CultureSeed’s 2023 Transportation Campaign!

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Hello Trailfolk,
This week HRATS is happy to help get the word out for CultureSeed’s 2023 Transportation Campaign!  CultureSeed is a local non-profit organization offering under-represented youth free and ongoing access to outdoor immersion and mental health resources. CultureSeed is raising funds to purchase another gently used 12-15 passenger van to reduce transportation barriers for youth in the Gorge. 

The van will be used by three Gorge school districts to bring youth to and from outdoor immersions and peer circles. Per Yesenia Castro, CultureSeed co-executive director, “[The van is] a place where youth get to talk, relax, laugh, share music and food, decompress or get excited before and after outings. It stores our first aid and mental health kits, extra water and clothes, art supplies, and more.” 

Outdoor immersions, including mountain bike outings at Family Man, often happen because volunteers and mentors use their own vehicles to transport youth from their homes. An additional van would allow CultureSeed leaders to have more reliable sources of transportation for youth. 

CultureSeed has raised about $10,000 so far and their goal is close to $40,000. Of that, $30,000 will go towards the van purchase and $10,000 will be allocated for a maintenance fund. If you would like to contribute, please donate HERE. Use the dropdown menu and select “Youth transportation fund.”

If you would also like to donate to CultureSeed’s mountain bike fund, you can donate by finding the “Youth mountain biking access fund” on the drop down menu at the link above. In partnership with Brave Endeavors and Hood River Mountain Bike Adventures, CultureSeed plans to host three mountain bike outings a year at Family Man. Each outing costs about $500. 

CultureSeed’s tagline, “Outdoor access is Love,” is something we know our HRATS community believes wholeheartedly in, and we are happy to support the effort to make the Gorge more accessible to all.  

Community night at Thunder IslandCome on out to Cascade Locks on May 3 for HRATS Fundraising Community night at Thunder Island Brewing. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., $1 of EVERY drink sold will go toward HRATS projects. This is also your chance to try Thunder Island’s special FAMILY MAN fundraising Belgian table beer, “Tot Track.” We’ll have a raffle and HRATS board members will be on hand to offer Family Man Updates and other info.

HRATS May Board MeetingWant to learn more about HRATS? Come to our next monthly meeting on May 8 at Dirty Fingers Bicycle Repair Shop at 5:30 pm. Please park at Rite Aid or across the street near AT&T store.
Happy Spring!

Photo Credit: CultureSeed


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