March 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 18
United Way announces milestones, launch of new programs
United Way of Central Oregon (UWCO) is proud to
announce the successful results
of its 2025 initiatives, highlighting a year of significant
growth in financial security,
transportation access, housing
stabilization, eviction prevention, food security, emergency
funding, health and hygiene,
and basic needs initiatives.
From the launch of innovative new programs and initiatives like Ride United and
United Way CARES to winning the Central Oregon Gives
Basic Needs category, UWCO
continues to build and expand
the regional infrastructure to
assist families across Central
Oregon to access essential
resources.
2025 Year-in-Review:
Impact and innovation
Throughout 2025, UWCO
focused on launching new programs and services that remove
GOT PERMITS?
SROA building permits are
required in Sunriver
barriers to financial stability,
health and resilience.
• Transportation access:
UWCO’s Ride United pilot
program delivered 450 rides
to work, job interviews, school,
food pantries, grocery stores,
housing, shelter, healthcare,
childcare, and other essential
services as well as joined with
other nonprofits to expand
their transportation services.
• Housing stabilization:
UWCO introduced its Resilient Families Fund - a proactive
approach to preventing homelessness before it starts - by
providing emergency assistance
for rent, groceries, and utilities. Just launched, the fund
has already supported three
families with nearly $4,000 in
crisis relief.
• Grantmaking and food
security: In spring, UWCO’s
volunteer Emergency Food &
Shelter Grants Board allocated
$60,000 to 10 nonprofits, prioritizing vital food access for
children and families.
• CARES (Community Access to Resources & Essential Supplies): The bold new
United Way CARES initiative
saw immediate success through
UWCO’s first Collection
Drive. The community rallied
SROA Email, Emergency Contact Info
Sunriver owners with an email on file receive timely notifications,
online surveys, invoices, etc. from SROA. Fill out the online form:
www.sunriverowners.org/updatemyinformation
to provide nearly 1,200 diapers
and 1,000 period products, as
well as incontinence products
and other personal hygiene
supplies, donating essential
items for those most in need.
"Through our programs, we
are opening doors to opportunity through Ride United,
keeping families housed and
fed through our Resilient Families Fund, delivering essential supplies to folks in need
through United Way CARES,
and supporting nonprofits that
strengthen families’ food security through Emergency Food
& Shelter Grants,” UWCO Regional Executive Director Diana Fischetti said. “Soon, we’ll
be powering our new CARES
Laundry Truck to bring services
directly to our most vulnerable
communities, moving our disaster resilience work forward,
and expanding our housing
stabilization work."
Fueling the mission:
Community support and
success
2025 was anchored by an
outpouring of community
generosity. UWCO celebrated
a major win during Central
Oregon Gives, raising nearly
$100,000 – funds that will
directly support its neighbors
through UWCO’s new initiatives.
United in Purpose:
Partnerships creating
regional impact
UWCO continues to build
and sustain partnerships with
many critical regional organizations. UWCO conducts the
bulk of Ride United client case
management internally, and the
organization also has recruited
and trained Ride United Partners that connect their clients
with UWCO’s transportation
service: Family Access Network, KIDS Center, Latino
Community Association, Mosaic Medical, The Giving Plate,
and Thrive.
UWCO’s Emergency Food
& Shelter Grants funded
Deschutes County agencies
focused on food security. Those
ESFG Partners are Boys & Girls
Clubs of Bend, Central Oregon
Veteran & Community Outreach, Family Kitchen, Friends
of the Children, Jericho Road,
Shepherd's House Ministries,
St. Vincent De Paul Bend, St.
Vincent De Paul La Pine, St.
Vincent De Paul Redmond,
and The Giving Plate.
A vision for the future
As UWCO looks toward
2026, the organization remains
committed to expanding partnerships, programs, services
and initiatives that provide
critical access and services to
community members and foster regional stability.
For information about
UWCO’s impact, visit www.
unitedwaycentraloregon.org.
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Page 18
MARCH 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
