AmeriCorps VISTA members Assist with the Benton County Homeless Connect

The Benton County Homeless Connect is yearly event that helps to give homeless and low-income individuals and families an opportunity to access needed resources and assistance.

This year’s Homeless Connect, hosted by Benton County Board of Commissioners , was held March 9th at Corvallis’s First United Methodist Church’s Community Center. Jessica Stallings, AmeriCorps VISTA member of CSC’s ‘Building Bridges’ VISTA Programs, organized the event. Her AmeriCorps*VISTA team mates traveled from across Linn, Lincoln and Benton counties to volunteer their services at the Connect.

Including the ‘Building Bridges’ VISTA team, 55 community members volunteered, and 27 different service agencies provided links to housing, medical and dental care, mental health services and much more to the 68 guests seeking services. Organizations providing free services during the event included Community Outreach Inc., Medical Teams International Dental Van, as well as local agencies that were available to answer housing and legal issue questions. A free hot meal was provided by Stone Soup.

Over $2,100 was raised in in-kind donations, some of which came in the form of donated clothing, socks, toiletries, and food.

Cheadle Challenge Adventure Run Volunteers

Throughout late October and early November, CSC YouthBuild AmeriCorps students volunteered over 15 hours to help the Lebanon Community Foundation (LCF) prepare for the first-ever Cheadle Challenge Adventure Run that occurred on November 12, 2011. The event was held at Lebanon Community Park near Cheadle Lake and funds raised will benefit the LCF, as well as the Oregon Military Support Network. Over 300 runners participated in Cheadle Challenge, including eight YouthBuild students who were given complementary registrations by the LCF as a gracious thank you for students’ efforts. Such efforts included trimming blackberry bushes and removing brush to clear several trails along the course of the Adventure Run. In addition, students assisted with creating obstacles and even built an 8-foot tall wall which runners had to climb over during the first mile of the 3.6-mile race!

AmeriCorps*VISTA Team Spends the Day Learning About Homelessness in Benton County and Giving Back

CSC’s Building BridgesAmeriCorps-*Vista Leader, Katherine Finch, right, gives the fridge a thorough washing, while Melissa Poole, left, VISTA member at ChristWalk Supportive Transitional Housing in Lebanon helps organize the cabinets.

Last month, on November 16th, the ‘Building Bridges’ VISTA team gathered together for an educational, entertaining and service-filled team day.

The group started their day at Community Outreach Inc.(COI), a local agency that provides services and assistance to the homeless and poor individuals in the mid-Valley area. They toured the facility and learned about its services and resources from Volunteer Coordinator, Gerry Perrone.

They moved on to COI’s Supportive Permanent Housing Program, located in Benton Plaza. They assisted Case Manager and Coordinator, Angie Dahlke, clean, organize and decorate the community room for the holiday season. The team was joined by residents of the housing units for a hot apple cider social, accompanied with holiday-themed games and goodies made by the programs women’s group.

After a dinner at Downward Dog restaurant, that was graciously partially donated by the restaurants’ owner, Cloud Davidson, the members headed to the Oregon State Campus to attend the OSU Center for Civic Engagement’s faces of Homelessness Panel Discussion. Representatives from Jackson Street Youth Shelter, COI, OSU’s Human Services Resource Center and community members shared their personal and work-related experiences with the issues of hunger and homelessness. Commissioner Jay Dixon provided attendees with an update to the progress on “Benton County’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.”

The day was considered to be a huge success by all, and the team parted knowing a little more about homelessness and poverty in Benton County. They felt positive about being able to give back through their volunteer project.

Fifth Annual Newport Project Homeless Connect

This year’s Fifth Annual Newport Project Homeless Connect was hosted by the Church of the Nazarene on October 6th, 2011. The successful community events lead organizer was Elise Jordan, CSC's ‘Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps VISTA member, with the Lincoln Commission on Children and Families.

Over 100 volunteers and 45 community agency partners pooled together their valuable time, energy and resources to provide 185 homeless individuals in Lincoln County many needed services. Incoming people seeking assistance were greeted with a friendly face and escorted to the intake table where volunteers helped them map out a plan for their afternoon. Event hosts escorted the service seekers throughout the event and joined them for a warm community meal, which had accompanying tunes from local musicians.

