Thursday, March 28, 2024

Education, empowerment, engagement

Executive Director brings mission of OCCAC to Brewster City Council

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BREWSTER – Lael Duncan, Executive Director of the Okanogan County Community Action Council (OCCAC) appeared as a guest speaker at the regular meeting of the Brewster City Council on Wednesday, March 13, as part of OCCAC outreach to acquaint local communities with the work the organization does.

Duncan said that last May the OCCAC board revised the organization’s mission statement to read: Leading a revolt on poverty through education, empowerment and engagement.

“We basically provide a lot of different benefits for folks who are living in poverty, the basics of food, warmth, and shelter,” said Duncan. “We do all the purchasing and distribution for all the food pantries in the county; provide low income energy assistance program for people having trouble paying their heating bills and shelter for people are homeless.”

Along with food distribution to Brewster’s own food pantry, OCCAC serves seven other such sites in the county from Wauconda to Conconully and Twisp.

The OCCAC pamphlet Duncan distributed to council members listed a variety of needs the agency addresses including rent assistance, emergency shelter, home repair and weatherization, gas vouchers, bus passes and veteran services among others.

“Over the next 50 years we propose to set the standard for how very rural communities can reject poverty as a component of rural life,” the pamphlet advises.

On its website, www.occac.com, the non-profit notes that one way it is attacking the affordable housing shortage in the county is by training military veterans to build housing for veterans.

“Our county has the highest per capita concentration of veterans in the state,” the website notes, “and we are honored to serve them.”

One council member inquired as to how OCCAC is funded.

Duncan said funding comes through the federal government via state and county channels, grants, and private contributions.

“We receive donations from the public and that’s really the most important,” Duncan said and added that private donations can be earmarked by the donor for specific causes and that no administrative fees come out of those funds. Donations can be made online at www.occac.com or mailed to P.O.B. 1067. Okanogan, WA 98840.

OCCAC is seeking new members to serve on its Board of Directors. Interested parties can contact Duncan at laeld@occac.com.

Duncan has served as OCCAC Executive Director since 2002. She is the former Executive Director of the Washington State Lenders Network and the North Central Washington Business Loan Fund. A 30-year county resident, Duncan attended the University of Washington and has earned the designation of Economic Development Finance Professional from the National Development Council.

While serving as OCCAC Executive Director, Duncan was appointed to the State Advisory Council on Homelessness by Governor Jay Inslee. She has served as a North Valley Hospital commissioner and president and board member of the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless, The Support Center, The Economic Alliance, and the Washington State Community Action Partnership.

OCCAC was founded in 1965 as part of President Lynden Johnson’s War on Poverty program and the Okanogan group was one of the first community action agencies in the nation. Over the past 52 years, OCCAC has expanded its basic mission to reduce poverty in the county by starting related services including the Housing Authority of Okanogan County, Heat Start, Economic Alliance (originally Okanogan County Council for Economic Development), Dispute Resolution Center, Literary Council, Self-Help Housing, and others.

OCCAC’s main office is located at 424 Second Ave. South, in Okanogan, and is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached by phone at (509) 422-4041 or toll free 1-877-641-0101. Those in need of assistance who are unable to call or visit the office in person can also apply online at http://occac.com/get-help/emergency-services/ and select Application for Housing Assistance.
 

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