Linn Benton Food Share Receives Diabetes Grant

CSC's Linn Benton Food Share was among four community organizations to receive grants from the Diabetes Health Promotion Memorial Trust to provide education, services and supplies for people with diabetes in Benton County.

Linn Benton Food Share received $250 to determine the needs for diabetes information for people served by Food Share. Contact Susan James, Gleaning/Volunteer programs Coordinator for more information at (541) 758-2645

CSC in place to respond to green job skills

Published in the Spring Issue of THE PROMISE Magazine, Community Action Partnership, the National Association of Community Action Agencies

By Janet Hessel, Editor /Communications Coordinator and Sharee Cooper, Program Manager, Workforce & Education Program, Community Services Consortium, Corvallis, OR


Participants from CSC's Weatherization Training Program perform Weatherization work on a mobile home.

Community Services Consortium (CSC) is in the forefront of Oregon’s response to the increasing demand for green jobs skills. The CSC Weatherization Training Program has seen a constant stream of older youth, adults, and dislocated workers from Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties since last summer when the program began with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ( ARRA) Workforce stimulus funds.

A 3,000 square foot Weatherization Training Center in Corvallis is the site where the action begins. Weatherization, energy efficiency, conservation, and safety methods are taught in the multimedia-equipped instruction area. The Weatherization Training Center contains a learning lab that allows trainees to practice and demonstrate all weatherization techniques that are utilized in the field. The weatherization diagnostics and energy conservation lab allows for multiple training and testing events. Models in the center represent a single-wide mobile home, a site built attic, interior and exterior walls, under-floors, and more. By the time a trainee goes to the field there will be no surprises.

The CSC Weatherization Training Program is a unique collaboration between the Workforce & Education and the Weatherization departments. CSC operates a Weatherization Assistance Program that is free to moderate and low-income families. This program has in the past weatherized about 200 houses per year but recent ARRA stimulus funding has doubled its capacity and increased the need for trained workers. CSC’s Weatherization Training Program provides a unique opportunity for trainees to get real hands-on experience side-by-side on actual weatherization projects.

In addition to providing training opportunities for unemployed workers, customized training options are available to contractors, businesses, Weatherization Assistance Programs, and other educational institutions. In total, 132 individuals have received training since the program’s inception and another 80 are already registered for upcoming spring trainings. The program has recently been awarded an additional $450,000 through the Linn, Benton, Lincoln Workforce Investment Board to serve 175 people over the next 2 years.

Weatherization Trainers Jerry McGuire and Dennis Feeney are in constant motion in the classroom, or with trainees at job sites. Their busy Spring Schedule includes hosting nationally recognized certification workshops in such areas as lead safety for construction workers, energy efficiency and building science training for contractors, energy auditing and even pre-apprenticeship for high school students.

“We are not only teaching people weatherization job skills but also to understand energy efficiency and conservation to evaluate their own energy uses and apply the techniques they learn at their own homes,” said McGuire.

Lesson stays despite teacher’s departure

By Amanda Robbins, Albany Democrat-Herald

Tara Keuter, 11, holds a bag open as Jaime Viramontes, 11, fills a bag with cereal he scooped out of a box. (Photo by Mark Ylen/Democrat-Herald)

Monday was bittersweet at the Linn Benton Food Share. It was the last day that Karen Sundseth would bring her class from St. Mary's School to volunteer. For the last seven years, one day a month, her fifth-graders have skipped their morning and lunch recesses to spend an hour helping at the food share.

And for the last three years, St. Mary's School has shut down one morning a year so the whole school can volunteer for a couple of hours."This is a great service project and necessary for our community," said Sundseth, who is cutting back next year to substitute teaching so she can care for her ailing mother.

"It also teaches our gospel values, like helping the poor," she said, as well as about problem solving and cooperation in the real world.Susan James, the volunteer and gleaning program coordinator, said Sundseth's class always is a big help.

"Volunteers allow us to accept large quantities of food," James said. "We couldn't do it without our volunteers."

She brought cupcakes and flowers Monday to thank the students and Sundseth for the many years of service. Both James and Sundseth agree that the kids are serious about what they do at the food share.

"They ask great questions about where the food comes from and where it is going," James said.The kids say they enjoy the hour away from class to help the needy.

"This is fun," said Christian Campbell, 11. "I am glad I can help all the people."Alex Delsman, 10, said that it was good for the community.

