Program areas at CCNO
Low-income programs: Every year, many Northeast Oregon residents struggle to make ends meet and rely on Community Connection's services to help meet their basic human needs. In addition to direct assistance to clients, we are also the Regional Food Bank for our four-county area. As such, we distribute food to fifteen food pantries and several Harvest Share and Fresh Alliance sites. We also replace unsafe furnaces, weatherize homes, and rehabilitate homes to improve living conditions and address structural concerns. In Fiscal Year 2023, thousands of people stayed warm and safe with heating assistance; we helped people, whether housed or homeless, with security deposits, rent and utility payments, motel lodging, meals, tents, sleeping bags, socks and transportation; food boxes and produce pickups eased families hunger; and people received home repair and energy efficiency information resulting in homes being improved.
Senior programs: Helping seniors live independently in their homes while providing opportunities for socialization and access to services remains the primary goal of our senior programs. When a senior citizen or their family member seeks answers, we are usually the first place they turn. Just a few hours of assistance per week often makes the difference between living independently and a move to a care facility. In fiscal year 2023 we received a donation of the Baker Senior Center. The addition and remodel are complete. There is additional office space for any potential expansion of services. Seniors received 92 phone calls to check on their health and well-being; 979 seniors and 213 volunteers enjoyed 39,782 meals from our senior centers; 745 seniors had 76,137 meals delivered to their homes; 111 frail seniors were helped with 24,278 professional caregiver hours; 49 family caregivers received 5,290 hours of respite relief; 54 seniors and their families received guidance on addressing immediate needs and planning for the future; and 4,533 recreational activities such as dances, card games, billiards, and exercise classes brought together 237 (duplicated) people.
Transportation programs: Throughout FY 23, Community Connection continued its multi-faceted transportation system. The deviated and fixed route systems in Baker City and La Grande are open to everyone as are The Link seasonal route in Wallowa County and the dial-a-ride busses in Baker and Wallowa counties. If unable to navigate the fixed route, a qualified passenger in La Grande rides the paratransit bus. Also available for any and all riders are the intercity busses from Baker City and Enterprise to our multi-modal hub in La Grande. Beyond our region, taking passengers to medical appointments in Boise, Walla Walla, and Portland is a common occurrence.