Thank You, Volunteers

Susan James, Gleaning and Volunteer Coordinator at Linn Benton Food Share program, honored volunteers on Thursday evening, April 29th at her Open House. Susan holds Open House on the last Thursday of the month from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Linn Benton Food Share warehouse in Tangent.

“Tonight’s celebration is in honor of Volunteer Week, said James, “But, our volunteers should be honored all year long. I would just like to thank every one of them. We couldn’t do our job of providing food to people who need it without the help of hundreds of volunteers and thousands of volunteer hours. "

Approximately 15 volunteers were at Open House. They repackaged several totes of cereal into family-sized packages. The cereal will be delivered or picked up along with hundreds of pounds of other food by Linn Benton Food Share’s 73 non-profit agencies. These agencies range from food pantries, soup kitchens to day care centers.

When asked what motivated them to volunteer, the answers varied.

“I want to teach my daughter, Elizabeth, about community service.” said Kristi Murphey. They volunteer regularly at Linn Benton Food Share warehouse.

“Volunteer Michael Fernandez said “I think community service is important. I have time and so I thought this is how I should be spending it. Food Share is an essential program.”

Aimee Murphy, a student at OSU gets credit for her class "Families and Poverty" by volunteering. She will also write a paper and give a presentation. "I find it disturbing how easy it is for a family to fall into poverty," said Murphy.

Value of volunteer time grows

From The Philanthropy Journal, April 30, 2010

Volunteer time has become more valuable, and nonprofits are counting on more volunteers, according to a new estimate.

The estimated value of volunteer time grew to $20.85 an hour in 2009 from $20.25 in 2008, says Independent Sector.

It also says over one-third of nonprofits surveyed reported they increased their use of volunteers between November 2008 and March 2009, and nearly half expect to use more volunteers in the coming year.

Nonprofits employ roughly 12.9 million workers, or nearly 10 percent of the American work force, and account for roughly 5 percent of gross domestic product, Independent Sector says.

In 2008, volunteer labor amounted to the equivalent of 6.9 million full-time employees, increasing the charitable workforce by over half.

Roughly 61.8 million Americans, or 26.4 percent of the adult population, gave eight billion hours of volunteer service worth $162 billion in 2008, the most recent year for which data from the Corporation for are available.

Youth get an Art Head Start

This article, written by reporter Monique Cohen, first appeared in the April 9, 2010, Newport NewsTimes.

In celebration of the Week of the Young Child, children’s artwork from Community Services Consortium Head Start students in Lincoln County will be on display and for sale [April 11-17] at various locations in Toledo, Newport and Lincoln City.

Little hands have been busy creating watercolors and collages, as well as weaving with fabric and yarn and creating masks based on book characters, such as cats. Some of the three and four-year-old students’ art on display has a spring theme with images of trees and flowers. Proceeds from the art sale will benefit The Friends of Head Start and Head Start programs throughout Lincoln County.

The Week of the Young Child is sponsored by the National Association for the education of Young Children (NAEYC) to draw attention to the needs of young children and their families. The week, established by NAEYC in 1971, also recognizes early childhood programs and services that help young children. CSC Head Start is taking applications for 2010-2011 enrollment for children who are 3 or 4 years of age by Sept. 1, 2010.

CSC Head Start is located in Toledo, Newport and Lincoln City. Families of children with developmental disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, visit the facility at 253 NE First Avenue in Newport, or call 541-574-7690.

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.

10 Quick Ways to Cut Your Energy Bills

The following energy saving tips come from the 'in the know' energy education folks in CSC's Emergency Services department.

#1 Control your Thermostat
68° is the recommended heat setting for your thermostat. For each degree above you set your thermostat, your heating cost will increase 3-5%. Turning your thermostat down at night and while you are away will lower your energy cost. Once you have set your thermostat to a temperature that works for you, leave it alone, constantly adjusting it cost you money!

#2 Let the Heat Flow
Check and clean or replace your furnace filter once a month during heating season. Vacuum the fins of electric baseboards. Let warm air circulate. Don’t block heat sources with curtains or furniture. Use ceiling fans to circulate warm air, and prevent it from escaping through the ceiling.

