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Girls Inc. PNW Participant Resources

UPCOMING PARTNER EVENTS

There is so much happening in our community. Click here to see free events held by our trusted partners. Check back often – these come and go all the time!

Summer Meal Resources

Seattle Area: 

  • Highline students and anyone 18 years old and younger can get free food at any of these sites.  Youth do not need to be Highline students to participate. Registration is not required. There are no forms to fill out and no names are written down. They can just stop by any of these locations for a free meal. The meals and snacks are ready-to-eat and must be consumed on-site. During summer, people can check our website www.highlineschools.org/departments/nutrition-services for the most updated information. Also the Des Moines food bank has some summer meal sites in the district that will be listed at http://www.myfoodbank.org/meals-for-kids.html. To find all sites offering free meals, families can text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304, visit www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids or FreeSummerMeals.org, or call 1-866-348-6479 or en Español 1-877-842-6273.

Portland Metro Area: 

Southwest Washington:  

  • Share Summer Meals: Meals are offered for kids and teens 18 years old or younger from June 26 through August 11. To find the site closest to you, you can also text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304.
  • Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Washington: Breakfasts and lunches for kids and teens 18 years old or younger from June 26 through August 18 at several school locations. Visit the BGC website for more information. Fresh Food Pantry at JPCC in front of the Free Clinic of SW Washington. June 1 and 15, July 6 and 20, August 3 and 17 and September 7 and 21 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Food pantries: Food pantry locations around Clark County; dates and times vary.

Other Resources

  • The Kaiser Permanente Health Equity Scholars Program Application is now open and closes on February 8, 2023, 5:00 PM PT! The Kaiser Permanente Health Equity Scholars Program is designed to assist students planning to pursue a career in the healthcare industry. Students must have a demonstrated interest in pursuing a clinical (e.g., pharmacist, physician, practitioner, nurse) or non-clinical (e.g., accounting, business administration, human resources, marketing, public policy) career in healthcare. Click HERE to apply!
  • Do you feel driven to make a #globalimpact? Do you thrive while working with teams of young #Changemakers who share your vision to achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Developments Goals by #2030? UNITE 2030 welcomes you to apply for Camp2030, their 6-day hackathon-style innovation lab, which will be held in New York in September 2023! For six days, you will meet, mingle and connect with 200+ Changemakers worldwide while co-creating solutions for your chosen SDG Track. Applications are open now through February 3, 2023. Acceptances are rolling, so apply soon!
    Learn more and apply here:  https://bit.ly/3ixASTM.  Email camp2030@unite2030.com if you have any questions.
  • The 2023 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar (HSF) Program Application is now open and closes on February 15, 2023, 5:00 PM PT. Every year, HSF selects 10,000 outstanding students as HSF Scholars from a broad and talented pool of applicants.HSF empowers students and parents with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education while providing support services and scholarships to as many exceptional students, HSF Scholars, and Alumni as possible. Click HERE to apply!
  • Archewell Foundation has partnered with VING Project, a national giving movement, to spread the joy of giving by inviting young people to become philanthropists in their own lives. We’ll be asking young individuals between the ages of 14 and 18 years old to help us give away $1,000,000 in the form of $1,000 grants by nominating a woman in their life who is experiencing financial hardship and in need of a boost. This project really believes in trusting young people and giving them the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life. More details can be found here and the nominating form is here. Also sharing social assets here!
  • The Oregon Health Authority is looking for youth aged 15-20 who have been a student in a Public School in Oregon to be a part of their Youth Data Council. The Youth Data Council (YDC) started in March 2022 as a way for youth to tell the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) how to improve the Student Health Survey. The Youth Data Council meets from late October 2022 through April 2023 with a winter break. Each Council member spends about 4 hours a month on a mix of group meetings and independent work for the Council. YDC members sign up for a team workgroup focused on a special project to improve the Student Health Survey. Youth Data Council members are compensated in gift cards for sharing their time, knowledge, and experience with OHA and ODE. Council members dedicate about 4 hours every month to the YDC and receive a $100 non-taxable gift card each month for their participation. Click HERE to find out more and how to fill out an application.
  • COVID SUPPORT: We understand that COVID-19 guidance is changing quickly, and that can cause anxiety and emotional distress. Not everyone has an immediate support system around them. If you’d like to find mental health resources, visit our website for information about crisis support hotlines, including for mental health and youth, as well as contact information for local mental health programs throughout Oregon, listed by county.
  • Calling all seniors! The Oregon Promise Grant is now open! In order to be eligible you must 1) graduate from Oregon high school or receive GED 2) cumulative GPS is 2.5 or higher 3) plan to attend an Oregon community college within 6 months after graduation 4) be an Oregon resident at least 12 months prior to starting community college. It’s super quick – apply today!
  • The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s Best Buy Teen Tech Center is open! Entry to the Teen Tech Center is FREE (no museum admission required). If you’re between 13-18 years old and are interested in playing with some multimedia technology-focused materials, stop on by. It will be open Tuesday-Friday from 2:30-6:00 and Saturdays from 10:00-5:00.
  • It is scholarship season! Both The Ford Family Foundation (tfff.org/scholarships ) and the OSAC Common Scholarship Application (https://oregonstudentaid.gov ) are open, as are many other local and national scholarships. For support locating and applying for scholarships, set up an appointment with Jenn from The College Place. https://calendly.com/tcporegon/appointments
  • Every year the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation gives grants to organizations and programs that align with the needs of the community – arts and creativity, education and mentorship, and health and well-being. And they want to hear from you! – share and highlight current issues that impact your daily lives, which will ultimately inform who they give to. Interested? Apply here to join their Youth Advisory Board. For more information on the opportunity, click here. 

