Ed Dee to perform for We Care

Second Saturdays Benefit Concert Series for a better world
presents guitarist, singer/songwriter Ed Dee in a benefit concert for We Care,
Corvallis-Benton County Council of Religious Organizations
financial assistance to Benton County residents in need

Saturday, April 14th, 6-8pm
Sunnyside Up Cafe
116 NW 3rd St., Corvallis
We suggest a $5 donation at the door

Ed Dee is an acclaimed performing artist, singer/songwriter, guitar man in Corvallis, Oregon and in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ed Dee has produced over 60 original songs and 3 professionally-produced CDs. His CDs feature some of the best musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a teenager, Ed was already recognized as an up-and-coming songwriter and musician by SF Chronicle entertainment critic, John Wasserman, and performers such as Country Joe McDonald, who performed one of Ed's songs on tour. For an evening of fine, local music for an excellent cause, please join us on Saturday, April 14th.

We Care provides one time assistance to Benton County residence who find themselves in urgent financial need, with more than 60% of available funds provided for children, our most vulnerable citizens. Although the greater percentage of assistance goes for housing needs, We Care also assists with medical costs, utilities, transportation, and other necessities. Requests are brought to the We Care staff from Community Services Consortium (CSC). 98% of funds go directly to those in need. We care is a non-profit agency with 503-(c) (3) tas status.

Second Saturdays Benefit Concert Series is sponsored by: Veterans for Peace, Linus Pauling Chapter 132, (vfpcorvallis.org) and Corvallis Alternatives to War

Volunteers Celebrated

RSVP Volunteers Dan Haake, Peggy Adams, Lucille Rapp, Ann Rice receive the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Will Tucker and John Lindsey

RSVP, a program of Community Services Consortium recognized volunteers in Linn County this past fall. Linn County Commissioners were invited to hand out 18 presidential awards Gold Awardees (500+ hours per year) and 4 Lifetime Awardees (4000+ volunteer hours.)

A Free Class to Understand Basic Medicare

Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance – SHIBA – is holding Medicare classes in several locations in Linn and Benton County. The classes cover the basics of Medicare. The class is designed for anyone eligible or new to Medicare. It is a valuable class for current beneficiaries that would like a better understanding of their Medicare benefits and options for changes. Spouses and other relatives are welcome to attend the class as well.

SHIBA trained counselors:
· Provide confidential service
· Provide assistance to Medicare beneficiaries with unbiased information regarding health insurance decisions
· Provide advocacy services for consumers with claims, appeals and complaints

Preregistration is required. To register for any of the dates and locations
please call 541-812-0849

Corvallis: April 19, 2012 1:30-3:30pm Timberhill Athletic Club
2855 NW 29th S Street, Corvallis
Sweet Home: May 10, 2012 10am-noon Sweet Home Senior Center
880 18th Avenue, Sweet Home
Corvallis: June 21, 2012 1:30-3:30pm LBCC Benton Center
757 NW Polk Avenue, Albany

SHIBA (Senior health Insurance Benefits Assistance is a Community Services Consortium’s RSVP Program

Cookin' Up Good! Songwriters Food Share Benefit

Ralph Penunuri, Sid Beam and John Donoghue with songs to spice up and dish.

Cookin' Up Good! Songs to spice up any dish! Songs to fill your heart & soul

On March 31, three uniquely individual local songwriters are bringing their music on with jam to family-friendly Imagine Coffee Live Arts, 5460 SW Philomath Blvd. at 53rd St., Corvallis.

John Donoghue of Wild Hog in the Woods, Sid Beam of Gumbo and Ralph Penunuri of the Amazing Acorn Bros. are set for a rousing celebration of music, good will and food.

Event beneficiary, Linn-Benton Food Share, distributed nearly 5 million pounds of food around Linn-Benton Counties last year, with a half-time staff of eight, two drivers and many volunteers. This benefit celebration will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. There is a sliding scale donation of $5 and up, though no one will be refused admission.

Pastini Pasta-Thon

Lower Your Hunger While Raising Money For a Good Cause

Date: Monday and Tuesday, March 26 & 27th
Location: Pastini

NW 9th & Garfield, Corvallis, OR

Support HandsOn Linn-Benton on Monday and Tuesday, March 26 & 27 between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Delicious food, good friends, serving a worthy cause – what could be better!
Take-out food counts too! Make sure you mention to your waiter that you are dining for HandsOn, and Pastini's will donate 50% of the net proceeds to HandsOn.

