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Community Action’s 50th Anniversary Marks Decades of Serving Low-income Families

Indira Yagle, a former Community Action client, displays her Build-A-Bear to be adopted by a Gala guest to benefit Community Action’s Hillsboro Family Shelter residents.

Hillsboro, April 30th, 2015. Community Action of Washington County held its 50th Anniversary Gala and Indira Yagle, a former Community Action client, showed off her Build-A-Bear to be adopted to benefit Community Action’s Hillsboro Family Shelter residents. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus) Community Action leads the way to eliminate conditions of poverty and create opportunities for people and communities to thrive. Chaired by Jason Yamamoto, the event drew 400 guests and raised a record $280,000, including a $100,000 Challenge Gift by Jim and Shirley Johnson, to support low-income families seeking a path to stability.

Community Action Emeritus Board Members, recognized for their dedicated support of the organization’s work both during and following their board service. L to R: Rob Drake, Craig Kinnie, Kevin Aguirre, Leroy Bentley, Margaret Eickmann, Dick Stenson, Cindy Hirst, Sherry Robinson, Ralph Brown, Executive Director Jerralynn Ness, Board Members Leda Garside and Richard Odell. Not pictured: Mayor Lou Ogden, Shirley Huffman

Jerralynn Ness, Executive Director, Community Action (L) celebrates the organization’s 50th anniversary with former Executive Director, Carla Shafer.

For over 50 years, Community Action has been offering hope, help and change for families in transition. Community Action programs promote the birth of healthy babies, reduce the potential for child abuse and neglect, increase children’s chances for success in school, and improve the quality and accessibility of child care.

Community Action offers the following programs to assist eligible residents of Washington County. Click a link or call to find out about service details, availability, eligibility criteria and more.

Housing & Homeless Services

Addressing housing crisis situations by providing emergency shelter and short-term rent assistance
Phone: 503.640.3263
Energy Assistance

Offering financial support for household energy costs
Phone: 503.615.0771
Email: energy@caowash.org
Emergency Rent Assistance

Providing limited funding to help prevent homelessness
Phone: 503.615.0770
Energy Conservation

Helping families lower utility bills and improve household energy efficiency
Phone: 503.906.6550
Email: weatherization@caowash.org
Head Start & Early Head Start

Promoting school readiness with programs for children from infancy to age five
Phone: 503.693.3262
Email: headstart@caowash.org
Child Care Resource & Referral

Connecting families with child care providers in Washington & Columbia counties
Phone: 971.223.6100 or 800.624.9516
Email: ccrr@caowash.org
Prenatal & Parenting Support – Opening Doors

Helping women connect to healthy baby services during and after pregnancy
Phone: 503.517.3198
Email: openingdoors@caowash.org
211 Info – FIND Help Information & Referral

Offering comprehensive health and human service resources online and by phone
Phone: 2-1-1 or 866.698.6155
Email: findcontact@caowash.org

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.