LA PINE, Ore. – [October 28, 2026] – Newberry Regional Partnership (NRP) has received a $2,000 grant from First Interstate Bank to support the Newberry Country Food Project, the signature program of NRP’s Live Well La Pine Action Team. The grant will help address rising food assistance needs in southern Deschutes and northern Klamath Counties.
The project organizes community green bag collections of shelf-stable food and hygiene items that go directly to La Pine Community Kitchen, St. Vincent de Paul of La Pine, and the La Pine Community Christian Center. It is the first coordinated green bag program of its kind in the La Pine area. Participation has grown quickly, with recent collections bringing in thousands of pounds of food and hygiene items that stay in the local community.
The $2,000 will help purchase high-need items that are often under-donated (such as proteins, fresh produce, and hygiene products), support outreach, and strengthen basic coordination so each delivery better meets pantry needs.
“This support from First Interstate Bank helps us stretch community donations further at a time when demand is rising,” said Olivia Shields, Live Well La Pine Action Team Leader. “The Food Project shows the power of neighbors giving a little at a time, and this grant strengthens that effort.”
The project is part of Live Well La Pine’s work under NRP’s 2025-2030 Newberry Country Strategic Action Plan. NRP’s mission is advancing rural vitality in Newberry Country through civic engagement, community-led action, and partnerships.
About Newberry Regional Partnership
NRP is a La Pine-based nonprofit that implements the community-developed 2025-2030 Newberry Country Strategic Action Plan. Learn more at newberryregionalpartnership.org.
About Live Well La Pine
Get Nourished, Get Knowledge, Get Outside, Get Together!
Building community engagement through access to nourishment, knowledge, outdoor activities, and being together, serving southern Deschutes and Northern Klamath Counties.