Homeless individuals who attended the Homeless Connect received services from Bike Newport who repaired bicycles and wheelchairs, volunteer dentists with their dental teams that provided over $20,000 worth of extractions and emergency dental care, and the hair cut team which provided 51 haircuts. Other services available included: free flu shots to all, resources and referrals for legal services, assistance in processing birth certificates for obtaining identification, housing and job support, onsite medical and vision screenings, as well as numerous other agencies that provided clothing, toiletries, sleeping bags, veterinary services for pets and much more.

Trainings, team days and orientations

Trainings, team days and orientations are important events to in-coming Community Service Consortium ‘Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps VISTA Program members in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. The new team started their year in Portland at the four-day Pre-Service Orientation sponsored by the Corporation for National Community Service. The VISTAs received information, insights, and concepts relating to poverty, and participated in break-out sessions on topics such as resource mobilization and volunteer development.

On September 21st, the 9 VISTAs and their community organization site supervisors joined Tifani Erpelding, the Program Coordinator, and Katherine Finch, AmeriCorps VISTA Leader for a program-specific orientation .

A workshop was presented by Heidi Henry, Director of CSC Community Relations and Development and Supervisor of the ‘Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps VISTA Program at CSC. The team learned about individual Meyer’s Briggs Types and how different personality preferences can work together and communicate efficiently.

Policies and procedures were reviewed, a team building exercises was played, and each person decorated a composition journal with images and words relating to their individual inspirations for getting involved in national community service. The journal will be used as a way to track personal thoughts and experiences surrounding the important work to be done this coming year. The day ended with reflection about each team members’ professional and organizational expectation’s for their service year.

This years’ team consists of: Anthony Vendetti, Emergency Planning Coordinator at City of Albany Fire Department; Brittany Russell, HELP Volunteer Coordinator for Lincoln County School District; Elise Jordan, Lincoln County Homeless Planning Coordinator at Lincoln Commission on Children and Families; Hanna Connett, North HELP Volunteer Coordinator for Lincoln County School District; Jeanna Weathers, Volunteer Coordinator at Albany Helping Hands, Inc.; Jessica Stallings, Benton County Homeless Planning Coordinator at the Benton County Commissioners’ Office; Lauren Berentes, Regional Planning Coordinator at the Community Services Consortium; Melissa Poole, Volunteer Coordinator for ChristWalk Supportive Transitional Housing and Michael Spinello, Linn County Homeless Planning Coordinator at the Community Services Consortium.

CSC sponsors Ten New 'Building Bridges' Members

The 'Building Bridges' Americorps*VISTA program welcomes ten new members to Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. This is the 6th team sponsored by Community Services Consortium and members are working to address issues of housing and homelessness in the community.

Tifani Erpelding, Program Coordinator for 'Building Bridges' stated, "This is a new approach for our team. In the past we worked on a variety of issues, such as hunger and education, and we made a small impact on many poverty related issues. With our new program approach, we anticipate the compounded efforts of each member working on the single issue of housing and homelessness will create a greater impact on our communities. We are very excited about the program."

Members are serving in non-profit organizations, schools, and government agencies across Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. Projects range from developing volunteer programs to serve homeless children and adults, developing a regional plan to address homelessness, to the 10 Year Plans to End Homelessness in all three counties.

New coordinator to address housing and homelessness in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties

Lauren Berentes, CSC Building Bridges' Regional Planning Coordinator

The CSC ‘Building Bridges’ program welcomes Lauren Berentes as a new participant in the AmeriCorps*VISTA program. She will be working with community leaders to coordinate a new Regional Task Force to develop a
10-Year Plan to address housing and homelessness in Linn, Benton, and
Lincoln counties.

The Regional 10-Year Plan will collaborate efforts of 'Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps*VISTAs Michael Spinello (Linn County), Jessica Stallings (Benton County), and Elise Jordan (Lincoln County) alongside regional community members to complete the project. The completed working document will identify service gaps, determine appropriate strategies to address housing and homelessness, provide timelines for implementation, and establish methods for evaluating progress throughout the region.

Berentes was formerly Grants Manager and Volunteer Coordinator for Horizon House, a homeless center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

For more information contact Lauren Berentes at 541-928-6335 ext. 328 or lberentes@communityservices.us.

Community Services Consortium Makes Changes

Helping People. changing Lives.

Community Services Consortium is making changes to save resources and to keep as many of our programs as possible available to people in our communities who need them.
We have offices open in Linn, Benton & Lincoln Counties as usual, but we are moving several programs locations. Don't hesitate to call for information.

