Locals receive awards from Caring Neighbors

RITZVILLE – Seven local non-profits recently received financial awards from Caring Neighbors.

The Ritzville Fire Department was given $3,000 to go towards the purchase of air packs and truck lights.

Franklin County Fire District No. 5 was given $2,000 to help refurbish their wildland fire truck.

The Ritzville Public Library District No. 2 was given $1,600 to help with their summer reading program.

Adams County Park and Recreation, which runs the Ritzville Water Park, received $2,100 to help purchase swim lessons and passes for those in need.

"We are so grateful for their continuing support and donations to our community," Adams County Park and Recreation District Board member Candice Duff said. "It really helps to allow everybody to have the chance to take swim lessons and get a pass every year."

Board member Krista Krause said they apply every year to Caring Neighbors, and receive an award every year.

"We are so thankful. We put that money right back in lessons and passes for all our lower income families," Krause said. "We try to give back everything we receive, as needed. If we get, say, $1,000, we try as hard as we can to give back that full amount. We don't want any child to go without."

Aid is based on income, and Krause said most of the time people qualify for 100% coverage.

Krause said any money left over at the end of the season, rolls over to the next year.

"Last year we had some donations, but then the pool wasn't open, so now this year we have way more funds available for families to apply," Krause said. "We're so grateful that Caring Neighbors is there, because they provide probably about 75% of what we receive every year and we can give out."

Lind-Ritzville Schools received $2,400 to help purchase playground equipment.

"We are very grateful for the Caring Neighbor Grant. The money will be used towards the ground cover for our new play structure that will be going in soon," elementary school principal Cindy Deska said. "We are all excited about this happening, hopefully before school starts."

Washtucna School District received $500 to help purchase FFA jackets and pay for membership dues; and another $500 to help provide yearbooks for those who can't afford them.

The school district was also given $1,500 to help purchase sweatshirts for students and staff. Principal Michael Amend said the idea for the sweatshirts came from a church he used to attend in Spokane that adopted a school in one of the rougher areas of the city.

"Community is, many times, one of the only things that keeps people going through the hard times. And we've had our fair share of those this past school year," Amend said. "The idea is to give every student and staff member, regardless of the ability to pay, the same clothing item they can wear on Tucna Tuesdays so that everyone is on a level playing field, and see the Tucna gear out in the community."

Amend said the award from Caring Neighbors, along with a generous donation from the Washtucna Lions Club, allows for each staff member and student to have a brand new hooded sweatshirt to wear on the first day of school.

"The donations also allow us to have a size run in storgage as well, so if we hire a new staff member or get a new student, they are immediately initiated onto #teamtucna with a tangible item that reminds them they are now part of our team," Amend said.

Caring Neighbors is a non-profit entity established by Big Bend Electric Co-op. Funds are donated by members of Big Bend Electric Co-op who allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar, with the change allocated to Caring Neighbors. A five-member volunteer board reviews applications to determine award amounts quarterly. Local non-profit groups and municipalities can apply for Caring Neighbors funds by contacting the cooperative office at 509 659 1700 or downloading an application from the Big Bend Electric Cooperative's website.