The global pandemic, civil unrest across the nation, and Pacific Northwest wildfires have put a spotlight on financial and racial inequalities in our region and across the country.
Inequities in our systems for health, education, employment, food access, and vulnerability to natural disasters.

And, inequities in financial stability and opportunity for all.

Nearly 40% of Central Oregonians were already living on the edge before COVID-19.
Then the pandemic hit, deepening existing disparities.

The fallout of COVID-19 hit our most vulnerable first and hardest and will continue to do so in weeks and months and even years to come.

At United Way of Central Oregon, we were one of the first to respond – providing resources for food, financial assistance and basic needs – and we continue our response – now and in the future.

We’re feeding people who need to be fed, keeping them in their homes, and protecting our most vulnerable.

With our grantmaking, we’re supporting local nonprofits to adapt. We’re also helping individuals and families in our community who are most impacted by this crisis to recover and to build resilience.

One of our most vital roles is mobilizing and deploying resources where they’re needed most.
So far, we have awarded $295,000 to 44 local nonprofit programs so that they may successfully face new challenges of COVID-19 and can deliver essential services and meet the needs of our community’s most vulnerable. These are our COVID-19 Partners.

26% of Central Oregonians are served by a program we fund.

We’re fighting for the health, education, financial stability, and resilience of every person in our Central Oregon community.

We’re driving the change that’s building a resilient Central Oregon.

We’re working to reduce disparities and increase equity through our grantmaking, as the backbone of the TRACEs movement.

Change doesn’t happen alone. Not everyone is dealt the same hand in life – from income to health to education to trauma to resilience. United, we are focused on fixing these imbalances for today’s kids so that when they are tomorrow’s adults, they can thrive.

We’re all in this together. Through all the uncertainties, we’re here to help locally.
It is this moment that defines us. Now is the time to Live United and to GIVE United.

We’re giving $100,000 help provide free or reduced full-day childcare in Bend!

As part of our COVID-19 Recovery & Resilience efforts, we’re directing $100,000 to help alleviate the pressure felt by many families because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

And, that pressure is immense: 43% of the 8,000 K-5^th grade children enrolled in Bend-La Pine School District qualify for free/reduced lunch and more than 900 identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Color (primarily Latinx).

These United Way funds will provide kids with a safe and supported place to learn so that parents can continue working in their jobs – jobs that help local families meet critical needs, such as housing, food, health care, utilities, medications, transportation, and cell phones.

Many of these families face steep barriers to accessing childcare, especially during the pandemic: parents whose jobs do not permit work from home or flexible hours; limited extended family resources as families protect older generations from COVID-19 exposure; and limited access to internet for children to participate in at-home online learning.

This $100,000 will support children with high needs as defined by family income, housing, foster care status, and more by providing these students with free or steeply-reduced full-day childcare provided through Better Together’s expanded School-Aged Childcare Initiative.

The Initiative provides full-day childcare needs for 750 children ranging from 5 – 10 years of age through trusted community partners. Childcare needs will be met at 14 Bend elementary schools through Bend Park & Recreation District’s Operation Recreation “Team Up” program, as well as Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend’s new Club+ program, launched to fill the gaps during COVID-19 school closures.

United Way funds will help Better Together offer more childcare to more children for less money, offer students extra learning assistance, provide access to technology that kids might not otherwise have access to for distance learning, and provide culturally-responsive resources in understanding and meeting families’ needs.

Why Better Together?

Better Together is a regional, cross-sector partnership working collectively to improve educational outcomes for children and youth from cradle to career. The organization is deeply engaged in high-needs and vulnerable populations across Central Oregon.

Since the COVID-19 crisis began, Better Together leveraged its deep roots in local communities to quickly and deeply understand the needs, with a focus on children who are particularly vulnerable and affected by: health scares and economic impacts, family members sick or out of work, multigenerational housing arrangements, school closures and limited childcare resources.

Better Together serves alongside United Way of Central Oregon on the Steering Committee of the TRACEs movement, building resilience in Central Oregon.

About United Way of Central Oregon

We are addressing critical needs of our community’s most vulnerable through grant funds that support local nonprofits as they adapt to new challenges resulting from COVID-19 in delivering essential services. Thus far, we’ve awarded $295,000 to 44 regional nonprofit programs as part of our COVID-19 Emergency Response, Recovery & Resilience efforts.

And this is just the beginning. We are pleased to announce that we will be accepting applications from September 8^th – 23^rd from nonprofit organizations providing essential services to vulnerable populations in the City of Bend for grant funding supported by funds that came from the City of Bend’s allocation of Oregon State-directed CARES Act. Learn more and apply HERE.

We’re helping individuals and families in our community who are most impacted by this crisis to recover and to build resilience. Knowing that community crises often disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and other marginalized groups, our funding prioritizes efforts that attend to racial and other inequities.

We recently changed its name from United Way of Deschutes County to United Way of Central Oregon. DONATE today!