Columbia Community Connection was established in 2020 as a local, honest and digital news source providing meaningful stories and articles. CCC News’ primary goal is to inform and elevate all the residents and businesses of the Mid-Columbia Region. A rising tide lifts all boats, hop in!
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What happens when people are treated for mental health conditions and then discharged but have no place to call home? In Skamania and Klickitat counties, the Community Behavioral Health Rental Assistance Program (CBRA) is in place to help people transition from care facilities back to their communities.
Ben Noble is on a mission to get people talking. His job is an important one: to get landlords and tenants to discuss matters that could potentially lead to an eviction and try to help them find common ground and resolve their issues.
Human trafficking is a global crisis. During the month of January, it is officially recognized to raise awareness in order to create change for a better world. Acknowledging and showing support during National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month helps contribute to rescuing victims, catching perpetrators, and improving the lives of survivors.
The City of Goldendale, Klickitat County, Washington Gorge Action Programs and representatives from Recovery Cafe held an in person and virtual town hall on homelessness, drugs, and mental health at the Klickitat County Services building in Goldendale in the Mt. Adams room on December 5, 2023.
With severe weather hitting the region, the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council and its partners are ensuring our most vulnerable community members can access shelters, emergency lodging, and street outreach resources.
Washington Gorge Action Programs is supplying cooling kits this summer to help people in need combat extremely hot weather. The cooling kits are replacing the emergency cooling shelter, which went unused in 2022.
As summer temperatures begin to rise, Community Action Agencies in the Gorge are preparing to assist people in need of combating life-threatening weather conditions with individual Cooling Kits delivered by Houseless Outreach Coordinators.
Reaching rural communities to support families who fight food insecurity has become a mission for Anna Henschel. This big-city Chicago resident came to Klickitat County in 2022 and has taken to rural life like a fish takes to water.
Our Klickitat Prevention Coalition is working on a five-year Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant renewal application. If awarded, it would bring $625,000 to Klickitat County in support of youth through its fiscal agent, Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP).
Food is a global issue with local impact. During the pandemic, emergency allotments helped keep households and 42 million Americans afloat by providing a 15% increase in food benefits. Now that those allotments are ending experts warn that the decrease in food benefits, climate change and international conflict will exacerbate the issues of hunger, food shortages, and food costs both locally and around the world.
Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is expanding operations of the Mobile Food Bank in Klickitat County with a new route to Roosevelt from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of the month.
The shelter will operate Thursday-Monday, check in time is from 6-8 p.m.
The pandemic has taken a toll on Second Hand Rose thrift store in Bingen, Washington.
In a surprise announcement this week, WAGAP learned that effective immediately, Second Harvest is discontinuing service to food assistance programs across rural communities in Washington.
Keeping children warm in cold weather is a goal of local winter clothing drives throughout the region. Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) partners with the efforts of Coats for Kids and Skyline Health’s Winter Outerwear Drive to keep kids safe.
Ramirez's strategy for success in life is to deal with barriers head-on. “You might be scared to do something,” she said, “but if you do it, you’ll be stronger and find better opportunities.”
Meet Jennifer Pauletto. After ten years of nonprofit service, the new associate director of Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) sees the people of the Gorge through a lens of equity
A new fiesta, El Grito, will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month on the Washington side of the Gorge on Sunday, September 18, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Rhinegarten Park in White Salmon. Admission is free, and the event is open to all.
Many in our communities struggle to access basic needs due to their undocumented status. Patty Gallardo was one of these community members. At eight years old, she was brought from Colima, Mexico, to Southern California by her mother, who was searching for a better life for her children. This is part one of one local woman’s path to empowerment.
Human trafficking exists in our own backyards, rand local law enforcement says it’s not going away anytime soon. In this story, local survivors of human trafficking share their stories and ask the community to take action to prevent modern day slavery in our communities.
