about the possibility to having fresh food to hand out to those in need. NeighborImpact is directing gardeners who are interested in donating fresh quality produce to visit the NeighborImpact web site for a listing of food pantries in their communities. Farmers who are interested in this program can contact NeighborImpact’s Food Coordinator, Steve Murray, at 548-2380 #108.

Click here for more information

Click here to download the official press release

NeighborImpact Food Bank Adopt a Truck Sponsorship Opportunity

NeighborImpact Food Bank is offering businesses and individuals an Adopt a Truck Sponsorship opportunity. By purchasing space on one or both of the Food Recovery Trucks, Adopters will receive exposure around the entire Central Oregon Region by having their company logo placed prominently on the side of the truck. The trucks are on the road 5 days / 45 hours a week picking up and delivering food. Anyone interested in getting more information about adopting a NeighborImpact Food Recovery Truck, please contact Sandy Klein, Development Specialist, NeighborImpact at sandyk@neighborimpact.org or call 541-548-2380 extension 148.

Click here to download the official press release

A Call to Serve: Opportunities on NeighborImpact’s Board of Directors

NeighborImpact is seeking individuals to serve on the Board of Directors. There are current openings on the board for both a Crook County Community Representative and Low-Income Representative and a Deschutes County Community Representative. NeighborImpact, a private non-profit organization, provides a wide variety of services to help persons and families envision and plan for a better future by increasing personal, financial and social assets in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties. NeighborImpact also assists persons and families in crisis by helping with food, utilities, shelter and housing. NeighborImpact offers child care resources and provides early education through its Head Start program. Individuals who serve as a NeighborImpact board member will play a significant role in building success and in changing families’ lives by supporting NeighborImpact in its service to the community. For information about the Board of Directors and NeighborImpact, please contact Sharon Miller, Executive Director, at 541-548-2380 (extension 102) or sharonm@neighborimpact.org.

Click here to download the official press release

Homeless Leadership Coalition Announces 2009 Tri-County One Night Homeless Count Results

On January 29th 2009 volunteers conducted confidential and anonymous surveys in Bend, LaPine, Sisters, Redmond, Prineville, and Madras. This one-day count will provide the most up-to-date information about the number of individuals in Central Oregon who are struggling to find adequate housing. Through this data, local agencies and programs are able to qualify for increased funding, better target support services, and develop comprehensive plans to address poverty and homelessness in Central Oregon.

Click here for the 2009 Homeless Count Results

Head Start is now enrolling children for the 2009-20010 school year

NeighborImpact’s Head Start Program is dedicated to helping ensure that children ages 3 and 4 from low-income families are ready for school. The Head Start Program is now accepting applications for the 2009-20010 school year. Head Start builds success for children through child focused, family-centered services that enhance social competence, school readiness and overall health and well-being. Children are provided a free high quality preschool education which includes individualized curriculum, nutritious meals, health and developmental screenings, and transportation. Head Start Classes are available throughout Crook and Deschutes counties. Space is limited.

Click here to download the Head Start Application

NeighborImpact Releases its 2007/2008 Annual Report

The NeighborImpact 2007/2008 Annual Report is now available for download.

Click here to download the Report

Bend Emergency Services Announces Extended Office Hours for Energy Assistance

NeighborImpact is offering extended office hours at our downtown Bend office to accept energy assistance applications through February. Clients seeking assistance for their utility bills can apply for energy assistance from 9 am to 4 pm at our office located at 20310 Empire Ave, #A110. Office hours in Redmond, Prineville, and Madras remain the same.

Click here to download the official press release

Community First Bank Announces its Community Care Program

Community First Bank now offers a program that allows supporters of non-profit organizations like ours to financially assist the organization of their choice simply by doing business with Community First. With the Community Care Account, Community First Bank will donate 1% of your average annual balance to the non-profit organization of your choice when you open a qualified account with them. For more information, please click here:

Community Care Account

Call to Action: 11th Annual Oregon Lawyers Against Hunger (OLAH) Campaign

Oregon Lawyers Against Hunger (OLAH) has a lot to be proud of. They’ve raised $977,000 since OLAH started in 1997. This means that OLAH has helped the Oregon Food Bank network bring more than 5 million pounds of food to approximately 100,000 families in need in the state of Oregon.

Click here to download the official press release

Affects of Rising Food and Fuel Prices Highlight 2008 Survey of Food Box Recipients

Oregon Food Bank recently conducted a survey at food pantries throughout Oregon to find out what caused people to need emergency food assistance. In Central Oregon agencies in Madras, Redmond, Prineville, La Pine and Bend provided survey results from their clients. Over 3,800 individuals filled out the survey in all parts of Oregon. The three major reasons respondents cited for needing help are rising food prices (52%), high fuel costs (40%), and housing costs (23%). Residents in Central Oregon face all of these issues. The survey also shows the largest group receiving emergency food is households with children.

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NeighborImpact Offers Rent & Utility Assistance in La Pine

Eligible area residents will now be able to access utility and rental assistance services at a site in LaPine. In the past, these services were only available through NeighborImpact’s Bend office. In addition, applications for the Head Start program will be available for interested families. Beginning on Friday, September 7 and continuing on the first and fourth Friday of each month, NeighborImpact staff will be at the LaPine Community Kitchen site at 16480 Finley Butte Road (VFW Hall) from 10:30am to 2:00pm.

Click here to download the official press release

‘Beehive’ Web Portal Promises Self-Help

Local nonprofit Neighbor Impact and One Economy Corporation, a multi-national nonprofit, partnered to build this free English/Spanish online resource to help workers connect to resources about money, schools, jobs, housing, health and more. The Beehive Cascades is a localized version of the national Beehive web site that was launched by One Economy in 2001. The site can be found at http://cascades.thebeehive.org.

Click here to download the official press release

The Homeless Leadership Council announced the results of its annual point- intime homeless count, which was conducted on January 31, 2008.

Click here for the Tri-County report

Click here for the Deschutes County report

Click here for the Crook County report

Click here for the Jefferson County report

The new OHCS Report on Poverty 2006 highlights the effects of the recent recession and booming housing market on the lives of low- and moderate-income Oregonians. County profiles provide insight into local needs and efforts to combat the causes and consequences of poverty.

Click here for the Deschutes County summary

Click here for the Crook County summary

Click here for the Jefferson County summary