Sponsor a family for the holidays
For most of us, the holidays are filled with laughter and joy among our friends and family. For survivors of domestic violence, the holidays can be a stressful time, especially as they struggle to make ends meet and work to stabilize their lives.
Hope & Safety Alliance (formerly Womenspace), is gearing up for the holidays. Last year, thanks to the generous support of the community, over 188 survivors and children were able to enjoy the holiday season.
There are several ways to support holiday giving. There are Amazon Wish Lists featuring families’ specific wish-list items that is available upon request. If you would prefer to purchase items directly, they can send you a families’ specific wish list or below is a general wish list of items that their families need this holiday season. You can also provide gift cards or monetary donations that staff will use to purchase specific items for the family you are supporting.
General wish list items include:
Toys, games, arts and crafts
• Baby and toddler toys
• Trains and cars
• Sports and outdoor play
• Dolls and accessories
• Action figures
• Pretend play
• Sensory toys
• Card games
• Family trivia
• Board games
• Electronic-style games
• Educational
• Live sports games
• Slime-making kits
• Art and paint supplies
• Sketchbooks
• Jewerly-making
• Craft kits
Brands like: Legos, Disney, LOL Surprise, Paw Patrol, PJ Masks, Hot Wheels, Minecraft, Pokemon, Melissa & Doug, Squishmellows, Barbie, DC, Marvel, and Star Wars.
Clothing and accessories
• Warm children and adult clothing
• PJs
• Boots and shoes
• Winter accessories and coats
• Hair accessories and hair-shaping gel
• Nail polish and makeup gift sets
• Teen-style room decor
Adults
• Bedding of all sizes
• Soft throw blankets
• Candles
• Self-care items
• Plush bath towels
• Mugs
• Tea and coffee
• Air fryers and crockpots
• Robes
• Pajamas
• Winter accessories
• Shoes and boots
• Kitchen tools and gadgets
• Home decor
• Journals and pens
• Sketchbook and pencils
• Art supplies
Gift cards
• Gas cards, Winco, Walmart, Target, Bi-Mart, Starbucks, Amazon, Visa, GrubHub, Fred Meyer, Old Navy, Fandango Movies, Fast food
All gifts can be dropped off at the main office by appointment only, or staff can make arrangements to pick up the items. In order to distribute your donations to families in time for the holidays, they will need to receive your new, unwrapped gifts Dec. 11 through Dec. 15, including any items ordered from an Amazon Wish List.
More info: Nell Best-Shipway, Programs & Family Support Services Director: 541-485-8232 x103 or 541-280-7061 and [email protected]
ABOUT HOPE & SAFETY ALLIANCE
Hope & Safety Alliance provides trauma-informed and survivor-centered services to all survivors of domestic and sexual violence. H&SA has been providing hope and safety to survivors of domestic and sexual violence for 45 years. Each year, it serves thousands of survivors and children from urban and rural communities in Lane County.
• 24 HOUR CRISIS AND SUPPORT – 541-485-6513 (800-281-2800)
• Spanish and English speaking advocates are available day and night on the 24 hour crisis line and Web Chat.
• Drop-in services at the main office are primarily by appointment.
• H&SA accepts referrals from community partners, and provides emergency services, legal services, safe housing, food and supplies, peer counseling, one-on-one support and transportation.
NAMI: Advocates for mental health
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Lane County serves residents across Lane County with free mental health support, online groups, resources, and education.
It is a grassroots, confidential, peer-led mental health organization offering support, education, and advocacy services in Lane County at no cost to the participant.
The nonprofit started in 1979 and is now the nation’s leading voice on mental health. Today, it is an association of more than 500 local affiliates who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.
More info:
NAMILane.org
541-343-7688
[email protected]
129 9th St., Springfield
The Resource Center is open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Ways to support NAMI’s efforts
Bottle Drop: Now is a great time to collect containers in one of NAMI Lane County Blue Bags. If you need more blue bags, email NAMI with subject line: Blue Bags. Staff can drop off or mail blue bags to your home. If you have full bags you can drop them off at any Bottle Drop location. The Holiday Give will match 20% through Dec. 2.
