Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is conducting a new Community Needs Assessment now through September 30 to align its strategies and service priorities with current needs. Surveys in English and Spanish are available online at www.wagap.org or at one of the WAGAP Food Bank Offices in Bingen, Stevenson, or Goldendale.

Preventing financial stress for rural families was a primary goal of the recent Financial Wellness Fair series put on by Community Enrichment for Klickitat County (CEKC) and Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) with the help of area partners. Over 200 people participated.
Photo by Mathieu Turle on Unsplash

Joining Washington Gorge Community Action Programs (WAGAP) in 2013, Leslie Naramore stepped down as the nonprofit’s executive director on July 1.  Photo and story by Nathan Wilson Columbia Gorge News

https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/looking-back-on-leslie-naramore-s-time-at-wagap/article_c48f74f2-48b5-11ef-a5ad-27667daf1617.html

The bi-state Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative (MCHC) invites partners and interested public members to its third quarter meeting on July 9, 2024, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. via Zoom or in person at the Gloria Center at 2505 W. 7th Street in The Dalles.

In anticipation of this summer's dangerously hot temperatures and wildfire smoke events, Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative partners will have free cooling kits available for houseless residents. They have also compiled lists of local sites where people may seek safety when life-threatening conditions set in.

The Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) Board of Directors announced that Jennifer Pauletto will be the new executive director as of July 1, 2024. Juan Reyes has been selected to join her as the new associate director.

Leslie Naramore is turning over the reins after serving as WAGAP’s executive director for the past seven years. She will be succeeded by Jennifer Pauletto, the current associate director.

Over the past few years, financial exploitation has drawn a lot of attention as scammers target the senior population with telephone and computer scams that include using fear strategies, investment promises, IRS cons, and many other tactics. 

Photo by Jeremy Wong on Unsplash

The Skyline Health Foundation has awarded Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) $8,000 as part of its 2024 Community Health Grant, which supports non-profit organizations within the Columbia River Gorge that work to improve the health and well-being of the community within its service area. 

The East Houseless Task Force is hosting a volunteer cleanup of Ekone Park in Goldendale on Saturday, May 11. The event begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 12:00 p.m., and everyone is invited to participate.

2024 marks the 60th year since the Community Action Network was established to help American families and communities overcome obstacles to poverty. Over 1,000 agencies across the country are working every day to create opportunities and transform the lives of their neighbors, making communities stronger and helping families across the US thrive. This year, Washington Gorge Action Programs, a proud member of the Community Action Network, will also commemorate 58 years of helping families throughout Skamania and Klickitat counties. 

Over 1,000 people at risk of eviction did not lose their housing last year with help from community partners, according to the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative 2023 annual report shared at a recent meeting held at the Gloria Center in The Dalles.

Recently, Cristian Olivares and Ben Noble have been made co-directors of Civic Engagement on a mission to engage low-income residents as partners in building thriving communities. 

What are the blue pinwheels in Bingen and Goldendale all about? Throughout April, Programs for Peaceful Living is bringing attention to Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The bi-state Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative (MCHC) invites partners and interested public members to the Gloria Center at 2505 W. 7th Street in The Dalles on April 9 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. for an in-person meeting and tour.

“Building Connected Communities” is the 2024 theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. The focus this year is addressing social and structural factors that are essential to improving the way people live, learn, work, and play. By Brittany Spratt, Programs for Peaceful Living

The first week of June will be busy in downtown Goldendale. The East Houseless Task Force invites partners to connect with area residents in a week of activities highlighted by a Community Resource Fair at the Grange Hall on June 5. Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Houselessness can happen to anyone at any age. Just ask Teri Hounslow. At over 60 years old, she found herself without a place to stay.

Photo by Kelsi Stahl

The Klickitat County Childcare Committee has received two new grants to work county-wide and now will add a Spanish-speaking liaison to assist those interested in establishing a childcare business. Its original work in Goldendale continues, and the team is focusing on finding a location to set up a new childcare center as the federal appropriations awarded in 2022 now have a use-or-lose deadline coming up in 2025.

Collaborative partners share stories of people who have personally experienced houselessness throughout the region. In 2023, members took the Collaborative’s mission a step further by creating a series of profiles that put real faces in front of deeply personal stories to help advocate for the need for programs, services, and funding. The Portraits of Houselessness series is online at https://www.mccac.com/data-reports.