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OHSU Knight Cancer Institute awards $200,000+ to COVID-related projects around the state

Community Partnership Program funding will support food insecurity, COVID-19 outreach, technology to promote social distancing guidelines, more
By Amanda Gibbs October 20, 2020 Portland, Oregon
A white woman in a protective face mask and cap holds a basket of green onions in front of a Gorge Grown van where various other vegetables are on display.
Gorge Grown Food Network staff member Kiah Powell-Francis prepares vegetables for delivery to low income Latinx and Native American families during the pandemic. The organizations has received a grant from the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Community Partnership Program for more than $14,000 to support their efforts. (Gorge Grown Food Network)

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute’s Community Partnership Program has temporarily shifted its focus from cancer to COVID.

The program put out a “special call” to fund urgent local community projects related to three priority areas: the impact of COVID-19 and its intersection with cancer, the impact of COVID-19 in relation to social determinants of health, and the impact of COVID-19 on populations and communities disproportionally affected by the virus.

Close-cropped shot of a torso in a Gorge Grown sweatshirt holding a basket filled with lettuce, radishes, pears, apples, and mushrooms.
A Gorge Grown Food Network employee prepares a basket of fresh fruits and vegetables for delivery to low income Latinx and Native American families during the pandemic. The organization has received a grant from the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Community Partnership Program for more than $14,000 to support their efforts. (Gorge Grown Food Network)

Today, the program is announcing a total of $204,018 in funding to support 14 projects across Oregon to address those needs.  

“The Community Partnership Program is grounded in funding cancer-related needs in Oregon, but since our communities are facing an unprecedented time right now, we felt it was important to pivot our funding toward addressing needs related to COVID-19,” says Kerri Winters-Stone, Ph.D., co-director of the Knight Cancer Institute Community Partnership Program. “The funding proposals we received were incredibly thoughtful, resourceful and responsive to communities’ immediate needs.”

Improving access to care, language services and fresh foods

Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria received a grant focused on improving virtual access to care for patients.

A dark-haired white woman (left) and light-haired white woman (right) put items into a cardboard box.
Kelley Crusius, MSN, FNP-C, and Mari Montesano, LCSW, pack care packages to be delivered to Columbia Memorial Hospital cancer patients at their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Columbia Memorial Hospital)

“Over the past eight months we have seen the impact COVID-19 has had on our patients and community. Living with cancer and its treatment is stressful and at times overwhelming. The COVID-19 pandemic has added another level of uncertainty, emotional stress and fear, leaving them feeling more isolated and vulnerable,” says Amrita Desai, M.D., medical oncologist at Columbia Memorial Hospital. “This grant will help us provide connection and support to patients and family members in the comfort of their home.”

A dark-haired, masked woman sits on an exam table in a medical office; a second masked woman uses a stethoscope on the first woman's chest; a third masked woman stands in the room to interpret to and from Spanish.
Crook County Health Department Clinical Services Supervisor Joanna McCabe, DNP, FNP-C (center), and WIC Certifier and Interpreter Ruby Ruiz (right), provide services in Spanish. (Crook County Health Department)

Based in Prineville, the Crook County Health Department will use the new funds to help improve equitable and culturally responsive language services in Crook County to lessen impacts of COVID-19 on high-risk populations.

“Equity and cultural responsiveness are foundational to the work we do in public health. This project will allow us to expand and improve language services in ways that will help mitigate the many challenging effects of COVID-19 in our community,” says Katie Plumb, deputy director, Crook County Health Department.

With a goal to build an “inclusive and resilient food system that improves the health and well-being of our community,” Gorge Grown Food Network will use the Community Partnership Program funding to expand their “Veggie Rx” program in support of quarantined, food insecure families in the Hood River area.

A masked white woman in a grey cardigan stands over an outdoor table of vegetables, packing them for delivery.
Gorge Grown Food Network employee Kiara Kashuba prepares vegetables for delivery to low income Latinx and Native American families during the pandemic. The organization has received a grant from the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Community Partnership Program for more than $14,000 to support their efforts. (Gorge Grown Food Network)

All organizations receiving funding in this special call include:

  • Adelante Mujeres
  • Columbia Gorge Postpartum Support
  • Columbia Memorial Hospital
  • Crook County Health Department
  • Douglas Public Health Network
  • Friends of Zenger Farm
  • Gorge Grown Food Network
  • Native American Youth and Family Center
  • Northwest Sarcoma Foundation
  • Oregon Cancer Foundation
  • Oregon Food Bank
  • St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church
  • Tillamook County Community Health Centers
  • Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center & Foundation

The Community Partnership Program has invested more than $3.8 million in more than 140 projects across the state since 2014. Learn more about the special call for COVID grants.

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