Vehicle donations: NAMI also partners with Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS), which accepts vehicles on its behalf. CARS accepts any kind of vehicle, and pick-up is available anywhere in the country with very few exceptions.
Monthly donations: When you give monthly to NAMI Lane County, you are contributing directly to the continuance of free mental health programs and services. It’s easy and cost-effective and provides important financial resources. When you give monthly to NAMI Lane County, you are contributing directly to the continuance of their free mental health programs and services.
Planned giving: Make a bequest in your will or living trust to help continue NAMI support, education and outreach programs. Your will or trust document provides a clear and specific understanding as to how you want to transfer your assets to our community and help sustain the organization that you have supported during your lifetime. As the ultimate charitable gift, you can make a bequest to NAMI Lane County in your will or living trust to ensure the strength and success of our programs in the years to come.
Clothing donation: You can support NAMI Lane County by donating clothing, footwear, and unopened personal hygiene items to be offered for free to our clients via our Clothing Room.
Facebook fundraiser: You can support NAMI Lane County by creating a Facebook fundraising event on your page.
Workplace giving: Many workplaces offer the opportunity to donate to NAMI Lane County through payroll deduction or through Matching Gift programs that “match” their employees’ contributions to their favorite charities. Talk to your employer about these programs and see if they offer workplace giving.
Donate mental health books: You can support NAMI Lane County by donating mental health related books for their clients to check out three weeks at a time via their Mental Health Library.
Fred Meyer community rewards: You can help NAMI Lane County every time you shop at Fred Meyer. You still earn your reward points and fuel points, but now NAMI receives a donation too.
Amazon Wish List: You can support NAMI Lane County by purchasing items on its Amazon Wish List to be given to our participants via its Resource Center.
Warming shelters open; donations sought
Egan Warming Centers’ 2023-24 season officially opened last week. The centers serve as a low-barrier, volunteer-operated winter shelter program that activates as needed to provide shelter for unhoused residents for one night at a time when temperatures reach subfreezing levels in Springfield and Eugene.
The nonprofit said the operational season ends on March 31. Program managers monitor weather-forecasting systems to activate site when overnight temperatures are forecast to dip below 30 degrees.
“It’s inspiring every winter to see this community’s incredible humanity, which is on display every time we unite to bring people in from the cold,” said Tim Black, SVdP’s winter strategies and emergency response coordinator. “It’s hard work, but it’s vital work. And every year we need new caring volunteers who are willing to step in and do that work. If you’re interested in helping your most vulnerable neighbors in the most direct, most human way possible — literally, helping to save their lives — we hope you’ll join us.”
Volunteers at the warming center sites provide guests with sleeping pads and blankets, warm drinks and meals, basic first aid and hospitality, according to St. Vinnie’s. Organizers said that the program is named after Major Thomas Egan, an unhoused Army veteran who froze to death in Eugene while sleeping outside in 2008.
“He deserved better than that, as all people do,” Black said. “If Major Egan had a safe, warm place to go that night, where he was welcomed with compassion and without judgment, it could have saved his life.”
Volunteers are needed for the program. The next orientation is on Nov. 30 via Zoom from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. RSVP at [email protected].
Gloves, coats, shoes, and money are also sought for the program with a secure online form for tax-deductible monetary donations available on the Egan Warming Center’s website. Clothing donations can be dropped off at in-store donation barrels, while food and drink donations should be made through FOOD For Lane County.
St. Vinnie’s barrel donation locations:
• 199 Q St., Springfield, 541-746-7784
• 4555 Main St., Springfield, 541-747-5811
• A Cottage Grove location is coming soon.
CASA prepares for GivingTuesday
CASA of Lane County is a dedicated community of individuals, including Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers advocating for children in foster care due to abuse and neglect. It champions for their best interests, raises awareness and shapes a future where they can thrive. It’s served over 391 children, has 220 advocates, and has racked up over 12,000 hours of advocay and volunteer time. There are currently 51 chilren on the waiting list for CASA.
On GivingTuesday, Nov. 28, CASA calls on the community to donate to help provide a crucial service to fight for a brighter and safer future for some of the most vulnerable populations in our community. More info: Casa-lane.org / 541-984-3132 / 174 Deadmond Ferry Rd., Springfield.
To donate: givebutter.com/CASAGivngTuesday