 

mental health and sexual violence resources
Mental Health Services
National Suicide Prevention Line: If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7. Call the national mental health crisis hotline at 988 for free and confidential support 24/7.
Additional Numbers:
  • 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • Text 273TALK to 839863
  • Spanish: 1-888-628-9454
Trevor Project for LGBTQIA Youth: The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning youth.
  • Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386 – Available 24/7/365
  • Trevor Text: Text START to 678678 – Available Monday to Friday, Noon to 7 pm

Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis. They offer free, 24/7 support and information by text.

  • Text OREGON to 741741

A live, trained counselor gets the text and responds, all from a secure online platform. The volunteer crisis counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.

The Youth Line is a free, confidential teen-to-teen crisis and help line. You can call or text, or chat online. Teens are available daily from 4 to 10 pm (adults are available by phone at all other times).

  • Call 877-968-7491
  • Text teen2teen to 839863

NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. NAMI has a free helpline.

  • Call the NAMI Helpline 800-950-6264
  • Text NAMI to 741741
Mental Health Resources
Sexual Violence

If you are experiencing sexual assault, dating violence or domestic violence or abuse, get help at:

SafeOregon gives kids, parents, schools and communities a way to report safety threats or potential acts of violence. Check to see if your school is signed up and if not, tell them to contact SafeOregon to enroll.

People can send tips by email, phone, text, a mobile app or a web portal.

  • Call or text: 844-472-3367

 

EMERGENCY BROADBAND BENEFIT (EBB) PROGRAM

The Federal Communications Commission launched a temporary program to help families and households get connected to the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.

  • Starting MAY 12th eligible households can enroll using any of the following options:
    • Online
    • By mail with a paper application
    • By contacting a local participating internet service provider (for an initial list of local service providers see below)
  • To learn more about the discount program including eligibility and enrollment information, contact any one of the following local partners who are here to help:
    • Multnomah County Library: (503) 988-5123
    • Call 2-1-1 (or 1-866-698-6155), or TEXT your zip code to 898211 (TXT211) or email help@211info.org) – 211 Info is a local non-profit that provides callers with referrals to basic needs programs such as food, shelter, health care, and now EBB information
    • Call 3-1-1 – the City of Portland’s 311 Customer Service line provides community access to local government information and services, and now EBB information
    • Visit the City of Portland website
  • Initial List of Local Participating Internet Service Providers:
    • Comcast Xfinity: 1-800-934-6489 (wireline)
    • Comcast Internet Essentials: 1-855-846-8376 (wireline)
    • Ziply Fiber: 1-866-699-4759 (wireline)
    • AT&T: 1-800-331-0500 (wireless)
    • Human-I-T (using Sprint/T-Mobile network): 1-888-391-7249 (wireless)
    • T-Mobile: 1-800-866-2453 (wireless)
    • Verizon: 1-800-922-0204 (wireless)

 

AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM 
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more.
The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
Who Is Eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
Participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
Participates in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision;
Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income internet program.
Two Steps to Enroll
1. Go to ACPBenefit.org to submit an application or print out a mail-in application.
2. Contact your preferred participating provider to select a plan and have the discount applied to your bill.
NEED HELP WITH COLLEGE-ING?

Check out these Opportunity Books — available to the public in PDF form.

The College Place offers free specialized support to guide you throughout high school to get you ready for college! This includes FAFSA help, notifying you about scholarship opportunities, and more. Sign up here.

Check out “How to Pay for College” in English and in Spanish from the folks at The College Place

 

FREE FOOD PANTRIES

Multnomah County community food resources.

Food Access in Washington 

 

FREE TRANSIT TO COVID VACCINATION SITES

Are you having trouble getting to your COVID-19 vaccination clinic? Trimet and Oregon Health Authority are partnering up to provide Eurekan participants and their families with free transit fares to get to the clinics! If you need this assistance, please fill out the form below and a Girls Inc. PNW staff member will follow up with you.

RESOURCES FOR GRIEVING FAMILIES

We all need a little help sometimes coping with loss and grief. Here are some resources provided free by Providence.

 

OUR STRONG, SMART, BOLD COMMUNITY

It takes a village. We couldn’t run the Eureka! program without the love and support of our partners, fellow coalition members, and the wider Strong, Smart, Bold STEM community. Check out what else is going on.