In The News

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, dedicated to breaking stigma, encouraging open conversations, and ensuring people know where to turn for help. In rural communities, access to mental health services can be limited. 988, the nationwide Suicide & Crisis Lifeline hotline can help.

Join other Klickitat County business professionals for our special forum on Workforce Childcare Needs! Wednesday, May 7th, 8:30-11:30am at the Lyle Activity Center, Lyle, Washington.
Coffee & Breakfast Buffet provided!

In the second annual Health & Wellness Family Fair being held at Rheingarten Park in White Salmon on May 16 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Skyline Health has expanded offerings to families to include more local health and wellness businesses and summer activities for youth.

An anonymous local donor has offered up to $15,000 for others to match to support the work of Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) in Skamania and Klickitat counties. The offer is open through April and can support any of the agencies’ programs.

During routine outreach for the Energy Assistance Program at local In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites along the north side of the Columbia River this fall, Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) staff confirmed there was a need to assist Native families that are not connected to traditional heating sources.

Our Klickitat Prevention Coalition is on a mission with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help communities prevent suicides. In a joint effort, the two organizations are pairing up with prevention programs, schools, and community groups to offer Suicide Prevention Training from March through May.

Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) has launched a comprehensive new initiative offering support and resources to strengthen communication, collaboration, and connections within the community.

Its new Community Connections program is kicking off by offering interpreter best practices training, an interpreter headset rental program, and immigration resources.

Effective February 22, 2025, Second Hand Rose WAGAP’s community thrift store will close for renovations. The reopening date is undetermined, but staff is hopeful the renovations will cause minimal disruptions.

Klickitat County Childcare Committee (KCCC) is conducting a short survey for local employers and businesses to determine if the lack of childcare affects business operations and profitability in rural Klickitat County.

Last September, she helped WAGAP start a free Zumba class on Fridays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Mt. View Grange in White Salmon and hoped people would come. The first night, WAGAP offered a $10 gift card promotion. What started with six people at that original session has grown to 16 regular weekly participants and occasionally is as high as 20.

We are excited to announce the relocation of the Washington Gorge Action Programs Community Youth Center to a new space at Rheingarten Park connected to the White Salmon Valley School District Office. This is often called the “Park Building” and is located at 170 NW Washington St. in White Salmon.

Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is adjusting routes for its Mobile Food Bank to work within its budget for 2025. As a result, stops in Mill A and Lyle will be ending soon.

A letter from WAGAP Executive Director Jennifer Pauletto. Reflecting on 2024 at Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP), I am filled with immense gratitude and pride for all the WAGAP team has accomplished this year. Our collective strength, commitment, and collaboration have ensured that our agency evolves to meet the ever-changing needs of our community, even in the face of challenges.

This year, the Tree of Joy is reaching 108 children in Eastern Klickitat County, 194 in Western Klickitat County, and six in Skamania County. “It’s such an amazing thing to see the community come together to help support families in need,” said Kristi Packer, a WAGAP housing program coordinator from Goldendale.

There will be no Stevenson emergency warming shelter this winter due to minimal use over the past few years. Skamania County Homeless Housing Task Force and Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) have adjusted the units near the Hegewald Center to serve instead as temporary housing for families.

The WAGAP housing team is working on an alternative.

Article by Trisha Walker, Columbia Gorge News

WAGAP and the White Salmon Valley School District are also finalizing details of the lease agreement that will bring WAGAP’s free Community Youth Center to the district’s Park Center Building. The topic was one of the reports heard by the school board at its Nov. 20 meeting.

Article by Nathan Wilson, Columbia Gorge News

THE DALLES — The Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative hosted its third annual Housing Stabilization Summit Nov. 13. The first of two days focused on empathizing with houseless folks and how member organizations, like the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC), Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) and others, can more effectively meet their needs.

WAGAP was pleasantly surprised by $35,000 in early annual fundraising donations this month presented by two local banks, helping the Community Action Agency jump-start its end-of-year fundraising campaign.

Spanish-speaking individuals and families are invited to Henkle Middle School in White Salmon on Monday, November 18, at 5:30 p.m. for a Financial Wellness Fair conducted entirely in Spanish.

CLICK FOR FLYER

WAGAP hopes to reach 300 children from families in need this holiday season through the Tree of Joy program that provides essential winter items like cold weather coats, clothing, hats, gloves, and boots, with a special gift item or toy that brightens a child’s holiday season. Won’t you join us?!

Community members and leaders will have an opportunity to experience what it may be like to be houseless as part of this year’s Housing Stabilization Summit put on by Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative (MCHC). The two-day event, held November 13 and 14 at the Civic Auditorium in The Dalles, will include training for local partners who support the houseless community and a chance for local and regional leaders to immerse themselves in the Day in the Life experience.

Four new childcare providers have opened their doors in Klickitat County in the past two years, and one more is nearing approval with the help of the Klickitat County Childcare Committee (KCCC). These small businesses operate out of the homes of newly licensed providers, providing parents with an essential service. Photo submitted by Sharon Mason of Daisy Daycare

Joanna Turner is inspired to help young people. Turner reflected on the impact CultureSeed has had on her family and youth involved with Our Klickitat. "CultureSeed has cultivated a sense of community for the youth that they haven’t been able to find anywhere else. It's given them a sense of belonging that they need to be successful and to feel hope. It’s really beautiful.”

Community members are invited to contribute to a Community Voting Zine, a unique project to capture the stories, reflections, and artwork of local individuals around the themes of voting, health equity, and civic engagement. Submissions are open through Friday, October 4, 2024.

AniChe Cellars has introduced a new twist to the annual fundraiser that supports the Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) Food Bank Network. This year, instead of one larger concert, the winery is holding two more intimate events on its grounds in Underwood, Washington. 

Each year, PFPL brings awareness to the dynamics of Domestic Violence throughout October, which is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year, in collaboration with Soroptimist International of Mt. Adams (SIMA), the team has several activities planned using the color purple to honor the prevention efforts against domestic violence.

Beginning October 1, 2024 at 8:00 a.m., Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) will begin taking calls to schedule appointments for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for low-income residents in Skamania and Klickitat counties who need assistance paying their heating bills. Energy Assistance application events for seniors aged 60 and over will be held at local senior centers beginning October 24, 2024. Read more for details and locations.

In honor of National Voter Registration Day on September 17, Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is holding events to help community members register to vote in Klickitat and Skamania counties.

Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative (MCHC) partners are helping the Red Cross assist vulnerable community members throughout the Gorge during wildfire season. This is in addition to sharing resources of ongoing efforts to keep the houseless community safe throughout the year.

Photo by Joanne Francis on Unsplash

El Grito will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month on the Washington side of the Gorge on Sunday, September 15, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Rhinegarten Park in White Salmon. Admission is free, and the event is open to all.