Moving From Corvallis to Albany CSC Office
Foreclosure Counseling Program
First Time Homebuyer program
Healthy Kids Insurance Program
AmeriCorps*VISTA Program
CSC Administrative services
Call (541) 928-6335

Moving From Lebanon to Albany CSC Office
Low Income Energy Assistance
Rental Assistance
Transitional Housing
Call (541) 928-6335

Changed Albany Location
Mortgage Payment Assistance program: Moved from 1st to2nd floor of Albany CSC office. Call (541) 928-6335
Workforce & Education Adult Program: moved to Oregon
Employment Department at 139 4th Ave., SE, Albany, call (541) 812-8646

Moving From Albany to Lebanon CSC Office Workforce & Education Youth Programs in Linn County: Available
at Lebanon CSC Office. Call (541) 451-1071

CSC offices and phone numbers:Corvallis, 545 SW 2nd St., Ste A, Corvallis, OR 97333 541-752-1010
Albany, 250 SW Broadalbin, Ste 2A, Albany, OR 97321 541-928-6335
Lebanon, 380 Market St., Lebanon, OR 97355 541-451-1071
Lincoln City Career Tech High School, 801 SW Hwy. 101, Ste 404, Lincoln City, OR 97367 541351-8551
Newport, 120 NE Avery St., Newport, OR 97365 541-265-8505

CSC 'Building Bridges' now accepting applications for VISTA Members

A former Americorps*VISTA team at CSC.

The CSC ‘Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps*VISTA Program is now accepting applications for VISTA Members. This is a great opportunity to learn new skills, give back to your community, and to fight homelessness in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. VISTA Members serve full time for one year and receive a living allowance of $858/month, preventative health coverage, student loan forbearance, $5,350 for school loans or future education, and much more! It is a life changing experience! Contact Tifani Erpelding at 541-758-2641 or terpelding@communityservices.us.

AmeriCorps*VISTA

Lola Jones, AmeriCorps VISTA member serving at the Lincoln Commission for Children and Families, is organizing a Project Homeless Connect to be held on May 19, 2011 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church at 1226 SW 13th Street Lincoln City in Lincoln City. If you would like to help with the event, a volunteer application can be found here:

Benton County Homeless Connect

Maria McGrew, far right, helps volunteers set up tent for pet area.

The First United Methodist Church in Corvallis was the scene of the Benton Homeless Connect on Friday, March 11, 2011. The outreach event was organized by Maria McGrew, a member of the ‘Building Bridges’ VISTA team.

Volunteers were at intake stations and host volunteers waited to guide the 65 people who came to connect with service providers in Benton County.

People seeking services had access to these: Students from OSU were available to give foot treatments and new socks. The Lions Club Medical Van was onsite for such things as vision and diabetes screening. A dental van sponsored by Samaritan Health Services and staffed by local dentists handled emergency dental situations. Representatives from numerous agencies were available to answer housing questions, address legal issues, help with photo identification, and much more.

Stone Soup provided soup and sandwich meals for the attendees.

2011 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE

The ten members of the ‘Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps*VISTA team at CSC participated in a food drive to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For the 2011Day of Service.

The VISTA team collected 3,476 lbs of food at tables in front of the Grocery Outlet in Corvallis and the Albertsons in Albany on Friday, January 14.

The donations were taken to the Linn Benton Food Share warehouse for distribution to area food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.

A small ceremony took place at the warehouse to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

Jeannie Ramsey, VISTA Leader for ‘Building Bridges,’ submitted a grant to Oregon Volunteers to promote the food drive.

Central Linn School District is hosting Christmas Bazaar to benefit students

Central Linn School District is hosting their first Christmas Bazaar on November 20th called Christmas in the Country. We are still seeking vendors as well as spreading the awareness of this event. Christmas in the Country is a benefit for the business training program Cobra Student Enterprises. Through Cobra, students run businesses open to the public. Students have the opportunity to earn school credit through their work hours.

The bazaar will be held at 331 Blakely Ave in Brownsville in the District Office Gym. Central Linn students will be selling freshly baked cookies, hot chocolate and cider. If there are any questions about registering for this event as a vendor please contact Alix Stinnett at (541) 369-2813 ext 3532 or Linda Hoyer at (541) 369-2813 ext 3239.

