Bob Weisfield and Jill Catherine of the Skyline Health Foundation, at left, present an $8,000 Community Health Grant check to Abby Brandt Whalin and Janeal Booren of WAGAP in support of programming.
Bob Weisfield and Jill Catherine of the Skyline Health Foundation, at left, present an $8,000 Community Health Grant check to Abby Brandt Whalin and Janeal Booren of WAGAP in support of programming.
BINGEN —The Skyline Health Foundation has awarded Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) $8,000 as part of its 2024 Community Health Grant, which supports nonprofit organizations in the Columbia River Gorge that work to improve the health and well-being of the community within their service areas.
The WAGAP team, which supports low-income and underserved communities, submitted two successful applications. Janeal Booren, WAGAP’s Nutrition Programs director, submitted “Feeding the Hungry,” which received a $5,000 award. Abby Brandt Whalin, WAGAP’s Pathways Health Connect director, submitted “Underserved Population Care Connection,” which received $3,000.
“Community grants like this help meet real local community members’ needs,” Whalin said. “In the case of our Pathways application, we know that folks in our own backyard struggle to afford the medical supplies or medication copays not covered by insurance.”
Whalin’s team of Community Health Workers (CHWs) connects with the most vulnerable community members. CHWs help clients navigate services, offering translation, transportation, and emergency financial assistance. A gap in funding for the program includes sufficient support for transportation to important medical and mental health appointments and support for prescription copays and medical supplies. This grant will act as a discretionary fund to help clients meet their individual needs.
The two awards share a commitment to supporting their clients’ overall health, and clients often use both services. “By substantially supporting a client’s nutrition needs through the WAGAP Food Bank Network, we free up clients’ funds to cover other essential costs like medical expenses,” Whalin said. “Together, these awards from the Foundation can go really far in improving an individual’s personal health.”
Bob Weisfeld, Skyline Health Foundation’s board president, agrees. “Being able to help our neighbors get to their medical appointments and secure food for their families gives them the best shot at health now; not later when more serious physical or mental health conditions can occur.” Weisfield continued, “We are here [the foundation and its board of directors] to look out for the well-being of our community.”
The Food Bank Network also works to provide access to local and other cultural foods. “We are truly grateful to the Skyline Health Foundation for providing health and well-being for all community members,” said Booren. “These types of grants and donations to our Community Action Agency allow us to continue offering quality food options for community members who struggle to make ends meet.”
The Skyline Health Foundation will award the Community Health grant two more times in 2024, in August and December, with a total distribution of $20,000 for the year. The grant is open to tax-exempt 501c3 nonprofits in the Skyline service area that are not religious, political or governmental organizations and are not applying for event funds. Learn more at myskylinehealth.org/foundation/grants-scholarships.
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