We’re pleased to announce we have awarded $49,000 in Deschutes County Emergency Food & Shelter Grants (EFSG) to ten local nonprofit agencies serving financially vulnerable residents across Deschutes County.
We distribute this funding, which is allocated from video lottery revenue by the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners, through an annual grantmaking process designed to support timely responses to our community’s most pressing needs. A volunteer Local Emergency Food & Shelter Board — composed of community members, experts, and representatives from local agencies — review grant applications and determine the funding awards.
For 2026, our Local EFS Board prioritized organizations with programs that offset the cost of basic needs, housing, utilities, and transportation costs for financially vulnerable community members by providing gift cards and vouchers directly to their existing clients.
2026 EFSG Grant Recipients:
- Bend First United Methodist Church—$1,200
- Central Oregon Baby Resources—$1,000
- Central Oregon Veteran and Community Outreach—$5,000
- Jericho Road—$6,550
- Saving Grace—$10,000
- St. Vincent de Paul La Pine—$8,500
- St. Vincent de Paul Redmond—$10,000
- The Giving Plate—$5,250
- Central Oregon Homelessness Alliance—$1,000
- Storydwelling—$500
“These grants help local organizations respond quickly when individuals and families face immediate financial challenges,” said Diana Fischetti, our Regional Executive Director, United Way of Central Oregon. “Locally, many ALICE families – those earning above the federal poverty level but less than the cost of living – are struggling to afford the rising costs of housing, food, transportation, and other essentials. These resources provide practical support at critical moments. We are grateful to Deschutes County for its continued investment in our community and to the volunteer Local EFS Board members who thoughtfully steward these funds to meet emerging needs.”
This year’s award marks the second year of a shift in the program’s funding landscape. Historically, we distributed EFSG dollars alongside funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP), together totaling approximately $300,000 in grants across Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson Counties in 2024.
In 2025, federal EFSP funding was paused, leaving Deschutes County video lottery revenue as the sole source for last year’s $58,800, and this year’s $49,000, in Emergency Food & Shelter Grant awards. We anticipate $51,450 will be available to allocate in Emergency Food & Shelter Grants in spring 2027.
ESFG funding is distributed solely to organizations serving residents of Deschutes County. Agencies receiving Deschutes County funding for the same or similar work are not eligible for these grants.
These investments strengthen our community’s safety net and help ensure that support is available when neighbors need it most.
For more information about our grantmaking: https://www.unitedwaycentraloregon.org/work/grantmaking/