"Building Bridges" CSC's AmeriCorps* VISTA Program

The ‘Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps*VISTA program at Community Services Consortium welcomed nine new members to eight project sites, listed below:

· Alix Stinnett at Central Linn School District (CLSD)
· Belinda Judelman at Lincoln Commission for Children and Families
· Jackie Stapleton at Linn County Mental Health (LCMH)
· Katherine Griffin at Ten Rivers Food Web
· Katie Neiert at Community Services Consortium
· Lola Jones at Lincoln Commission for Children and Families (LCCF)
· Maria McGrew at Benton County
· Michael Spinello at Mid-Willamette Valley YMCA
· Rachel Karasick at Corvallis Environmental Center (CEC)

In remembrance of 9/11, the team spent the day at Starker Arts Garden for Education (SAGE) where they worked with Corvallis Environmental Center staff, RSVP members, and community members to harvest 341 pounds of produce that went to Stone Soup, a Corvallis soup kitchen and to prepare some of the garden area for winter.

My Most Memorable Experience in the Building Bridges AmeriCorps*VISTA Program

Last week the CSC ‘Building Bridges’ program said goodbye to the ten people pictured below as they completed their year of AmeriCorps*VISTA service.

Tifani Erpelding, Project Coordinator, with the departing 2009 ‘Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps*VISTA team: From the left, Rachel Karasick, Megan Davis, Melissa Clark, Kaija Daniel, Megan Hutchinson (sitting on floor), Miao Zhao (hidden), Tifani, Hilary McAlister, Jen Crist (front and center) April Pritchard, and Matt Walker.

By Hilary McAlister, who served at CSC's Santiam Wilderness Academy in Lebanon

My most memorable experience this year was a presentation the Santiam Wilderness Academy youth gave to the Lebanon Genealogical Society. We received a grant to do restoration work on a pioneer cemetery and the students presented their work. I showed the pictures on the projector and the students spoke about their experiences.

The community members were excited to hear about this cemetery, which due to terrain, is out of reach for most of them. They were thrilled to hear the youth caring and connecting to the past and to local history. As for the students, they blossomed under the interest and gratitude of the Genealogical Society members. They excitedly recounted the work they did in the field, the grave marker assessment activity, the hike up the hill, the importance of the work, and most importantly, how it made them feel.

They were able to share their own thoughts and feelings for people who were interested. A couple of students remarked afterwards how nice it was to share their hard work with people who cared. Although this did not earn money, in-kind donations, volunteers, or partnerships (all of our “measurable outcomes” as VISTAs), it was a positive community connection for everyone involved. For me, those spontaneous connections between people are the reason I serve.

Getting Things Done for CSC's Communities!

The following is a breakdown of the value VISTA members bring to the communities CSC serves:*

Number of Volunteers Recruited: 1692 community volunteers
Number of Service Hours Performed by Volunteers Recruited: 18,703 hours
Total $ Amount of Resources Generated: $1,607,218 (cash & non-cash).

For more information on CSC's Building Bridges program, please contact Tifani Erpelding at 541-752-1010.

_____________________________
*Data from July 14, 2006 to December 30, 2009.

AC*VISTA Off-Site Training Day

Editor's Note: this story is a compilation of stories written by AC*VISTA Leader Jeannie Ramsey and AC*VISTA member Megan Tolley and originally published in CSC's 'Building Bridges' AmeriCorps*VISTA newsletter.

From Jeannie:
On Wednesday, April 21, I joined ten 'Building Bridges' VISTA members and Tifani Erpelding, Project Coordinator, at the OSU Challenge Course for a day of team-building exercises. I had not even been in Oregon for a week and I was going to be climbing a telephone pole! It was only my third day in the new Leader position, so I was a little nervous about meeting everyone, especially during something I thought would require so much athletic ability.


One of the challenge exercises involved ten of us being blindfolded and coached by the two remaining VISTAs. Our task was to place a rope around a small can and move it to another location about 15 feet away. The two coaches had to describe the tools to us, and guide our steps to the goal. “Being blindfolded in order to move the bucket was difficult for me because I work best when I am able to see what needs to be done and what tools are available,” stated Tifani Erpelding. That information will be helpful for me as I work with Tifani through my service year.

Another exercise required all of us to move across three platforms, using three pieces of 2x4 wood of different lengths, none of which were long enough to fit between the platforms. Neither people nor wood were allowed to touch the ground. The team would be successful when all members were standing on the last platform, which measured less than three feet square. Clear communication and excellent balancing skills contributed to successful completion of this challenge.

The most challenging exercise was climbing and belaying. Each person was outfitted with helmets and climbing harnesses so they could climb a telephone pole to belay down to waiting team members. Constant communication between climber and primary belay person, and careful watching of the primary belay person by other team members brings the climber down safely. Fear of heights did not stop anyone from attempting this exercise.

