May Newsletter: If You Can Help, Now Is The Time
How we can support those in need in Teton County and on the nearby Wind River Reservation.
These are tough times for everyone, but especially the communities around us who are already underserved and barely making ends meet.
We have an amazing community here in Jackson. The incredible number of people volunteering their time to support relief efforts around town is a testament to the kindness and generous nature of the Jackson community.
Many have kindly reached out to ask how they can help during this challenging time and we appreciate you keeping our organization in mind during this crisis.
If you have the means and are looking for ways to help, below are a few ways for your support to go directly into the hands that need it most right now.
Whatever you can spare, be it a small portion of your stimulus check or a larger gift you were planning to give later in the year, your support is more appreciated than ever.
Thank you for being a part of this incredible community!
How to Support Local Families in Teton County
As kids have increasingly more idle time during the pandemic, our programs and support have become more important than they’ve ever been. Coombs Programs have always served as a way to distract kids from difficult situations at home, get them outside, develop confidence, and foster a love of exploration. For everyone, regardless of their background or economic status, getting outside has become a priority and a way to escape the stress of the global situation.
Over the last two months, the Coombs Program staff has created and implemented a robust Outdoor Challenge to keep our kids active and engaged while stuck at home. The Challenge was designed for all kids to be able to do at home, with daily, weekly, and monthly activities that encourage kids to get outside in a safe and healthy way and continue to engage with their peers over Zoom video calls and texts. We plan to run this through July, when our hope is to begin transitioning to outdoor activities in small group settings.
While it’s still not clear what the summer will hold, we have plans for both a healthy, active summer and a contingency plan for more restricted summer. Both will focus on what’s best for the kids, and both will keep our staff as busy as ever while we work to support Coombs families.
We sincerely thank you for supporting our organization during this time. All donations will go directly to creating and adapting summer programming for kids this summer, helping keep our community healthy, active, and outside!
How to Support Our Neighbors on the Wind River Reservation
For the last five years, Coombs Outdoors has been hosting kids from the Arapahoe School on the Wind River Indian Reservation (WRIR) at Snow King for ski lessons. We have developed strong relationships and consider the youth and teachers from the Arapahoe School a part of the Coombs family.
As a community already living in deep poverty - with over-crowded conditions, a high percentage of elderly, high incidences of diabetes and heart disease, and many homes without running water - the people of the WRIR are extremely vulnerable. Fremont County, with 190 confirmed coronavirus cases, is the highest in the state, with a large percentage of those on the WRIR. Four of the seven deaths due to COVID in Wyoming were on the WRIR. Three of those deaths were family members of our primary contact from the Arapahoe School, Iva Moss-Redman. Our hearts are with our brothers and sisters from the Arapahoe School.
Currently, food needs are being pretty well met, but they are in need of cleaning and personal hygiene supplies, diapers, children’s books, and gardening supplies. If you would like to support our friends from the Arapahoe School, please donate through our website, writing “WRIR” or “Arapahoe” in the notes.
One22 Emergency Relief Fund
One22 is offering financial assistance to those negatively impacted by the coronavirus outbreak to help cover urgent, personal and household expenses. Many of the families who will qualify for this emergency aid are families we work with at Coombs.
If you have the means to give anything extra at this time, your support will go a long way in the lives of families in Teton County who are struggling to pay rent and support their children.
Art For A Cause!
Meet Miranda Schrock, a local artist, EMT-B, healthcare worker, and physician assistant candidate.
She will be generously donating 50% of profits from her artwork to Coombs relief efforts during the pandemic as a way to support the community that she loves!
"I relocated to Jackson recently from Grand Junction, CO, and want to support this wonderful community I now find myself a part of. Realism Art has been a hobby, a passion and a form of personal meditation of mine for as long as I can remember. During quarantine I have spent a lot of time with the pen and paper and have explored a new form of art called Stippling or Pointillism. As a passionate skier, snowboarder and outdoor enthusiast, I hope to share that passion through the creation of custom ski pointillism pieces. 50% of my profits during this time will go towards Coombs Outdoors to help aid in their COVID19 relief efforts. Nothing would feel better than to help make a difference in and around this community and brighten homes with art pieces that reflect the outdoor activities this community is most passionate about." - Miranda
You can reach Miranda at: Mschrock0921@gmail.com or view her Instagram page
@307pointart for commission inquires.
Pricing is donation-based with a minimum recommendation based on size.
6x9" - 40$ min
9x12" - 70$ min
Join us in the Outdoor Challenge! If you're doing any of these healthy activities on your own, tag us on Instagram (@coombsoutdoors) with the hashtag #coombsOUTDOORchallenge.
We'd love to share this journey with you and the rest of our amazing community and continue to inspire active, healthy habits during this challenging time.