Home Grantee Stories Grantee Archive The Coquille Tribal Community Fund supports a broad spectrum of organizations and projects. Here are a few of our recent grantees. For the last three years of grantees, including our 2008 grantees, click here. Tenmile, Coos and Coquille STEP (Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program )  Among the many public projects funded by the CTCF, few have the cultural significance of the Coos County STEP. Coquille history, culture and tradition are tightly linked to the annual migratory habits of the Salmon. Thus, the denigration and destruction of stream habitat and the decimation of fish populations weigh heavily on Tribal life as well as the lives of so many residents and visitors of the Pacific Northwest. Programs like the Morgan Creek Hatchery are making great strides to reverse these conditions. The Community Fund awarded two major grants to Coos County STEP for their Morgan Creek Hatchery; $65,000 in 2006 and $48,000 in 2008. With these funds, STEP completed a classroom/meeting building as well as a spawning facility. Every year, thousands of students visit the Morgan Creek Hatchery to learn about the importance of Salmon. They learn by getting wet and clipping fins and netting adult fish out of the raceway for spawning. The experience is unique, immediate, and unforgettable. Students are brought in from as far as California to participate—adults join in as well. Many members of our Tribe have visited Morgan Creek and have come away with a new understanding of the salmon’s life cycle and impact on the environment, along with a sense of pride that we have helped make the program even stronger. Marshfield Sun Printing Museum  The Marshfield Sun newspaper started in 1891 and stopped publication in 1944 upon the death of the sole editor, Jesse Luse. Everything sits as it did on the day he fell ill – down to the tray of type he was arranging for the next issue. After sitting virtually untouched for 30 years, the five-sided building located at 1049 North Front St. was purchased by the City of Coos Bay to be overseen by the Marshfield Sun Association in 1975. This museum is truly a journey back in time – vastly removed from today’s world of instant information. It holds a wealth of local history and is endlessly fascinating for anyone who loves history, antiques or industrial design. They received their first CTCF Grant in 2006, which allowed them to archive all the existing editions of the newspaper. With their modest grant in 2009, The Museum was able to install UV protection on all of the windows to help preserve this community gem and its contents. Residents should be required to visit this amazing place, which is a must-see attraction for visitors. Coos Bay Police Department  Police work is never easy, but the proper tools can help. With their 2009 grant, the Coos Bay Police Department was able to purchase 13 Mobile Computer Terminals (MCT’s) for their patrol cars. These unassuming laptops are the officer’s link to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), and the Law Enforcement Data Network (LEDS), as well as local agencies and each other. With this tool, an officer can access information about an individual or address and be better prepared when entering any situation. Officers also can text each other, eliminating the “broadcasting” of discussions and plans over the radio. The MCT’s can help officers find addresses more quickly as well. This grant is helping our local law enforcement officers act more efficiently and precisely, allowing them greater ability to serve their community. Coos County Animal Shelter  Opened in 1969, the Coos County Animal Shelter cares for stray, displaced, or impounded animals, primarily cats and dogs. They have worked tirelessly to reduce the euthanasia numbers in our area and have established relationships with other animal rescue organizations to achieve this goal. To make a difficult job even worse, the Shelter’s only water source was an old and deteriorating spring system that frequently left them without fresh running water. When the system was working, the quality of the water was often bad enough that the animals would refuse to drink it, leaving no other option but to purchase bottled water. Their operation was in jeopardy. With their grant, the Shelter was able to install a new well and pump system, providing them with a clean reliable water source. They are now able to focus on their mission of saving animals and placing them in permanent homes. C-CAT — (Coos County Area Transit)  The need for public transportation increases with the rise in gas prices, as well as the aging population. C-CAT operates the only public transportation service in the Bay Area and its surrounding communities. They offer call-in rides for a nominal fee and also have regular routes. By implementing new ride-tracking software purchased with their 2009 grant, C-CAT is able to more efficiently schedule pick-ups, drop-offs and regular routes in Coos Bay/North Bend and all the way to Coquille, Bandon, Charleston (including Kilkich) and Powers. Each community is color-coded (Empire, Eastside, etc.) so the dispatcher can easily discern which bus will be in the vicinity and what the best route will be. The software can even tell the dispatcher if the rider will need extra attention due to physical limitations. According to dispatchers, the new software is indispensable and has eliminated errors, and cut back on wasted time and fuel. Coquille River Lighthouse Keepers  A symbol of Bandon, and the South Coast at large, the Coquille River Lighthouse has stood at the mouth of the river for 111 years. In 2003, a group of citizens, concerned by the continuing decline of the lighthouse, decided to come together and restore the historic building to its past beauty. Through fundraising efforts, they made repairs and restored some of the exterior to its original state. The $10,000 grant they received will contribute to their efforts. Coos Bay Seventh-day Adventist Food Pantry  Supporting local food banks has become a priority for the Community Fund. With rising food costs and falling incomes, many families rely on food banks to help them through. In some areas, up to 20% of the population utilize local food banks or pantries. In 2008, grants were given to four area food banks as well as South Coast Food Share. Christian Help Food Bank in Gold Beach received $9,500, much of which was used in their “Snack Pack” program for school children. Powers Food Bank was granted $4,000; Triangle Food Box in Blachly was given $3,500; and the SDA Food Pantry received $5,000. South Coast Food Share, operated by Oregon Coast Community Action, received a $30,000 grant to aid in the construction of a new food distribution warehouse. Making sure our neighbors are fed is part of our Tribal heritage. Through the Community Fund, we continue this tradition. SHAMA House  Operated by the Mental Health Association of Southwest Oregon, SHAMA House (Self Help and Mutual Aid) offers those with mental disabilities the chance to participate and contribute to the community. With a $22,000 grant, they were able to purchase a truck which is used to collect waste vegetable oil for recycling and yard debris removal as part of their Supported Employment Program. SHAMA House provides a life changing opportunity for individuals who want to participate in their community, but often find themselves left behind. The enthusiasm of director Cathy Pennington, as well as the participants, make this a highly successful program. Over the Rainbow  Over the Rainbow, Inc. is a horse-riding program for children with special needs. Using donated horses, equipment and facilities, children have a chance to experience the unique pleasure of befriending a horse. We visited them on a drizzly day in April at a borrowed ring outside of Gold Beach. We watched several children ride around the ring, assisted by the caring and patient volunteer staff. One boy, who appeared shy and unwilling to make eye contact upon arrival, spent a few moments on a horse and became a talkative, gregarious child, laughing and telling us all about his adventures as a pirate. The transformation was astounding. He had been participating in the program for a number of years, according to his mother, and found great joy on a horse. The experience of watching him was very moving and gratifying. Even though the grant we gave them was small, it was put to very good use. Powers Volunteer Fire & EMS, Charleston Fire District, North Bay Rural Fire Protection District, Green Acres Rural Fire Protection District  With diminished budgets and disappearing funding, area Public Safety departments looked to the Coquille Tribal Community Fund for help. In 2008 we were able to offer grants to four area Fire departments. Charleston used their $10,000 grant to purchase protective firefighting gear. North Bay was able to purchase new “turn-out” gear with their $10,000. Another $10,000 grant allowed Green Acres to obtain some upgraded EMT equipment. Powers was given $15,000 for a new heart monitor. Each of these volunteer Fire Departments face the issues associated with delivering service to rural areas. It is with great satisfaction that the Community Fund is able to contribute to these Departments, as the benefit to the community is immense. For the last three years of grantees, including our 2011 grantees, click here.