"These kids just love coming out," Sundseth said.St. Mary's intends to keep the program going, although it hasn't yet selected a teacher to assume Sundseth's role.
Last year, Linn Benton Food Share distributed more than 4.7 million pounds of food to 74 agencies.

To volunteer, call Susan James at 541-758-2645. A Community Repack Open House is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. the last Thursday of every month, which is later this week on May 27.

Protect Yourself and Your Money

A lunchtime lecture focusing on the most common frauds and scams reported in Oregon — A light lunch and refreshments will be provided.


June 14, 2010
12:00—1:30 pm
Citizens Bank, Corvallis
275 SW Third St
RSVP: 541-812-0849

Sponsored by CSC Linn-Benton RSVP, Citizens Bank, and the Department of Justice

CSC Crew Members Complete Fire Hall Remodel and Art Park in Toledo

CSC’s youth crew, Remington Iverson, Ashley DeVries, Joseph Jensen, John Weaver and CSC teacher Peter Lohonyay (mid-photo) take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony along with Port of Toledo officials and local artists.

Community Services Consortium's (CSC) Lincoln County work crew cuts the ribbon on the completion of the Port of Toledo’s rehabilitation of the “Old Toledo Fire Hall” and grounds. The open space was developed into a beautiful sculpture garden displaying the work of local artists. As the work sells it will be replaced with new pieces. The ceremony held May 21st was also a celebration of the Port of Toledo’s 100th birthday.

At the end of the ceremony, each crew member thanked the people involved in his or her tenure as a crew member. All plan to use their training in the future.

John Weaver is hoping to work on the Port’s Boat House construction as part of the port development plan.

Ashley DeVries has plans to continue in the construction trade. “It runs in the family,” she said as she points to her father, who is all smiles at Ashley’s accomplishments as a CSC construction crew member.

Frank Aguilar will go into the new CSC welding training course based on local employer needs.

The locally focused welding training is a collaborative effort involving Workforce Investment Act funding from CSC and space from the Lincoln County School District. The training will supply each student with the skills needed for welding including forklift, OSHA, CPR, and first aid certification and a full set of tools for work.

CSC Lincoln County has remaining openings in the welding program for qualified youth (aged 18 to 21) call for further information (541) 265-8505.

Additional Opportunities at CSC:
There are remaining spaces for qualified youth ( age 16 and up) for natural resource crews in most CSC offices.
Contact:
Newport CSC: 120 NE Avery Street, Newport, OR 97365 (541)265-8505
Corvallis CSC: 545 SW 2nd St., Suite A, Corvallis, OR 97333 (541) 752-1010
Lebanon CSC: 380 Market Street, Lebanon, OR 97355 (541) 451-1071

The Lebanon CSC office will also be recruiting Youths from Linn County (ages 16 – 24) for YouthBuild starting in late summer (541) 451-1071

Oregon Telephone Assistance Program (OTAP) & Link-Up America

OTAP: Oregonians who receive one of the following qualifying benefits may receive up to a $13.50 reduction in their monthly bill for local residential telephone service:

Food Stamps
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
Supplemental Security Income
Certain State Medical Programs or Medicaid

LINK-UP AMERICA: Helps qualified low-income individuals by paying for one-half (up to $30) of the line-connection charges for new residential telephone service.

*Note: If a person qualifies only for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, they will only be eligible for Link-Up America, and not for OTAP.
http://www.puc.state.or.us/PUC/rspf/otapapp.pdf

HOW TO APPLY: To apply for equipment, to obtain an application for OTAP and/or Link-Up America, or for more information about the Residential Service Protection Fund (RSPF) Programs, please contact the RSPF staff TOLL FREE at 1-800-848-4442 or (503) 373-7171 in Salem; TTY users can call 1-800-648-3458; or write to: Public Utility Commission of Oregon • RSPF PO Box 2148 • Salem OR 97308-2148


TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES ACCESS PROGRAM (TDAP)

TDAP: Loans specialized telephone equipment at no cost and with no income restrictions to eligible Oregonians who are deaf, hearing, vision, speech, and mobility impaired.

OREGON TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICE (OTRS)

The Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service OTRS: Customers who have TTY (text telephone for the deaf, hearing, or speech impaired) may dial 7-1-1 to reach a relay operator. The relay operator types the conversation to the TTY user. Voice, or standard, users may also use OTRS to contact their deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled family or friends.

