“There are so many needs beyond what health insurance covers,” said Susan Stearns, CEO of Pink Lemonade Project, a Vancouver nonprofit that seeks to educate, empower and support people affected by breast cancer.
A breast cancer survivor herself, Stearns knows those types of “beyond health insurance” needs intimately.
“Feeding children and getting kids to school, paying rent or utilities, lymphedema sleeves — compression garments — for swelling in the arms, groceries, wigs, supplements recommended by doctors for foot neuropathy … paying for child care when you need to go to radiation treatment … all of these financial needs impact quality of life,” Stearns said.
That’s where the Pink Lemonade Project’s Pink Practicalities program comes in.
“Pink Practicalities offers cash assistance or some financial support for the needs not covered by health insurance,” Stearns explained. “Pink Practicalities can make an immediate difference around financial stress.”
The Pink Practicalities program was one of the Camas-Washougal Community Chest’s new grant recipients. It was one of 28 nonprofit programs helped by the Community Chest and its Camas-Washougal Rotary Foundation partner this year.
Together, the Community Chest and Rotary Foundation funded a total of $127,671 in grants this year, including three new grants — the $4,000 Pink Practicalities received, as well as a grant that helped foster children and youth from low-income families afford the Washougal-based Lunchmoney Indoor Skatepark; a grant for the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society in Washougal that established a pet food pantry and emergency veterinary care fund to help people care for their pets during times of hardship; and “Campership Awards” to local Boy Scouts of America troops to help families in need send their children to summer Scouts camps.
Since 2016, the Community Chest has awarded nearly $500,000 in grants to 34 local nonprofits.
To meet its 2022 campaign goals, the Community Chest is seeking at least $125,000 in donations from businesses and individuals in Camas and Washougal.
“Giving to the Community Chest is an easy and efficient way to help people in need in our hometown,” Community Chest President Joelle Scheldorf said.
Local nonprofits that benefit Camas-Washougal residents through education, youth activities, aid to people with special needs, natural resource conservation, health and welfare programs, crisis and emergency services, and/or equity, diversity and inclusion services can apply for grant funding through Dec. 15. Applicants will find out if they have been funded — and at what level — in March 2022. Applications for 2022 grants are available at the Community Chest’s website at camaswashougalcommunitychest.org.
In 2021, 97 percent of all Community Chest donations went back into the Camas-Washougal community. To donate to the all-volunteer, nonprofit Community Chest, visit camaswashougalcommunitychest.org/donate. All donations to the Community Chest are tax-deductible.
