Basic Needs

One of our goals is meeting the basic needs of students—from the big things like medical, dental and vision services and mental health counseling to the little things like school supplies, bus passes and personal hygiene items. We work closely with clinics like The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington to offer low-cost services to students from low-income or uninsured families.

Enrichment Grant Awards

Each year, the Foundation dedicates money toward enrichment grants that help fund creative, inspiring projects that are beyond the district’s funding capacity. Money has gone toward greenhouses, field trip funds, technology needs, musical instruments and more. Applications for enrichment grants are available to district staff each August and are due back to the Foundation office the last working day of September.

Staff members can download a grant application here.

Emergency Checkbooks

The Foundation provides a checkbook to each building principal so that student needs at each school can be quickly met. Some of the items purchased using these checkbooks have included shoes and clothing, personal hygiene items, activity and field trip fees, backpacks and school supplies, and senior year expenses.

G.A.T.E. House

The Foundation is partnering with local businesses and the community to help fund the creation of a day-use home for students in the Gateway to Adult Transitional Education (G.A.T.E.) program. The home will be a place where G.A.T.E. students learn the necessary skills that will help them live as independently as possible. The G.A.T.E. program serves special needs students, 18 to 21 years old.

The Clothes Closet

The Clothes Closet retail store sells new and gently used low-cost clothing, while giving special education students the opportunity to learn job skills. The Foundation supports this local store by distributing vouchers to qualified parents, guardians and child advocates to redeem for free clothing at the store. The Foundation also helps supplement staff salaries. Donations of gently used clothing or housewares are accepted at The Clothes Closet.

The Clothes Closet is located at 6405 East Mill Plain Blvd.

Operation Fairy Godmother

The Foundation’s Operation Fairy Godmother program ensures every girl has a chance to go to her high school prom, even if she can’t afford a new dress. Since its debut in 2003, this program has given nearly 2,000 dresses to local students.

The Foundation works with Clark County high schools and local businesses to accept donations of new and used formals and accessories. Many dresses are donated from generous individuals in the community who bring their own dresses in to donate between January and March. The dresses are cleaned, organized and sold at a yearly spring event where every Clark County high school girl has the opportunity to purchase one for only $10. Girls who donate a dress for the event receive a coupon to get a different dress for free at the sale.

Participating high schools are issued vouchers to distribute to girls who don’t have dresses to donate or the money to purchase one.

To donate a dress or money to this program, please contact us.

Holiday Bike Drive

Each December, the Foundation partners with Portland’s Community Cycling Center to provide reconditioned bikes and new helmets to hundreds of needy Vancouver school district students.

To donate used bikes to this program that are still in good condition, please contact the Community Cycling Center.

Lunch Buddies

The Lunch Buddy program pairs adult mentors with elementary students who need a positive role model in their lives. Students in the program have been referred by their teachers, counselors or school administrators. The Foundation coordinates the program and assists in recruiting mentors for the participating schools. Mentors typically meet with their assigned lunch buddy once a week for 45 minutes. After lunch, they have time to read, play a board game or just talk with buddy.

Currently, there are eighteen Vancouver elementary schools participating in the program: Sarah J. Anderson, Eisenhower, Felida, Fruit Valley, Harney, Hazel Dell, Hough, King, Lincoln, Marshall, Minnehaha, Peter S. Ogden, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sacajawea, Salmon Creek, Truman, Walnut Grove and Washington. Lunch Buddies provide a positive influence for targeted students attending these high-needs schools. Since the need for Lunch Buddies is great, there is always a waiting list of students at each school.

Be a Buddy

Give us a call. Being a Lunch Buddy will change your life and make a positive difference in the life of a child in need. Once you complete the Washington State Patrol background check (usually within one week), you will be matched with a student.

Please join us!

If you'd like to make a positive difference in the life of a child and volunteer for this program, please contact Barbara Nordstrom at 360-313-4725 or email, barbara.nordstrom@vansd.org