We have officially launched our new website at www.communityservices.us! The website is devoted to increasing awareness and understanding of CSC’s programs and services in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties.
The new site provides the individuals and families we serve in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties with information on our array of programs and services in four vital areas: Education, Housing, Jobs & Finances, and Nutrition. Our services emphasize CSC’s commitment to providing help for immediate needs today, as well as building skills for self-sufficiency tomorrow.
CSC’s priorities, programs, and core services are determined by assessing the changing needs of low- to moderate-income youth and adults in our communities. We believe that every family should have access to a stable home, nutritious food, quality education and training, and a job that pays a family wage.
Visit our new website by clicking here. You can also visit us on Facebook.
Established in July, 1980 as the state-designated community action agency for Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties, Community Services Consortium is one of 18 community action agencies in Oregon that deliver programs designed to combat poverty and its root causes in our state.
As part of a nationwide network of anti-poverty organizations, CSC joins in leading the way to educate and advocate for those in need in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. We are a public, nonprofit organization dedicated to ending poverty in Oregon.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
CSC Partnering with Coastal Families Together for Parenting Workshops
Coastal Families Together, in partnership with champion hubs and community partners, are presenting free parenting workshops. “From Chaos to Calm” is a two-hour workshop on how to create a positive, calm environment at home with your children. Dinner and childcare are provided. Come out and learn some new strategies! This workshop will be presented at the times and locations listed below.
Monday, January 14th: Yachats Commons, 441 N. Highway 101, Yachats, 6-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 15th: Central Coast Child Development Center, 1811 NE Arcadia Dr., Toledo, 6–8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 16th: CSC Head Start, 2130 SE Lee St., Lincoln City, 6- 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 17th: Presbyterian Church in Newport, 6-8:30 p.m.
In addition to the free workshops listed above, Coastal Families Together has several parenting education classes starting in Lincoln County.
Coastal Families Together offers classes and workshops to fit every family at every stage in the parenting process. All classes come with a nutritional family-style meal and childcare. There is a $45 registration fee per family. Scholarships are available for all or part of the registration fee. All classes are available in Spanish.
Newport: In partnership with Sam Case Primary School, we will be presenting Nurturing Parenting. This class focuses on parents of children 0-11 years of age. Parents will gain a greater understanding of child development, effective discipline, and how to embrace your role as a parent. Class begins on Tuesday, January 15 and will continue once a week for ten weeks. The class will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Class will be held in the Sam Case Primary School, 459 N. E. 12th St. Newport, OR, 97365.
Lincoln City: In partnership with Samaritan Early Learning Center and Head Start / Community Services Consortium, we will be presenting Nurturing Parenting. This class focuses on parents of children 0-11 years old. This class series will review child-directed play, coaching, effective praise and encouragement, then continue with setting limits, consequences, discipline. Class begin on Wednesday, January 23 and will continue once a week for ten weeks. Dinner will start at 6:00 p.m. and the class will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Class will be held at CSC Head Start, 2130 Southeast Lee Ave., Lincoln City, OR, 97367.
Yachats: In partnership with Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program, Inc., we will be presenting Nurturing Parenting. This class focuses on parents of children 0-11 years of age. Parents will gain a greater understanding of the art, science, strategies and techniques that promote self worth, cooperation, compassion in children and form the basis of day-to-day family interactions. Class begins on Monday, January 28 and will continue once a week for ten weeks. Dinner will start at 6:00 p.m. and the class will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Class will be held in the Yachats Commons room 8, 441 No. Highway 101, Yachats, OR. 97498.
To register for either class go to www.coastalfamiliestogether.com or call (541) 574-4485. Space is limited!
For more information on this parenting education initiative, future classes or questions about local opportunities go to www.coastalfamiliestogether.com or contact, Cynthia Breves, Coastal Families Together, 541-574-4485, cfthub@gmail.com.
