Silver Rail Elementary’s Community 101 program, an effort of The Oregon Community Foundation and several local donors, recently awarded a grant of $4,000 to Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity. The students, under the direction of teacher Kelli Hayes, selected Habitat for Humanity because of their recent work providing emergency food support in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In a year where teaching looked completely different, my class got to spend some time looking for the helpers,” said fourth grade teacher Kelli Hayes. “This grant allows us to teach kids about philanthropy and the art of giving, and I can’t think of a better year to do that. It was truly a gift to have some conversations outside of Math and Reading that brought some hope to their weary worlds. They could see the effects of COVID all around them and were more motivated than ever to use their opportunity to help.”
“Thank you Oregon Community Foundation, Silver Rail Elementary staff and students and Kelli Hayes for selecting us as a recipient of the Community 101 grant,” said Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity’s Resource Development Manager Mellissa Kamanya. “We are grateful for the gift, made to support those affected by lack of food due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, we were honored to begin a partnership with the Oregon Health Authority as a means to provide critical support to individuals and families impacted by isolation or quarantine. To date, we have supported more than 200 families with food support due to the pandemic, and your support will help further this reach in Deschutes County.”
bendredmondhabitat.org • 541-385-5387
restorebend.org • 541-312-6709