#3 Help your windows keep you warm
Low cost improvements to your windows will keep you warm! Closing drapes, shades and curtains will help keep heat from escaping out windows, especially at night! Caulk around window and door frames from the inside to plug air leaks. Using rope foam between sliding window frames can help stop warm air from escaping. Installing low cost plastic window coverings will help keep heat in, while still allowing light to come through!

#4 Plug air leaks in your home
Plugging holes where warm air escapes, will help keep your home warm. Common places o find air leaks: around pluming pipes, under electrical outlets and light switch overs, around windows, around door frames, attic and crawl space hatches, around even vents, Holes can be sealed using spray foam, rope foam, calking, rope calk, and weather stripping.

# 5 Set your hot water heater to 120°
Your water heater is the second largest user of energy in the typical home. Turning down the temperature, can cut the cost significantly.

# 6 Insulate your Water Heater
If your hot water heater is in the garage, basement, crawlspace or even outside, you could save over $20 per year by insulating it! Some utility companies will come and insulate your hot water heater for free! Contact your utility company today to find out if they do.

# 7 Install water saving shower heads and aerators
New shower heads and aerators are easy to install, and can significantly cut down water heating costs. For a 10 minute shower, installing a low flow shower head can save about 15¢ per shower. That is a savings that will really add up over time!

# 8 Wash clothes in cold water
It takes about 40¢ per load in energy costs to wash clothes in hot water. By washing one load a week in cold water instead of hot can save you about $20 a year!

#9 Save Energy with your Refrigerator
Refrigerators and freezers can cost between $8-$20 a month! Using them efficiently can cut this cost! Set your Refrigerator temperature to between 38°-40°. Freezers should be set around 0°. Keep liquids in your refrigerator covered.

#10 Put your energy-saving plan into action
Get your whole family involved. Have each family member try one or two simple changes in the major ways they use energy! Start with heating, hot water and appliances. After your have made energy saving changes, watch for savings on your next full month’s energy bill!

More chances coming for adults to receive Oregon Health Plan coverage

ODHS Press Release

Two drawings from the reservation list happening in May

Two Oregonians, one in Redmond and one in Grants Pass, have something in common: They have the security of health care because they are now on the Oregon Health Plan (OHP).

The two are part of a newly insured group of Oregonians, thanks to new openings for adults on OHP. The state is encouraging low-income uninsured Oregonians to sign up today in order to not miss an opportunity to receive health care.
Demand for the Oregon Health Plan is so high that the state is maintaining a reservation list of people who want to apply for OHP, and then drawing from that list to find people who qualify based on income. In the next month there will be drawings on May 3 and May 21. People are encouraged to sign up for the list before the drawings.

The state of the economy means more people are losing health care that they previously received through their employers. Brandy Princehorn, a mother of three from Redmond, and her husband added their names to the reservation list and now have health care coverage.

“Getting on the Oregon Health Plan has been amazing for us,” says Princehorn. “My husband was laid off his job about a year ago and we have not had health care insurance since then. Knowing we are covered now and can see a doctor is a huge relief,” she said.

Others, such as Sandra Rothkamm from Grants Pass who has not had health care insurance for seven years, are now receiving coverage after being without for many years.

“I am looking forward to getting a check-up at long last and some lab work to help me determine some medical issues I have been having but could not afford to see a doctor,” she says.


The state has funding to add some 35,000 adult Oregonians to the Oregon Health Plan Standard thanks to legislation passed in 2009. The state estimates that some 140,000 qualify based on income.

“In order for your name to be drawn, you have to get on the list. So we strongly encourage people to sign up today,” says Judy Mohr Peterson, director of the Division of Medical Assistance Programs, which administers the plan.
In order to ensure that all qualified Oregonians receive an equal opportunity for care, the Oregon Health Authority maintains an open reservation list and holds regular drawings. People whose names are drawn will receive an application packet that asks them questions about income and residency that determine if they are qualified for OHP.

