The Philomath Youth Activities Club, Philomath School District, Philomath Community Library and Strengthening Rural Families are among those collaborating on a rural child care health and nutrition education and activities project that will receive grant money from Samaritan Health Services.
Samaritan has partnered with other local nonprofits for years to address unmet health and medical needs of underserved populations through its Social Accountability grants.
For the next cycle of grant funding, Samaritan will award close to $1 million to support nonprofits in Benton, Linn and Lincoln counties. The new funding process required collaborations among organizations and would be for three years.
“While reviewing grant applications this year, committee members commented on the huge need for services in our communities,” said JoAnn Miller, director of Community Health Promotion, who oversees the grant process. ”They expressed appreciation for the nonprofits that create programs to provide much-needed assistance to those in need.”
The Social Accountability committees representing Samaritan’s five hospitals selected 11 projects to support with $707,589 in grant funding. The committees also decided to continue their financial support of other local nonprofits, in the amount of $245,000.
The total Social Accountability funding to be disbursed over the 30 months between this July and December 2026 is $952,589 and is dependent upon Samaritan’s financial status in 2024 and 2025.
Following is the full list of Benton County projects receiving grant funding:
• Rural child care health/nutrition education and activities — Philomath Youth Activities Club, OSU-Moore Family Center, Philomath School District, Philomath Community Library, Corvallis Parks and Recreation, Old Mill Center, Strengthening Rural Families.
• After-school enrichment — Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis, Corvallis School District and Linn Benton Food Share.
• Food for families — Corvallis Environmental Center, Corvallis Parks and Recreation, South Corvallis Food Bank.
• Hot meals for vulnerable individuals, sheltered and unsheltered — Stone Soup Corvallis Inc., Unity Shelter and Linn Benton Food Share.
• Emergency financial and sustainability support for vulnerable Benton County citizens — We Care and Casa Latinos Unidos.
• HELP Employment Workshare Project — Corvallis Daytime Drop-In Center and Vina Moses.
Additional continued support will go to the Benton County Oral Health Coalition (Benton County Health Department, Love INC and Strengthening Rural Families).