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.

A Committed Commissioner

Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall reads to CSC Head Start children in Newport. In addition to being an advocate for children and serving on the Governing Board for Community Services Consortium, Mr. Hall also is committed to visiting and reading to classrooms in Newport every month.

“I was really happy to have the opportunity to do this,” said Commissioner Hall. “So much of what we do as a board of directors for CSC is at the 10-thousand foot level--big issues of personnel, policy and budget. I thought it was important to remind myself of what all of that is really all about--the children. Our future!”

"After his first visit', he told us it was the highlight of his week," said CSC Head Start Director, Suzanne Miller. "The children enjoyed the reading very much and knew one of their favorite books so well that they quoted some of the passages from memory. It was quite a morning!"

Learn to be good tenant and get a second chance

Second Chance CSC's Renter Rehabilitation is a program for people who have low incomes and who are unable to obtain housing, due to poor credit and/or a poor rental history.

The Second Chance Program is designed to help people gain the skills, strategies, and self-confidence they need to obtain and maintain housing. The next session offered will be at CSC’s Corvallis office at 545 SW 2nd Street, Corvallis from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on the following days

Workshop Schedule:
March 6th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 20th& 22nd
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
CSC’s Corvallis Office545 SW 2nd St., Suite A
Must attend all six workshops to receive
certificate!

For more information, please contact
Cindy Pratt at Community Services Consortium (541) 758-2798

Runners & Walkers: Save the Date July 14, 2012

The second annual Barrel to Keg Relay will be July 14th, 2012. Starting at the Harris Bridge Vineyard in Philomath, Oregon, teams of 2,4, and 6 runners will split the 110K distance over 12 legs. Walking teams will go half the distance: six legs.

This is a scenic relay through the beautiful back country of the Oregon Coast Range, starting from Philomath wine country, over the majestic Yaquina Bay Bridge to the famous Rogue Ales Brewery at Newport’s South Beach Marina.

CSC is participating in a new foreclosure prevention program

The Mortgage Payment Assistance Unemployment Program (MPA-U) is a new foreclosure prevention program from the Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative (OHSI). MPA-U helps approved homeowners pay their mortgages for up to one year, or up to $20,000, whichever comes first. MPOA-U is available to qualified homeowners that are currently receiving Unemployment Insurance.

Program qualifications include, but are not limited to:
Participant must be receiving Unemployment Insurance at the time of application
Participant property must be a single-family, detached residence
Participant property must be a primary residence
Participant may not be in active bankruptcy

Take the eligibility test
An online eligibility test with full eligibility information and a program application is available on
http://www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org/
Community Services Consortium will be processing applications and supporting participants through the program in Linn and Lincoln counties.
Willamette Neighborhood Housing will assist participants in Benton County

Open House for Volunteers at the Food Share Warehouse

Susan James, CSC Gleaning and Volunteer Coordinator at Linn Benton Food Share program holds Open House for volunteers on the last Thursday of the month from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the the Linn Benton Food Share warehouse in Tangent. The next open house will be February 23rd, 6pm - 8pm. The warehouse is located at 33747 Looney Lane, Tangent 97389.

“Everyone is welcome,” said Susan “It is a good chance to see if you like volunteering. We usually repackage bulk food such as rice or cereal. Sometimes we sort and box canned food.
People from all over the community work together for a couple of hours. 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.

Some of the reasons people volunteer are:
I want to teach my daughter about community service.
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.
I find it disturbing how easy it is for a family to fall into poverty and I want to help.