To be added to the reservation list, low-income Oregonians should call 1-800-699-9075 or 711 TTY, or visit the website at www.ohplist.oregon.gov. Reservation request forms are also available at local Department of Human Services’ offices, local county health departments, and most hospitals and health care clinics.

OHP Standard covers physician services, prescription drugs, mental health and addiction services, emergency medical services and limited dental, hospital and vision services. Adults in the program pay monthly premiums ranging from nothing to $20, depending on income and household size. There are currently approximately 25,700 adults on the Oregon Health Plan.

While there is a reservation list for adults and income limits for the Oregon Health Plan, health officials point out that with the Oregon Healthy Kids program, all Oregon children — regardless of their parents’ income or status on the OHP list — are eligible for health care.

“Even if parents are still on the waiting list for their health care, they can add their children today,” says Mohr Peterson. “We hope that people will sign their kids up right away.”
To sign up for the Healthy Kids Plan, call 1-877-314-5678 or visit the Healthy Kids website at www.oregonhealthykids.gov.

In Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties, call CSC's Healthy Kids toll free number at 1-888-957-8652.

Students tackle Gill’s Landing ivy

Democrat-Herald,
April 26, 2010

Photo by Jesse Skoubo/Democrat-Herald.

Keenan Costelow of Lebanon and Roderick Lonsinger of Albany hack and pry at a tree covered in English Ivy on a trail near Gill's Landing in Lebanon on Saturday. More than 30 high school students from the Santiam Wilderness Academy, YouthBuild, and Lebanon High School worked to plant trees and remove more than 1,000 pounds of the invasive ivy Saturday during a SOLV event in honor of Global Youth Service Day.

The project is an opportunity for students and young people to make a positive impact in their community, explained Hilary McAlister, an AmeriCorps VISTA coordinator at the CSC Lebanon Regional Office.

CSC’s YouthBuild Americorps Students Meet With Linn County Commissioners

Linn County Commissioner, Will Tucker greeted CSC’s YouthBuild Americorps students at the entrance to the Linn County Courthouse April 21st. He arranged for them to see a video on the role of Oregon’s 36 counties. Afterwards they attended the Board of Commissioners April 21st meeting.

The three Linn County commissioners , John Lindsey, William Tucker and Board Chairman, Roger Nyquist welcomed the 9 students and 3 teachers from the Community Services Consortium’s Lebanon program. Students in YouthBuild learn construction and job skills while they work on completing their education. YouthBuild gives dropouts the opportunity to get a GED or High School diploma. YouthBuild students contribute 450 hours to their community during the nine-month program.

Students, Colton Ringheimer and Khristian Magelssen gave short presentations to the Board about their YouthBuild experiences, including these highlights:
Students:
• Built two homes, one in Lebanon and one in Albany
• Finished a sock drive project for the homeless and collected 238 pairs of socks
• Learned job skills through building homes for low income families
• Completed a week -long boot camp in electrical skills, learning to draw circuits and how to wire a complete house.

“Soon, YouthBuild will help me obtain my certification in wildland fire fighting for the summer,” Ringheimer said. “And then, I plan to go to college so I can join the Marine Corp.”

“After YouthBuild, I plan to do either the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) apprenticeship training to become a Journeyman electrician or attend college for a bachelors degree in Business Administration, said Magelssen. “But either way, I ultimately plan on going to Officer Candidate School for the Marines.

The students also visited the Linn County Environmental Health Department to see how it affects building and they received an outline on looking for information and permit application process in the Planning and Building Department.

RSVP Says Thank You To Volunteers

Volunteers are putting together gift bags for their fellow volunteers.

RSVP, a CSC program, has a very nice way of saying thank you to their dedicated volunteers who have donated their time to many non-profit agencies in Linn and Benton counties.

The bags, filled with items donated by RSVP Advisory Council members and Samaritan Health Services, were delivered to hundreds of volunteers to honor them during National Volunteer Week.

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

Volunteer In Your Community

National Volunteer Week has grown exponentially in scope each year since 1974. It draws the support and endorsement of all subsequent U.S. presidents, governors, mayors, and respected elected officials.

