‘Stand with us’: Local nonprofits plead for community support as federal funding cuts loom
Isabella Warren
(Update: Adding video, Adding comments from executive directors, Rep. Janelle Bynum)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon nonprofits MountainStar Family Relief Nursery and the Deschutes Children’s Foundation are sounding the alarm as federal funding continues to be at risk for organizations nationwide.
“We are all in agreement that we don’t want the government to waste money on things that are not doing good in our community or across the country,” said Kara Tachikawa, executive director of MountainStar. “I think the frustrating part is the people with the smallest voices are the ones that are getting affected first.”
The executive director of Deschutes Children’s Foundation, Cassi MacQueen, said Tuesday, “It has not changed for nonprofits here in Central Oregon. We are continuing to see high needs of our population, growing concerns – and less funding.”
Both nonprofits serve more than 30,000 people in Central Oregon.
They say they are experiencing the impacts, as federal funding and contracts are paused or cut as part of President Trump’s commitment to cut spending.
“We want to use our voice together to let the community know that we are here,” Tachikawa said. “We are the same groups that you have been trusting for years and years, and we are still doing good in the community. So will you please stand with us?”
The message comes as nonprofits like Shepherd’s House Ministries and NeighborImpact are cutting back on services.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would cut more than $1 billion in funding for local food banks and schools. For Central Oregon’s NeighborImpact, that means a 17% reduction in its food supply, amounting to more than half a million pounds of food, with the largest cuts in milk, cheese and meat.
And President Trump’s proposed budget could see cuts to SNAP benefits and Medicaid. Oregon District 5 Representative Janelle Bynum has been against the bill from the start.
“It’s a trash bill – let’s call it what it is,” Bynum told KTVZ News. “We’ve elevated the issues. We’re explaining it in plain English, and then we’re putting pressure on our Republican colleagues to stand up, wave their hand, have some sort of courage, and to recognize when their districts are in trouble, too.”
We reached out to District 2 Rep. Cliff Bentz, but he was unavailable for comment.
Both nonprofits warn of the impacts on the community if funding cuts continue.
Macqueen said, “While we are a small community, our nonprofits are robust, and they’re providing critical, life-saving, wraparound services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And so making sure that folks know that if nonprofits don’t exist, these services don’t exist.”
Below is the joint release:
DCF-MtStar Joint Release 6.5.25 Setting the Record StraightDownload