The Ripple Impact NW Giving Circle recently awarded $20,200 to four local groups focused on the needs of older adults. The grant was divided based on needs to the groups, which include Battle Ground HealthCare, A Caring Closet, CDM Caregiving Services and the Council for the Homeless.
The older adults-focused grant was the second of four Ripple Impact NW Giving Circles. The other two remaining topics for grants this year include early childhood development and history.
“Giving Circle members are ordinary citizens who learn about community issues at informative panels and then vote by consensus,” Ripple Impact NW stated in an email. “By pooling contributions, members have a greater impact on their community.”
Jeanne Kojis, with Ripple Impact NW, added that under 15 area nonprofit organizations with a focus on the needs for older adults applied for the grant.
Battle Ground HealthCare will be using the grant they received for supplies to make 30 or more dentures for uninsured or underinsured seniors who sit at or below 300% federal poverty line, Ripple Impact NW stated.
“They have a licensed dentist who makes dentures and they had been able to previously purchase the equipment to make the dentures, but they needed the actual supplies to make dentures,” Kojis said in an interview. “Now they have enough funding to make upwards of 30 pairs of dentures. … A lot of people who their overall health suffers if they have needed to have a significant number of their teeth pulled for other reasons and basically they’re on kind of a diet of apple sauce and mashed potatoes. So then giving them a pair of dentures really allows them to also improve their overall health.”
The grant awarded to A Caring Closet will help assist with moving expenses as they will be moving to a larger 4,000 square foot warehouse to accept and store their donated items. The warehouse will also better serve walk-in clients, Ripple Impact NW stated.
CDM Caregiving Services received their grant for their Living with Dignity program. The grant will assist in the purchase of critical items such as mattresses, appliances, cleaning supplies and more. Not only will the grant assist in new purchases, but the grant will allow CDM Caregiving Services to upgrade existing ramps, grab bars and even pest control that will help a senior’s home get “back on track” to livability for their needs, Ripple Impacts NW stated.
The Council for the Homeless’ grant will assist with incidental costs of people in or on the edge of being houseless. The costs may include rental application costs, replacement IDs, bus passes and other expenses that often serve as hurdles to resolve housing instability, Ripple Impact NW stated.
With the Giving Circle’s next focus on early childhood development, they will be holding a panel on Aug. 2 with the Giving Circle starting at the end of August, Kojis said. Those interested in applying for the early childhood development grant and those interested in learning more about the Giving Circles can do so by visiting RippleImpactNW.org.