Monday, January 14th: Yachats Commons, 441 N. Highway 101, Yachats, 6-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 15th: Central Coast Child Development Center, 1811 NE Arcadia Dr., Toledo, 6–8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 16th: CSC Head Start, 2130 SE Lee St., Lincoln City, 6- 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 17th: Presbyterian Church in Newport, 6-8:30 p.m.
In addition to the free workshops listed above, Coastal Families Together has several parenting education classes starting in Lincoln County.
Coastal Families Together offers classes and workshops to fit every family at every stage in the parenting process. All classes come with a nutritional family-style meal and childcare. There is a $45 registration fee per family. Scholarships are available for all or part of the registration fee. All classes are available in Spanish.
Newport: In partnership with Sam Case Primary School, we will be presenting Nurturing Parenting. This class focuses on parents of children 0-11 years of age. Parents will gain a greater understanding of child development, effective discipline, and how to embrace your role as a parent. Class begins on Tuesday, January 15 and will continue once a week for ten weeks. The class will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Class will be held in the Sam Case Primary School, 459 N. E. 12th St. Newport, OR, 97365.
Lincoln City: In partnership with Samaritan Early Learning Center and Head Start / Community Services Consortium, we will be presenting Nurturing Parenting. This class focuses on parents of children 0-11 years old. This class series will review child-directed play, coaching, effective praise and encouragement, then continue with setting limits, consequences, discipline. Class begin on Wednesday, January 23 and will continue once a week for ten weeks. Dinner will start at 6:00 p.m. and the class will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Class will be held at CSC Head Start, 2130 Southeast Lee Ave., Lincoln City, OR, 97367.
Yachats: In partnership with Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program, Inc., we will be presenting Nurturing Parenting. This class focuses on parents of children 0-11 years of age. Parents will gain a greater understanding of the art, science, strategies and techniques that promote self worth, cooperation, compassion in children and form the basis of day-to-day family interactions. Class begins on Monday, January 28 and will continue once a week for ten weeks. Dinner will start at 6:00 p.m. and the class will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Class will be held in the Yachats Commons room 8, 441 No. Highway 101, Yachats, OR. 97498.
To register for either class go to www.coastalfamiliestogether.com or call (541) 574-4485. Space is limited!
For more information on this parenting education initiative, future classes or questions about local opportunities go to www.coastalfamiliestogether.com or contact, Cynthia Breves, Coastal Families Together, 541-574-4485, cfthub@gmail.com.
Four Youth Garden Crew Members Earn GEDs
Javier also earned his PTCS Duct Sealing certification in January, and will continue to pursue technical certifications. Brianne, Dillan and Brianna are exploring their options, including attending an open house at Linn Benton Community College in February.
We are SO proud of our crew members and all of their hard work! Congratulations!
The CSC Youth Garden is a program of the Workforce and Education Department of Community Services Consortium’s Benton County office in Corvallis. Every season, four to ten youth who are enrolled in our federal workforce program are responsible for caring for 40 raised beds, without the use of herbicides or pesticides. Our mission is to encourage learning, entrepreneurship and work readiness in Benton County youth and to grow and locally-distribute responsibly-raised produce.
For more information on the CSC Youth Garden, or to make a donation, visit them on Facebook or read more on the CSC web site.
CSC Sponsoring Free Tax Help Starting in February
CSC will be sponsoring free Tax-Aide for qualified individuals starting on February 1st at various locations in Linn and Benton county. Those that qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are especially encouraged to take advantage of free tax return preparation and e-filing.
EITC qualifications include:
For information on location, dates and times, as well as the number to call to make an appointment, please visit the 2013 site schedule here.
EITC qualifications include:
- U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Resident
- Valid social security number
- Earned income during 2012:
- $45,060 ($50,270 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children
- $41,952 ($47,162 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children
- $36,920 ($42,130 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child
- $13,980 ($19,190 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children
For information on location, dates and times, as well as the number to call to make an appointment, please visit the 2013 site schedule here.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Demand for Food Skyrocketing in Mid-Valley
A recent story in the Corvallis Gazette-Times featured Linn Benton Food Share (LBFS) as it discusses the sharp increase in demand for food at Oregon food banks.
