Sometimes, the challenges that face communities are just too big for one organization to tackle alone. With that in mind, United Way of Lane County has just awarded $300-thousand dollars in Coalition Grants-- to help groups work collectively to solve big problems.
Housing. Violence prevention. Childcare. Food security.. These four issues are where selected coalitions will focus their efforts over the next year.
Jared Pruch is Director of Community Impact with United Way. He said, “you can see the breadth of those issues, really focused around the needs of kids and families and some of the big, challenging, complex issues that we face in Lane County.”
Each coalition is made up of numerous non-profit agencies doing their part. The organizations Be Your Best, Hope and Safety Alliance (formerly Womespace,) FOOD for Lane County, and Lane Community Health Council, will each act as the backbone for their respective coalition.
Starting July 1, the following four coalitions will each receive $75,000 grants for the 2022-23 year:
- South Lane Child Care Coalition: funding will facilitate a community needs assessment about how the lack of safe, high-quality childcare impacts the health of families and the South Lane economy. Data collected will inform highest priorities (e.g. space, facilities, staffing, training, etc.), for the community to address. Coalition partners include Be Your Best, 90by30, Friends of Cottage Grove Public Library, South Lane School District Family Resource Center, Family Relief Nursery, Head Start of South Lane, Cottage Grove Public Library, Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce, Lane Quality Connections, PeaceHealth, Oregon Social Learning Center (OSLC)
United Way of Lane CountyFood for Lane County mobile food drop with Head Start of Lane County, working to prevent food insecurity. - Addressing Gaps in Food Access for School Communities: by conducting a school needs assessment and creating GIS heat map of gaps in access to food assistance, this coalition hopes to identify solutions for increasing families’ access to food in schools, one of the best places to serve families. Led by FOOD for Lane County, partners include 15th Night, One Hope, The ARC of Lane County, Oregon Research Institute Community & Evaluation Services
- Lane Learning Collaborative (Housing): funding will help establish a formal coalition of thought-leaders and individuals with lived experiences tasked with creating a system-wide network promoting housing stability. Priority areas include standardizing education for employees in housing services industries; advocating for policy in both local and regional governments to address housing insecurity; and more. Coalition partners include Lane Community Health Council, Laurel Hill Center, Sponsors, Homes for Good, ShelterCare, St. Vincent de Paul, Siuslaw Outreach Services, DevNW, Cornerstone Community Housing, Square One Villages
- Lane County Violence Prevention Coalition: funding will help integrate community efforts around domestic violence, child abuse prevention and sexual assault response to create a county-wide system to prevent abuse and violence; respond effectively when trauma and injustice have occurred; and work at the intersection of multiple forms of trauma. Partners are Hope & Safety Alliance, 90by30 Initiative, Kids FIRST, Sexual Assault Support Services, Siuslaw Outreach Services
Pruch said contributions from individual, business, and corporate donors are what make these grants possible. To support these programs and United Way’s broader efforts to ensure kids’ success, community members and businesses can donate, volunteer, and become sponsors of United Way’s work at www.unitedwaylane.org or by calling 541-741-6000.
