Bend residents received a swift community response after the Oct. 15 incident at Silver Rail Elementary when the Silver Rail Children’s Fund announced a 90‑day emergency assistance program. The effort, launched by parents of Silver Rail students, aims to help families, teachers and staff who are still coping with the aftermath and who have not yet received expected payments from Paid Leave Oregon.
According to KTVZ, the fund offers low‑barrier aid that requires only registration and verification through Oregon Crime Victims’ Compensation or a parent volunteer, eliminating the need for extensive paperwork or welfare office visits. Direct payments are made to grocery stores, gas stations and utility providers, and families can also receive help with household moves, cleaning, handyman tasks and holiday meals.
Nicole Ybarrondo, a Silver Rail mother of two and president of the fund, said the program was designed for “working families who have never asked for help in their lives.” She emphasized that the goal is a short‑term “hand up” rather than long‑term welfare, noting that many families are still unable to return to work because children cannot leave their side or are not ready to resume school.
Requests to the fund have shifted over the past month from counseling and classroom reunions to basic necessities. Families have asked for assistance with utility bills, groceries and gas money; one mother has already faced eviction. In response, the fund has expanded services to include counseling sessions for parents and children, with specialized groups for dads, Spanish‑speaking families and parents of neurodivergent students.
Academic support is also part of the offering. The fund coordinates tutoring through the Tutoring Club of Bend and Mathnasium of Bend for children who missed a month of school. Deschutes County Health Services counselors attend every event to provide therapeutic play and small‑group counseling.
Eligibility extends to Silver Rail Elementary students who were enrolled or present on Oct. 15, their siblings, and children of teachers and staff, regardless of whether they return to the building. More than 140 children and siblings are registered, and the organization serves over 200 families each week. Recent distributions have helped more than 70 families with gas and dinner, and more than 80 students made flowers for teachers ahead of school reopening.
The fund is run entirely by 27 unpaid parent volunteers, ensuring that all contributions go directly to families. It will continue operating throughout the 90‑day window, providing ongoing assistance as households work toward stability.
What’s next: The emergency aid program will remain open for the remainder of its 90‑day period, with families encouraged to register as needs evolve. Organizers plan to assess the program’s impact before the school year begins and to explore additional resources for families still facing financial strain.
Sources: ktvz.com