“From July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, we saw an 11 percent increase in the number of people coming in for food boxes,” said Mike Gibson, LBFS Director. “In the first four months of our current fiscal year, that’s up by 19 percent.”
Gibson said the demand for food in the mid-valley is the worst he has seen in his 28 years with the program.
The article can be found here at the Corvallis Gazette-Times web site.
Linn Benton Food Share is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of Community Services Consortium (CSC), the public, nonprofit community action agency providing multiple services to low-income people across Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties.
As the regional food bank for Linn and Benton counties since 1981, Food Share has been committed to fulfilling our goal that “Everybody Eats.” With requests for emergency food help at an all-time high, we work hard to develop and strengthen food resources for our communities.
To find out more about Linn Benton Food Share or to make a donation, visit their page on the CSC web site or on Facebook.
“From July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, we saw an 11 percent increase in the number of people coming in for food boxes,” said Mike Gibson, LBFS Director. “In the first four months of our current fiscal year, that’s up by 19 percent.”
Gibson said the demand for food in the mid-valley is the worst he has seen in his 28 years with the program.
The article can be found here at the Corvallis Gazette-Times web site.
Linn Benton Food Share is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of Community Services Consortium (CSC), the public, nonprofit community action agency providing multiple services to low-income people across Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties.
As the regional food bank for Linn and Benton counties since 1981, Food Share has been committed to fulfilling our goal that “Everybody Eats.” With requests for emergency food help at an all-time high, we work hard to develop and strengthen food resources for our communities.
To find out more about Linn Benton Food Share or to make a donation, visit their page on the CSC web site or on Facebook.
Monday, December 17, 2012
CSC Youth Garden Takes Part in Terra Madre Day
On December 1, more than 400 people braved a dreary day to taste the culinary craftsmanship of 30 Willamette Valley vendors, including the CSC Youth Garden, at this year's holiday-themed Terra Madre Day event. Sponsored by Slow Food Corvallis and Ten Rivers Food Web at the Benton County Fairgrounds, the international event celebrates eating locally and honoring local food communities.
The CSC Youth Garden crew members helped spread some holiday cheer by selling and handing out samples of hand-grown and hand-made, giftable items like jellies, preserves, barbeque sauce, salsa, dill relish and dried beans at their booth - all popular sellers. Luckily for those that couldn't make it to Terra Madre Day, some items are still available.
If you would like to stock your pantry or stuff your stockings with some delicious food grown and made by our hard-working CSC Youth Garden team, stop by the office (536 SW 2nd Street in Corvallis) or call 541-758-2776.
The CSC Youth Garden is a program of the Workforce and Education Department of Community Services Consortium (CSC), a community action agency serving Linn, Benton and Lincoln Counties. The CSC Youth Garden charges 4-10 youth per season with the responsibility of caring for 40 raised beds without the use of herbicides or pesticides. Herbs and veggies are sold at our spring, summer and fall farmers' market stands, and a portion is donated to the Linn Benton Food Share.
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| Javier, Bri, Colton and Armand display their table of goodies at the Terra Madre Day event. |
The CSC Youth Garden crew members helped spread some holiday cheer by selling and handing out samples of hand-grown and hand-made, giftable items like jellies, preserves, barbeque sauce, salsa, dill relish and dried beans at their booth - all popular sellers. Luckily for those that couldn't make it to Terra Madre Day, some items are still available.
If you would like to stock your pantry or stuff your stockings with some delicious food grown and made by our hard-working CSC Youth Garden team, stop by the office (536 SW 2nd Street in Corvallis) or call 541-758-2776.
