Roseburg VA offering Veteran Cafe meetup
EUGENE—On Saturday, Nov. 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., all veterans, their families, and providers can have a meal and learn more about resources for veterans in our area, put on by the Roseburg VA Health Care System. Eugene Elks Lodge, 2470 W. 11th Ave., Eugene. For more info, contact William Wagner at [email protected].
Volunteers needed at Egan for the winter season
SPRINGFIELD — On Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2:30 p.m., Egan Warming Center, a program administered by St. Vincent de Paul Lane County (SVdP), will host a new volunteer orientation at Springfield Memorial Building, 765 A St., Springfield. The orientations provide new Egan volunteers with information and training to prepare them for their first shift at a warming center during an activation.
Egan Warming Center operates during the cold winter months and activates when the overnight temperature is projected to be below 30 degrees. Shelter sites throughout Eugene and Springfield provide a warm place to sleep, a hot meal, and winter clothing. To get involved, email [email protected] or call 541-687-5820. More orientations are scheduled for the coming months: eganwarmingcenters.com.
Did you know?
During the 2022-23 season Egan Warming Center had 34 activations. A steady stream of fresh volunteers is vital for Egan to operate effectively during the cold months.
Get text alerts
Text “Join” to 541-730-3071 for text alerts on Egan Warming Centers’ activation status.
Holiday food boxes for families in need
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County (SVdP) is starting its annual holiday food drive to benefit local families and needy individuals. The nonprofit is asking St. Vinnie’s shoppers and community members for support through monetary and in-kind donations. To contribute, drop off holiday-themed non-perishables at any SVdP store or donate while you shop.
Holiday food boxes with seasonal staples will be distributed this December.
SVdP is looking for canned cranberry sauce, green beans, pumpkin, broth, vegetables, stuffing, other non-perishable seasonal favorites, and reusable bags for food distribution. SVdP cashiers can accept monetary contributions while customers purchase their merchandise, and food is collected in donation barrels at all of St. Vinnie’s retail locations.
This year, SVdP reflects on the legacy of Betty Snowden, the longstanding organizer of past holiday food drives. Snowden led the distribution of thousands of food boxes to ensure families wouldn’t go hungry over the holidays.
Next month, volunteers, faith communities, and SVdP staff will gather to pack boxes full of holiday dinner essentials. Anyone can gift a full belly and festive holiday season by donating at their local St. Vinnie’s retail store.
State fire marshal awards $3M to boost resilience
The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is working to improve community resilience through newly awarded grant funds. Eugene Springfield Fire and South Lane Fire each received $75,000 to create defensible space and other wildfire risk reduction projects.
Local fire agencies, cities, and counties applied for the grant earlier this year. The OSFM received 58 applications totaling $4.1 million. Across the state, OSFM awarded $3 million to 40 communities.
The projects funded include things like creating fire-resistant landscapes around residential, commercial, and municipal buildings or other critical infrastructure; locally managed cleanup days, debris disposal days, or chipper programs; fuel mitigation on county properties or parks; and community-wide fire breaks or greenways that directly protect vulnerable communities or critical infrastructure.
Over 1.9 million acres burned in 2024, but structure loss and damage were minimal despite these unprecedented conditions.
Pacific Power to match contributions 2-for-1
To help struggling neighbors stay warm this winter, Pacific Power will match every dollar you donate to the Oregon Energy Fund with $2 more. All funds donated are used to assist families in need within the same county where the donor resides.
“Studies have shown that more than a quarter of Oregonians struggle to pay their bills each year,” said Brian Allbritton, executive director of the Oregon Energy Fund.
Last year, donations from Pacific Power’s customers, employees, and the company helped 2,995 individuals in need throughout Oregon, including 1,482 adults, 503 seniors, 464 people with disabilities, and 1,010 children. This year, Pacific Power will match up to $144,000 in donations.
Pacific Power customers who receive their bills by mail will find they include an Oregon Energy Fund contribution envelope in November. Customers who pay their bills electronically can send a check or enroll in the fixed donation program. To enroll in the fixed donation program, call 1-888-221-7070 or (pacificpower.net). Fixed donations will also be matched 2-for-1. Donations may be tax-deductible and are forwarded directly to the Oregon Energy Fund, which verifies eligibility and allocates funds to those in need.
Customers who need bill assistance can call 1-888-221-7070.