From Megan:
I didn't realize how scared I was until my feet left the ground. My hands didn't want to move as I climbed up the pole. I felt paralyzed. My heart started racing and my mouth went dry. I wanted to get down and quit. After watching everyone else gracefully cross the line and finish, it didn't seem to be like such a big deal. But now it was my turn. I had a team of 5 belaying me; with encouraging glances and persuading chants I couldn‟t bare the chance that I would be the one person who couldn't complete the challenge. I like to finish what I started, so especially now with everyone watching, I just had to do it.

As I stared at the other side, an easy task turned into new perspective on becoming focused to overcoming this challenge. Stepping away from the comfort of safety and onto the line, I expected to fall, but I didn't. I took a deep breath and one baby step at a time I finally made it to the other side. Needless to say I was relieved to get back on solid ground, but more importantly I was proud of myself for letting go and moving forward to attain my end goal.

‘Building Bridges’VISTA Members 2009-2010:

Linn County
Miao Zhao
Albany InReach Services

Hilary McAlister
CSC-Santiam Wilderness Academy

Melissa Clark
Linn County Sheriff‟s Department

Benton County
Rachel Karasick
CSC-Youth Garden Project

April Pritchard
CDDC-Project Action

Megan Czerny
CSC-Fund Development

Megan Tolley
Corvallis Environmental Center

Lincoln County
Kaija Daniel
Lincoln Commission on Children & Families

Linn & Benton Counties
Jenn Crist
Jackson Street Youth Shelter

Matt Walker
Linn Benton Housing Authority

Please check out the website for more information on CSC's Building Bridges AmeriCorps*VISTA program.

What's New with AmeriCorps*VISTA and Healthy Kids ... ?

Soon, CSC will become home for two new AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers. Jeannie Ramsey, relocating to Corvallis from Los Alamos N.M., will be filling our VISTA Leader position. This one year position was awarded by Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) State Office, and Jeannie will be working with both Tifani Erpelding and Tom Cope in CSC’s ‘Building Bridges’ program. She will also be a lead in support of members and host sites for CSC’s 9-week 6-member Summer Associate program.

The CSC Healthy Kids program is moving forward on all fronts. Both Susan Stewart, covering Lincoln County, and Tifani Erpelding, working across Linn and Benton counties, have been out across our communities in many directions. Each has been meeting with a variety of community groups, arranging to host trainings and other relevant meetings all with the goal to inform parents and caregivers of the new health coverage program for children and youth (birth-18 years). Contact Tifani at 541-758-2641 or Susan at 541-265-8505 for more information. You may also call toll free at 1-888-957-8652.

CSC’s Building Bridges Program Now Recruiting

Do you know a college-level student interested in working in community service this summer?

The CSC Building Bridges program is now recruiting a select few AmeriCorps*VISTA members for six summer positions to perform volunteer service across Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties from June 21 to August 20, 2010.

• Summer Associate will work with Benton County Commissioners and other members of the “Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness”. Agency & Location: Benton County, Corvallis OR

• Summer Associate will work with Resource Development officer to implement agency-wide community-based development plan. Agency & Location: CSC, Corvallis, OR

• Summer Associate will support summer work experience and training activities for low-income youth in east Linn County. Agency & Location: CSC's At Risk Youth Program, Lebanon, OR
• Summer Associate will assist with developing a Youth Summit and other community awareness projects. Agency & Location: CSC Workforce and Education program, Newport, OR

• Summer Associate will assist the Homeless Education Literacy Project (HELPS) program coordinator to raise community support for the program. Agency & Location: Lincoln Commission on Children and Families/HELPS, Newport, OR

• Linn County “Gets Ready” Project Coordinator will continue to develop a public relations campaign and other projects. Agency & Location: Linn County Sheriff’s Department, Albany, OR

Benefits will include an $858 monthly living allowance and a $1,132 education award for completion of service.

For more details, contact Jeannie Ramsey at 541-758-2778 or email jramsey@communityservices.us

“Scrappers Collective Response to Alleviate Poverty”

When? Saturday April 17th, 2010 — 9:00am to 10:00pm

Where? Linn County Fairgrounds Expo Center in Albany

Why? Scrapping out homelessness! All proceeds will be used to provide permanent, supportive, affordable housing and services to “at-risk” families in the Albany area.

Albany Partnership for Housing’s 1st Annual Fundraising Event with Exhibitors! Prize Drawings! Silent Auction! Wi-Fi!

Lunch & Light Refreshments Provided

$40 entrance fee; space is limited so get your ticket!

For More Questions Call Megan @ 541-926-5451