Pa Xiong and Khou Vue receive a grant for the Hmong Cultural Center of Del Norte's Christmas Wishes program. Photo: Courtesy of Scott Graves

The Wild Rivers Community Foundation awarded $22,000 to 29 nonprofits that provide services to children, the elderly and low-income families during the holidays:

Wild Rivers Community Foundation presents $22,000 in holiday grants

Wild Rivers Community Foundation awarded $22,000 in grants Wednesday to 29 nonprofit organizations, agencies and churches that provide thousands of children and adults in Curry and Del Norte counties with much-needed food, clothing, gifts, companionship and other services.

“This is a celebration of all of you and the hope you give those in our communities who really need it,” said WRCF Director Gina Zottola before a packed room of 60-plus people gathered for the Holiday Partnership ceremony at Howenquet Hall in Smith River.

This is the twelfth year that WRCF has awarded holiday grants ranging from $250 to $2,000. The grants — funded by donations from family trusts, foundations, businesses and individuals —  support programs that provide children with winter coats or Christmas presents, and holiday food for hungry families. The grants are also used for warm clothes for struggling veterans and the homeless, and support services for abused or neglected children.

“We are so amazed by the generosity of the community and happy to be a part of it,” said Kelly Schellong, of Bicoastal Media, which hosts the annual Coats for Kids campaign. “Last year, we used this money to provide coats to 1,407 kids in Curry and Del Norte counties.”

Roger Gilbert, of the Brookings Presbyterian Church, said the grant will be used to cover some of the costs associated with providing a free Thanksgiving meal to needy residents via the Community Kitchen program operated by five churches in Brookings. 

“It’s all about eliminating hunger in our community, and on Thanksgiving we were able to provide more than 100 hot meals,” he said.

Daphne Cortese, of the new nonprofit Del Norte Mission Possible, will use the money to provide essential supplies to homeless people. “I’m going to let them know that this money is from the community, to let them know that they have value. They are valued. This is going to do more than buy socks, it’s going to build bridges.”

Zottola thanked WRCF’s donors who provide the grant funding. “Tonight wouldn’t be possible — we wouldn’t have this pool of resources — if not for our community partners. Last year, the grants blessed the lives of more than 7,000 people. It’s proof that, collectively, we can move the needle. We can affect change in our communities.”

This year’s donors include the Brattain Family Trust; the Dale & Jo Ann Thomas Charitable Fund; the John G. Atkins Foundation; Pacific Power; Patricia D. & William B. Smullin Foundation; St. Joseph’s Health System Humboldt; South Fork/Big Flat Endowment Fund; R. Baird & Jane Rumiano Family Fund; Gordon Elwood Foundation, The California Endowment and WRCF.

The Wild Rivers Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Humboldt Area Foundation and serves Del Norte and Curry counties. For more information, call 707-465-1238 or 541-412-6277 or visit wildriverscf.org.

2019 HOLIDAY PARTNERSHIP RECIPIENTS:

Brookings Elks Lodge #1934: Christmas food baskets

Bicoastal Media, Brookings/Crescent City: Coast for Kids

Brookings Harbor Community Helpers, Inc.: Snack pack program

Brookings Harbor High School: Youth Transition Program

Brookings Presbyterian Church: Thanksgiving celebration

California Tribal Tanf Partnership, Crescent City: Winter holiday program

CASA of Del Norte, Crescent City: Holiday gift giving

Brookings Church of the Nazarene: Family Thanksgiving Basket project

Central Curry School District, Gold Beach: Holiday Break Food Assistance

The Common Good, Inc, Port Orford: Holiday baskets

Christian Help of Gold Beach: holiday food and gift baskets

Curry Fair Friends, Gold Beach: Annual Christmas dinner

First Baptist Church of Crescent City: Giving Tree program

Family Resource Center of the Redwoods, Crescent City: Winter Break meal program

Hmong Cultural Center of Del Norte, Crescent City: Christmas Wishes program

Marine Corps League Det. #578, Brookings: Toys for Tots program

Oasis Shelter Home, Gold Beach: Holiday Giving program

Our Daily Bread Ministries, Crescent City: Joy of Giving program

Rural Human Services, Crescent City: Santa’s Workshop

St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Gold Beach: Kids Mall program

Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Brookings: Community Kitchen

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #966, Brookings: Veterans Holiday Cheer program

Del Norte Community Health Center, Crescent City: Adopt a Family program

Del Norte High School Interact Club: senior citizens support program

Del Norte Mission Possible, Crescent City: support for homeless

Gasquet Mountain School PTO: annual community feast

NeighborhoodWorks Umpqua, Curry County: Holiday Blessings program

Redwood Family Worship Center, Crescent City: Home Missions program

Tolowa Dee-ni Nation, Smith River: Tribal TANF

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