North Wasco County School District is strengthening its student support services through a new partnership with The Next Door. It’s no secret, that school systems across the nation are still grappling with the post-covid world and the continued ramifications on our youth.

Like many who immigrated to the United States, Guillermo left Mexico in search of a better life for himself and his family. Given his dire circumstances, there wasn't time to obtain the resources needed to cross the border legally and Guillermo had to leave his wife and three children behind.

Jackson lived a very successful life in White Salmon, Washington as a father, husband, and business owner of a well-established fishing business. But Jackson felt like he still had room in his life to support someone in need.

When Alex was 12, he made a mistake that would change his life forever. Convicted of a crime, he was sentenced to three years at a youth correctional facility hundreds of miles from his home where he felt lost, alone, and afraid. However, fate had a different plan in store for Alex.

Natalia’s life was on track to becoming everything she’d hoped for. She was happily married, living in Hood River with her new husband and kids, and had another baby on the way. Little did she know, her entire world would soon come crashing down around her.  

Gorge Youth Mentoring, also known as GYM, is a community-based program of The Next Door Inc. (TNDI) serving Wasco, Hood River, and Klickitat Counties. GYM pairs local youth, or mentees, ages 6-21 in need of positive role modeling with an adult volunteer mentor based on similar interests, personalities, and needs.

For the last several months, The Next Door Inc.’s (TNDI) Marketing and Development team has been working on redesigning our organization’s website. The team embarked on this much-needed project at the end of Summer 2023 to rethink the structure of our site and improve its accessibility to the people we serve, our partners, and our community.

As 2023 comes to a close, The Next Door Inc. (TNDI) is thrilled to announce Lars Reierson as the recipient of our Philanthropist of the Year award! This recognition celebrates Lars’ exceptional generosity, significant community involvement, and outstanding philanthropic impact on The Next Door and the Gorge communities we serve. 

Esperanza came to the United States as a young child and was eventually granted temporary permission to live and work legally in the US through the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Every two years, she's required to renew her DACA application to maintain her eligibility. And every renewal period, she faces several financial burdens.  

In Oregon, there are 5,386 kids in the foster care system and counting. Despite such a tremendous need for foster homes, there is an ongoing shortage of foster families in our communities, our state, and nationwide. This year, The Next Door, Inc. (TNDI) has returned to our roots and stepped up to fill our local need by purchasing a home in The Dalles to provide a safe, nurturing home for displaced youth.

One step at a time is how Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is ensuring a deliberate and thorough approach to its dedicated Equity and Inclusion program. Sasha Bentley is leading the charge as the new Equity and Inclusion director. She is working from the inside out, starting with bringing people together in an equitable and safe work environment.

As the winter months quickly approach, Insitu, Washington Gorge Action Programs, and The Next Door Inc. are teaming up to host a coat drive for local area youth and we need our community’s help! Now through February, you can donate new or like-new outerwear ranging in all sizes from toddlers to teens, with an urgent need for coats and boots for older kids from 12-18 years of age. 

Start your holiday off the right way and join Columbia Gorge Toyota and Honda’s Third Annual Turkey Trot Benefit Run in support of The Next Door, Inc.! Not up for running? No problem! Participants are welcome to run, walk, or trot their way through this all-ages, family-friendly event on Thanksgiving morning.

At the heart of The Next Door, Inc. (TNDI) is our Therapeutic Schooling program. Our two alternative schools in Hood River and The Dalles are staffed by incredible, empathetic, and hard-working educators, led by a phenomenal School Administrator, who collectively make the success of our therapeutic schooling program possible.

The Next Door Inc. (TNDI) is excited to invite the community to our upcoming Open House for Youth Services at our Drop-In Center located at 1113 Kelly Avenue in The Dalles! Join us on Monday, September 25th from 5-7 p.m. to learn more about TNDI’s programs and services offered to local area youth including community-based mentoring, outreach in schools, life skills training, native supports, and more.

On Friday, September 15th, 2023, Dutch Bros in Hood River and The Dalles will donate $1 for every drink sold to The Next Door Inc. as part of their Buck for Kids Day fundraiser! Each year, Dutch Bros Coffee franchises hand-select one local organization committed to supporting youth as one of the ways the beloved coffee chain gives back to their communities.

This investment reflects our continued commitment to supporting children and families in the Gorge and improving the communities we serve. The new home’s purchase also allows us to expand our capacity to care for youth in need by providing a safe and nurturing home, staffed by dedicated professionals.

Gorge Youth Mentoring provides youth ages 6 to 21 with one-to-one mentoring relationships with adult volunteers in Wasco, Hood River, and Klickitat Counties. Mentors and youth plan their own activities, meeting at least twice a month for a year or more. Program staff provide consistent support for the youth and mentors, organize match events, and are available for ongoing guidance.

Thanks to Raices (the Spanish word for roots), Juan and Monika found the strong, supportive community they were looking for, with the added bonus of being able to grow their own vegetables and fruits.

The Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance, once a standalone organization, is now a program of The Next Door.