HandsOn Linn-Benton: Promotes volunteerism by connecting people of all ages, diverse backgrounds, and skills to community organizations that value volunteers.

a Bright Spot at the Coastal Carvers Show

CSC Head Start of Lincoln City displayed childrens’ art work featuring the sea at the Coastal Carvers of Lincoln City Annual Carving Show.

Head Start was thrilled to receive a photo of their display, a letter thanking them for “one of the bright spots of the show” and a check for $1000. Head Start was chosen as a local organization to share in the income from their show.

Thank You, Coastal Carvers

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.

HEAD START of Lincoln County still accepting applications for this school year

Applications Can Be Submitted For Fall of 2012 Beginning March 1st

The CSC Head Start program is open to Lincoln County children ages three and four, based on family income eligibility, needs assessment and space availability. It is important to make application for the current school year because children may be accepted into classrooms throughout the year.

If your child will be eligible in September of 2012, then you may submit applications for the coming year beginning MARCH 1st.

It is never too early to plan for your child’s education needs.
Call Us For More Information:

• Lincoln City (541) 996-3028
• Toledo (541) 336-5113
• Newport (541) 574 -7690

South African Youth Visit Food Share Warehouse

Linn Benton Food share Warehouse had volunteers from South Africa. Eight youth and two chaperons took part in the Oregon State University Extension 4-H International Program Youth Leadership Program. The program was designed to increase leadership capacity, civic engagement, multicultural communication and community service.

While the group was in the Corvallis area they toured the Food Share warehouse, learned how Linn Benton Food Share solicits and distributes nearly 5 million pounds of food each year. They also got a hands-on experience by repackaging bulk cereal. They spent several hours putting the cereal into family sized packages which will go into emergency food boxes.

OSU Extension 4-H provided a two week structured program for the visitors. It was supported by a grant from the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Get Your Taxes Done For FREE / Access EITC

File your taxes for FREE and access the Earned Income Tax Credit – a refundable federal income tax credit for eligible low-income working individuals and families.

If you worked during 2011, and your household earned income was less than $49,078 you may be eligible to claim and receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) of up to $5,751*

How Do I Qualify for EITC? Be a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident; Have a valid Social security number; Earned income during 2011; Earned less than $49,078 (total household) in 2011; EITC refund amounts can range from $1 to $5,751

What Should I Bring With Me? People should bring their Social Security Card or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for each family member, W-2 forms for all jobs worked in 2011, all 1099 forms for other income, all 1098 E & T forms for education expenditures, childcare provider information, picture identification and a copy of their 2010 income tax return.
For more information: Call (541) 602-5829

To access free, on-line tax filing services, and access the Earned Income Tax Credit, please go to: www.communityservices.us/aarp_tax_aide.htm

To see list of free tax aid places to visit, please go to http://www.communityservices.us/documents/CompassSpring2012.pdf

Make sure your child has continuous health coverage

Let us help you apply for the Healthy Kids program, Oregon’s healthcare coverage for residents up to age 19.

We can also find the renewal date for your Healthy Kids plan.

Call today: Linn and Benton Counties: Jeannie Ramsey 541-270-4445
Lincoln County: Cristina Simpson 541-921-8158

CSC Helps Partner Agency With Solar Array

Community Services Consortium (CSC) is helping its partner agency, Community Outreach (COI) get a portion of its electricity from the sun. The design and installation of a solar photovoltaic electric system on COI’s rooftop was possible through CSC’s Sustainable Resources for Consumers Program (SERC).

The SERC program, an extension of the CSC’s Weatherization Department, provides renewable energy measures to reduce electricity expenses to agencies serving people who are at 200% or below the poverty threshold.

“We estimate that the solar array will supply over 25% of community Outreach’s annual electricity needs,” said Benjamin Baggett, CSC’s SERC Program Manager.

The US Department of Energy funds the Sustainable Resources for Consumers (SERC) program. They, along with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $90 million nationwide for SERC projects. Based on an outstanding record of service, CSC was one of just five agencies to receive funds from Oregon Housing and Community Services who awarded the $7 million received by the state to provide SERC services. Advanced Energy Systems designed and installed the system.