RISE Network (Resources Increasing Self-reliance and Empowerment) began out of necessity, when one of its founders saw a need in her community and went to work filling it. Here’s just a few projects we’re engaged in:
Weekend Backpack Program: providing additional food for school children. We’ve partnered with Republic and Curlew Schools, as well as Northwest Harvest and Communities in Schools program, to provide prebagged food items that children can take home, helping to supplement ... Read More
RISE Network (Resources Increasing Self-reliance and Empowerment) began out of necessity, when one of its founders saw a need in her community and went to work filling it. Here’s just a few projects we’re engaged in:
Weekend Backpack Program: providing additional food for school children. We’ve partnered with Republic and Curlew Schools, as well as Northwest Harvest and Communities in Schools program, to provide prebagged food items that children can take home, helping to supplement nutrition for families in need. Food items are picked up at partner locations in Spokane and Colville.
Winter Weather Gear Program: warm coats, hats, and gloves during the winter season. We look for end of season sales giving us the opportunity of purchasing new items at a significant discount, as well as partnering with Kelsi Manke, the owner of Kelsi’s Closet in Colville (a clothing resale retailer), who donates gently used gear that has been set aside throughout the year. These items are then handed out to children of families who may be struggling with other living costs.
New Baby Necessities Program: We initially partnered with the Prepares Diaper Program with Catholic Charities, serving almost 60 children, providing diapers and pull-ups, as well as diapers wipes, to families with children under the age of five years old. The program also has the ability to provide cribs, car seats, clothing, formula, and other baby items, when available. We are facing a challenge to this program at present. The Catholic Charities Prepares Diaper program was initially started to be supported by the local parish in each community where it operates. Catholic Charities was then provided a grant to help sustain the program, relieving the parishes from that requirement. Unfortunately, the funding for that grant is coming to an end.
Other Assistance and Advocacy Provided:
Supplemental Food – distribution of additional food items, received from partnering agencies, to families in need – including Seniors.
Clothing and Household Items – distribution of additional clothing and household items, received from individuals and agencies, to families in need.
Washington State Working Families Tax Credit Outreach Advisory Committee – The Department of Revenue (DOR) has formed an Outreach Advisory Committee to improve communication channels with individuals applying for the Working Family Tax Credit (WFTC) and partners helping raise awareness of this new program. For more information check out https://workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov/resources/advisory-committee
Northwest Harvest/USDA Fruits and Vegetables Industry Advisory Committee – Committee formed to advise the USDA regarding implementing better policies for the fruits and vegetables incentive program for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients.
...as well as others.
Future Program Goals:
Veteran’s Emergency Assistance
Branch out to Pend Oreille and Stevens Counties
Some Statistics and Information:
100% of all children enroll in Republic and Curlew School Districts are on USDA’s Free Lunch Program. An assessment of poverty by county, conducted in 2021, showed that two of the three counties in Northeast Washington also experience a greater degree of poverty than the State’s average of 9.9%.
Pend Oreille reported 9.8%, while Stevens reported 12.8% and Ferry reported 17.1%.3
Inflation has risen significantly in the last two years,
making it more difficult for working families to make ends
meet.
https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/current-
inflation-rates/
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