National Volunteer Week is all about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities.

Below are a number of ways to volunteers in your community

CORVALLIS:
Volunteer at the Linn Benton Food Share Warehouse on the last Thursday of each month (except Holidays) from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. All are welcome. Bring the whole family. It's a wonderful chance to teach your children how to contribute to the community. The next opportunity to volunteer will be May 27th, 2010. For more information, call Susan James at (541) 758-2645.

NEWPORT:
SOLV Cleanups
YAQUINA RIVER SPRING CLEANUP, Yaquina River – Mouth to Idaho Point, Newport, May 16th, 9 AM – NOON: Thompson's Sanitary in Newport and Georgia Pacific in Toledo are coordinating a clean up of the river bank and roadway along Yaquina Bay Road followed by a barbeque (location of BBQ to be determined). Activities include: Cleanup and lunch. Great prizes will be handed out after the event – there will be a $500 prize for the largest group, a $100 pizza feed for second largest group and many draw prizes for everyone to get a shot at. Info & Registration: Oregon Adopt-A-River or contact Lisa Kellenberger, Lisa@thompsonsanitary.com, 541-265-7249 x1.


BENTON AND LINN COUNTIES:
Visit LBVision See our one-time opportunities page for volunteer opportunities at upcoming community events.

Youth attend 'boot camp'

By Alex Paul, Albany Democrat-Herald Posted: Thursday, April 15, 2010 3:00 pm

Amber Rodriguez, 23, of Lebanon, left, is instructed by volunteer Nathan Allen of Lebanon during an electrical training boot camp Wednesday at the Central Electrical Training Center in Tangent. (David Patton/Democrat-Herald)

One minute Amber Rodriguez was standing on a ladder working on a recessed ceiling light box and the next she was on her knees, stripping electrical wires protruding from a switch box. The 23-year-old high school dropout is one of seven CSC Youth Build Americorps students spending four days at an electrical boot camp held at the Central Electrical Training Center in Tangent. Another class of seven students completed training last week.

“I wasn’t doing anything and at 23 decided I needed to get going,” Rodriguez said of her decision to sign up for Youth Build. “I’m enjoying learning about construction and this boot camp is fun.” Rodriguez said she is considering looking for work in the construction field after completing the nine-month Youth Build program, but is also interested in corrections jobs.

“The boot camp is fun, but it has also been frustrating at times,” Rodriguez said. “I’m starting to get the hang of it.”

Dan Blondell is a veteran electrician who is helping guide the students as they wire a scaled-down version of a home within the training center. He said he is impressed with the students. Youth Build workers put the walls up a couple weeks ago and rooms bear labels such as “bathroom” or “kitchen.”

“They are learning to work on everything from switches to receptacles to lights,” said Blondell, who has been an electrician for more than 32 years. “We hope this gives them some orientation to the electrical trades and perhaps introduce them to what the electrical trades are all about.”

Tony Frazier is a construction trainer and Lasette Doherty is the program coordinator for Youth Build. They were on site Wednesday. Shortly after lunch, students worked hurriedly to complete wiring projects because a Linn County inspector was scheduled to visit at 3 p.m. to look over their work, just like on a real job site.

CSC Youth Build Americorps is based in Lebanon and works with 28 low-income students ages 16 to 24 who have dropped out of high school or are struggling to stay in school, Frazier said. There are about seven students in each class, Frazier said, and they combine classroom work with hands-on activities such as helping with Habitat for Humanity houses in both Lebanon and Sweet Home. In addition to classes and construction training, the students receive a stipend of about $550 per month for their efforts.

John Roosa, 20, dropped out of Lebanon High School as a junior and has been doing odd jobs ever since. He was busy Wednesday setting up an electrical breaker box.
“I want to do something with my hands,” Roosa said. “I’m going to learn to be a wildland firefighter this summer. I think I would like to be an electrician.”

In addition to Rodriguez and Roosa, this week’s class included Mike Martin, Steve Lytle, Brian Christie, Khristian Magelssen and John Pembleton.