Help build a place of care and dignity for our neighbors with dementia

What many don’t realize is that The Sunshine Club is the only daytime respite care program for individuals with dementia in the entire Columbia River Gorge. As our population ages, the need for this kind of care is growing rapidly. According to the Oregon Alzheimer’s Association, one in nine adults over the age of 65 will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetime.

Yet today, the program is constrained by its current facility. It operates only four days a week and is limited to 10 participants at a time — far fewer than the number of families who could benefit from its support.

That’s why we have formed a nonprofit, Friends of the Sunshine Club, to raise funds for a new, purpose-built facility that will allow the program to grow and meet this urgent demand. Our goals are clear:

Expand capacity by 20%

Increase program days from four to six per week

Offer more enriching activities in a safe, welcoming space

We launched this fundraising effort last November with a goal of $700,000 by the end of August. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our community, we’ve already raised $530,000 — but we still need to raise the final $170,000 to bring this vision to life.

This new facility isn’t just about space. It’s about dignity. It’s about making sure that people with dementia can continue to laugh, to learn, and to connect. It’s about giving caregivers a much-needed break — a few hours to work, rest, or simply breathe — knowing their loved ones are in good hands.

Dementia doesn’t erase the need for joy, companionship, and purpose. Programs like The Sunshine Club remind us that those living with cognitive decline are still very much alive inside — and that they deserve our care, attention, and respect.

We’re asking for your help to take this next step. Every donation, large or small, brings us closer to a future where more people can access the care and support they need.

Donations can be made to Friends of the Sunshine Club, 1140 Tucker Road, Hood River, OR 97031.

For more information or to get involved, contact me, Debby Chenoweth, president, at 541-399-2384 or hoodriversunshineclub@gmail.com.

To learn more about the program itself, contact Tonya DeHart, 541-645-5195 or Tonya.DeHart@providence.org.

Let’s come together to build a space that honors the lives and experiences of our neighbors living with dementia. Let’s ensure that everyone — no matter their diagnosis — has a place in the sunshine.