AVAILABLE SERVICES:

CapTel
Hearing Carry Over (HCO)
Voice Carry Over (VCO)
Speech to Speech (STS)

Rotary River Run

The Rotary Corvallis After Five club is planning a fun run fundraiser Saturday morning, June 5th, 2010, called the Rotary River Run, which will take place along the Downtown Corvallis riverfront.

Details:
Saturday June 5, 2010
Packet pickup and race day registration 8:00-8:45 a.m.
5K run starts at 9 a.m., $15 Until May 31, $20 Starting June 1.
1 mile kids run, Starts at 10 a.m., Raceday registration only,$3 or 5 canned food items.

Start/Finish for both Races: Downtown Corvallis Waterfront Lot at 2nd & Western
the registration fee will benefit Linn-Benton Food Share as well as local Rotary service projects.

Meet Mack the Knight of the Corvallis Knights Baseball Team!

Awards for 5K Run-Walk and 1 Mile Kids Run!

Stories of homelessness focus of fundraiser

Robinson’s story will be one of six featured next Tuesday (May 25th) in a benefit for Partners Place, a supported living project designed to get hardcore homeless people off the street.

Sponsored by the Corvallis Homeless Shelter Coalition, “Helping the Homeless” will begin at 7 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre, 115 S.W. Second St.

Based on interviews with a half-dozen Corvallis street people, local writers Jane Sivetz and Wendy Madar compiled condensed versions of their life stories, which will be read at the event.

Local musicians Paul Pritchard and Cassandra Robertson will perform as well.

The coalition hopes to buy and renovate a fire-damaged apartment building at Northwest Harrison Boulevard and 17th Street. Partners Place would house 14 to 18 people and connect them with support services designed to help them become independent and stay off the streets.

The organization must raise $85,000 in matching funds by November in order to qualify for $250,000 in federal housing money. Additional grants will be used to cover the $780,000 purchase price of the building, renovation costs and startup expenses.

Residents would pay one-third of their income in rent, and most would likely qualify for government housing subsidies, which would help pay for services and upkeep on the building.

Admission to “Helping the Homeless” is free, but attendees will be asked to contribute to the Partners Place project. For reservations, contact Gina Umble at 541-754-7380 or e-mail gkumble@gmail.com.

Four Community Services Consortium Programs receive Grants

Community Services Consortium (CSC) recently received $38,500 from Trust Management Services, of Waldport, Oregon for four CSC programs.

“We are delighted to receive funding from Trust Management Services,” said Martha Lyon, Executive Director of Community Services Consortium. “It allows us to strengthen our programs and helps us provide uninterrupted services, especially when we are seeing more requests for help.”

CSC’s Linn Benton Food Share received $10,000 to help support the fuel costs for trucking in the Fresh Alliance/Food Rescue program. Six thousand dollars of the money will be used to supply local gleaning programs with gas vouchers. There are forty-eight hundred low-income people in 14 gleaning groups in Linn and Benton counties. Gleaners collect donated food while sharing half with elderly and disabled people as well as community food pantries. The gas vouchers help them with the costs to collect and transport the food.

CSC’s Community Housing Services program received $10,000. “We are receiving a rising number of calls about foreclosure and this grant will stabilize our foreclosure counseling program,” said Tom Hatley, Director of Community Housing Services program. “We can help local residents understand the choices they may have in terms of their mortgage issues.”

Retired Senior Volunteer Program received $8,500 to assist with Senior Peer Counseling, a program that helps people aged 55 and older who are experiencing a difficult time in their lives, whether from a grievous loss, health problem, or a transition from a home they may have lived in for many years.

The Workforce & Education Program is the final program to receive funding in the amount of $10,000 from Trust Management Services. The money will be used by their nonprofit program, Housing Employment and Learning Programs for Self Sufficiency (HELPS) for the Youth Garden Project to purchase supplies and to help pay stipends for youth summer jobs.

Tom Cope, CSC’s Resource Development Officer, said “We appreciate these grants from Trust Management Services to CSC. It helps us provide better services to the people we serve.”

Community Services Consortium (CSC) is the state-designated Community Action Agency serving Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. CSC provides a wide range of services to low and moderate income individuals and families. CSC helps with employment, job training skills, food, housing, weatherization, housing rehabilitation, education and volunteer opportunities. For more information, or to support CSC and its many programs, please contact the administrative office at (541) 752-1010 or visit www.communityservices.us.

