Message from COVR Founder Alison Perry
Dear Friends and Supporters,

           We hope this letter finds you and your loved ones safe and well. Like you, it has taken some time for our team to adjust to the shock of the COVID crisis and get our feet solidly on the ground. I am pleased to share with you that now more than ever COVR is committed to serving our veterans and our broader community. While we have had to temporarily suspend opening the Ranch to our veterans, we have been busy strengthening the organization’s position as a contributor to Central Oregon’s local food system, and preparing strongly for re-opening our doors and engaging our vets, as we keep in touch with them through alternate means. I am so proud of our Board of Directors and staff who have pulled together in an even stronger spirit of collaboration to strengthen our organization during this time.
 As we all navigate our way through the landscape of life after COVID19, we’ve taken an inventory of the things that are most essential and most important to us: our health, our families and loved ones, and fresh, healthy food.

           COVR is excited to capitalize on all of our existing agriculture operations, and to build upon them, positioning ourselves as a key contributor to Central Oregon’s local food system. Here are some of the ways we are currently doing this and some of the initiatives we are working on:

COVR Hydroponics Project
Successful implementation and first harvest this month of our new hydroponics system. This project is possible through the support of Oregon Department of Agriculture, and will triple COVR’s lettuce production. A special shout out to our Greenhouse Manager Orion Carriger and his family who have worked tirelessly without the aid of veteran volunteers to get this system up and running. A great big thank you also to staff Crystal Burnette and Marine Corps veteran Bryan Senner for their support roles in keeping our lettuce growing.
Business Partnership With Volcano Veggies
We are proud to announce our new working relationship with Volcano Veggies to distribute COVR greens and eggs to our community. COVR produce will be delivered to local establishments and out to over 200 homes through Volcano Veggies’ Fresh Club Program.

COVR And High Desert Food And Farm Alliance
We are so excited to continue working with this great group of people to support local farms and strengthen the Central Oregon food system. In March COVR and HDFFA partnered to apply for the USDA’s Beginner Farmer and Rancher Development Grant.
The BFRDG would help expand COVR’s livestock capacity to offer education to veterans in livestock farming and animal husbandry. We are also working closely with HDFFA to explore additional USDA funding and ways we can continue to collaborate.

COVR Victory Gardens
We are still working behind the scenes to gather supplies and starter kits for our veterans to begin gardening at the Ranch as soon as the Shelter In Place ban lifts. Offering our veterans free space to grow their own food has taken on an even more special meaning.
COVR Plant Sale Starting The End Of This Month!

Yes! You read correctly! Though in light of the COVID crisis we have had to cancel our on-the-property event, the show must go on! Dedicated volunteers and staff are working behind the scenes to set up an online purchasing system and safe pick-up process. We want to make sure you still have access to food and flowers to keep you healthy and well during this time!

Keep checking our website for updated details or call or email us:
541-706-9062   info@covranch.org

We would also like you to know that all of our animals – chickens, llamas, and sheep – are healthy and well, and getting regular visits from our staff.  
Finally, we would like to thank all who have continued to support COVR during this time, and to appeal to those who have the capacity to consider making a gift to support the Ranch as a community hub for healing!
As one our team members, daughter of a Vietnam veteran, said just after the start of the pandemic, “COVR means too much to too many people to go away.”
 
In gratitude,
Alison Perry, MS, LPC
COVR Founder & Executive Director
Did you know that you can help support COVR from the comfort of your own home with a simple clicks? If you're like us you're ordering lots of stuff from amazon while you're quarantined! Why not help your favorite nonprofit in the process?

Simply sign into your amazon account and search Central Oregon Veterans Ranch, or create an account here: https://smile.amazon.com   
Click "Get Started" and search Central Oregon Veterans Ranch, select us and start shopping. Amazon pays 0.5% of your purchase and will help support veterans!
Central Oregon Veterans Ranch | 65920 61st Street, Bend, OR 97703 | covranch.org