Programs & Projects

In 2016, Between the Ridges provided free confidential water testing to 250 homes on the Yakama Reservation testing for nitrates, lead, and bacteria, and providing remediation for contaminated wells.  Results of the testing were provided to each household and an overall report was provided to the Yakama Nation.  For bacteria contamination, coaching was provided on how to bleach wells. The project also installed lead certified water filters for about 20 households who could not afford them.  Support for this project came from the Yakama Nation, Yakima Valley Community College, Heritage University, Legends Casino, a-based and many other faith-based organizations and individual donors.

In 2017, thanks to a grant from the Roanridge Foundation, we worked with indigenous leaders to design and conduct workshops throughout Central WA.

Thanks to many host congregations and co-presenters, we conducted workshops in each of the four regions of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane.

Workshops were also presented at the Church Council of Greater Seattle’s conference and the Eastern WA Legislative Conference.

For several seasons (2014-2016) we gathered at different farms in the Yakima Valley for a direct marketing festival. Our local community gathered for blue grass music, wine tasting, BBQ, wood-fired pizza and other family friendly fun activities on the farm along with local direct market farmers who set up booths to sell their produce, cheese and meats, and other value added products, as well as pre-sell shares of the harvest in a Community Supported Agriculture model, all while also raising funds for local hunger programs.

Just as Between the Ridges now provides support to the Alliance for the Common Good, YAFC, we have served as an incubator for other new, emerging community organizations and projects.

For example, we helped Yakima Pride as it was beginning with non-profit status and bookkeeping.