Land Trusts’ First Home – A New Beginning

This update was provided by the Housing and Community Resources Department's own Benjamin Baggett.

In several months, the Lincoln Community Land Trust will make available it’s very first affordable home in Lincoln County. The house, located at 2219 NE 28th Street in Lincoln City, will be available to a well deserving and qualified family. With four bedrooms, a two car garage, and plenty of yard space it would serve even a larger family well. The property also comes with an accessory dwelling for additional living area. It’s location on a wooded lot provides safe outdoor recreation for children as well.

The purchase is made possible by Neighborhood Stabilization Funds and assistance from the Lincoln City government. While there are still a few weeks until closing, there are no anticipated delays after the purchase contract was signed. The land trust plans to make needed improvements on the home well before the first family arrives. This may include repairs to roof, and some interior renovation.

Once ready, the land trust will prepare to sell the home to a qualified family. The homebuyer will be responsible for the loan as in a normal purchase. However, the benefit offered by the land trust to achieve affordability is to reduce the amount to be paid for the home. To do so, the land trust retaining ownership of the land, removes that from the cost of the property. The homeowner is only responsible for the home purchase and even that is sold at a reduced rate. An effective model in now over 200 land trusts across the United States, and popular in the Northwest, this is the first step in making affordable home ownership possible in Lincoln County.

The land trust has much work to do to put their planning into action. Formed in 2008,the land trust board has steadily planned its way to this day. With the mission of providing affordable homes to working individuals and families in Lincoln County, it is close to making it a reality. This event hopefully marks the beginning of many to come, as the land trust board and volunteers work to provide affordable home ownership opportunities in Lincoln County.

Letter Carriers Food Drive Results

Corvallis volunteers (photo left) are sorting food at the CSC parking in Corvallis where it was dropped off by letter carriers while Albany volunteers (photo right) sort their bags of food on the post office dock in Albany. All the food is loaded into totes and transported to the Linn Benton Food Share warehouse in Tangent.

The Albany, Corvallis, and Lebanon postal employees really delivered for this year's National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive on May 8th. These generous men and women, with the help of many community volunteers, brought in 68,086 pounds of food and $300 in cash from their communities. CSC and Linn Benton Food Share send thanks to everyone for contributing their food, time, and money and a special thank you to our local letter carriers.

Albany Pounds: 29,014
Lebanon Pounds: 11,060
Corvallis Pounds: 28,012 Cash: $300
Total Converted 71,086

Nation-wide, the Food collected for charities in the mail carriers annual food drive has passed a billion pounds.

The National Association of Letter Carriers said results from just over 400 union branches across the country show last Saturday's "Stamp Out Hunger" drive collected 19.7 million pounds of food for donation to local food banks. That means that in the 18 years it has been operating the mail carriers have collected more than 1 billion pounds of food.

Families can learn about their eligibility for services quickly, easily and privately!

Oregon Helps is pleased to announce its award winning website at http://www.oregonhelps.org/ just got even better! To date, over 28,000 Oregonians have used the site to quickly and easily learn about their eligibility for services from a computer in the privacy of their home, local library, friend’s house or a non-profit agency. Now the site has been completely upgraded and is even more user friendly and accurate!

Oregon Helps is a free and easy to use web-based self screening tool that asks visitors a few questions about their income and expenses. The site then estimates their potential eligibility for 33 federal, state and local services—such as food stamps (now known as SNAP), Oregon Health Plan, Medicare and emergency food assistance. It even includes services specific to each of the 36 counties in Oregon. It then provides the visitor with information about how to apply for each of those services. Any information provided is completely confidential and anonymous – the program never even asks for the visitor’s name! Users can take the program in four languages: English, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese.

Oregon Helps at www.OregonHelps.org has transformed the often frustrating and time consuming process of seeking social services or assistance. Instead of making numerous phone calls or driving to different locations, consumers can learn about available services in a short session (5-15 minutes) that can be completed on any computer with Internet access. Oregon Helps sessions can happen anywhere, anytime, and as many times as one wants.

We need your help in getting the word out. Please forward this email announcement to all your contacts and networks. To order or download flyers & posters, find a short article you can put in your newsletters, and learn how to provide a link to Oregon Helps from your own website, go to: www.oregonhelps.org/information. Together we can combat poverty by increasing low income families and individuals access to services throughout Oregon!