The CSC Youth Garden is a program of the Workforce and Education Department of Community Services Consortium (CSC), a community action agency serving Linn, Benton and Lincoln Counties. The CSC Youth Garden charges 4-10 youth per season with the responsibility of caring for 40 raised beds without the use of herbicides or pesticides. Herbs and veggies are sold at our spring, summer and fall farmers' market stands, and a portion is donated to the Linn Benton Food Share.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
'Tis the Season: Give a Gift That Matters!
Community Services Consortium (CSC) invites community members to help fight poverty in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. This season, CSC is asking people to make a difference to needy families in our own community.
CSC puts food on the table, keeps the lights on, puts a roof over people’s heads, and provides education and job training to break the cycle of poverty for families most in need. Anyone can help. What better gift this holiday season than to warm a family home, supply nutritious food and provide the skills people need to succeed in the workforce and in life? To make a gift click the donate button at www.communityservices.us or mail a check to CSC, 250 Broadalbin Street, Suite 2A, Albany, OR 97321.
Give a gift that matters: give people the skills and support they need to build stable, productive futures. Community Services Consortium provides a range of services with the vision to end poverty, including youth and adult education and workforce training programs, Head Start in Lincoln County, utility and housing assistance, and Linn Benton Food Share.
With your help CSC can continue to distribute food to the hungry, provide energy assistance to heat homes this winter and empower people through workforce and education programs. Your gift makes a difference no matter how large or small, whether it’s one more meal on the table, or it provides a warm home for a family the whole new year!
CSC is the community action agency serving the people of Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties, Oregon. For more information on the poverty fighting programs of CSC visit www.communityservices.us. Change a life this holiday season.
CSC puts food on the table, keeps the lights on, puts a roof over people’s heads, and provides education and job training to break the cycle of poverty for families most in need. Anyone can help. What better gift this holiday season than to warm a family home, supply nutritious food and provide the skills people need to succeed in the workforce and in life? To make a gift click the donate button at www.communityservices.us or mail a check to CSC, 250 Broadalbin Street, Suite 2A, Albany, OR 97321.
Give a gift that matters: give people the skills and support they need to build stable, productive futures. Community Services Consortium provides a range of services with the vision to end poverty, including youth and adult education and workforce training programs, Head Start in Lincoln County, utility and housing assistance, and Linn Benton Food Share.
With your help CSC can continue to distribute food to the hungry, provide energy assistance to heat homes this winter and empower people through workforce and education programs. Your gift makes a difference no matter how large or small, whether it’s one more meal on the table, or it provides a warm home for a family the whole new year!
CSC is the community action agency serving the people of Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties, Oregon. For more information on the poverty fighting programs of CSC visit www.communityservices.us. Change a life this holiday season.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
LBFS Winner in PacificSource Healthy Life Challenge
The 2nd annual PacificSource Healthy Life Challenge was held from October 23rd to November 21st, with more than 1,000 people taking the pledge to be more active, smoke free, eat healthy, and/or reduce stress. For each pledge participant, PacificSource agreed to donate $1 to one of four local charities, which were also voted on by pledge participants. Linn Benton Food Share won the pledge participant vote, which means a healthy donation will be coming their way from PacificSource. Thank you to everyone that participated in the Healthy Life Pledge and congratulations to LBFS!
For more information on the PacificSource Healthy Life Challenge, click here.
For more information on the PacificSource Healthy Life Challenge, click here.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Basic Budgeting Workshops Scheduled for December
Want to take control of your money? Basic Budgeting Workshops are two-hour classes that focus on how we can learn to take control of our money by setting up a monthly budget and spending plan. The workshops are offered to any CSC client receiving housing or energy assistance. Topics covered in these workshops include:
Workshops will be held at the Albany, Corvallis and Lebanon locations listed below:
Corvallis CSC Office 545 SW 2nd St., Suite A, Corvallis, OR 97333
Albany CSC Office 250 Broadalbin SW, Suite 2A, Albany, OR 97321
Lebanon CSC Office 380 Market St., Lebanon, Or 97355
- Identifying and prioritizing expenses
- Tips to trimming your budget
- Creating a monthly budget
- Setting financial goals
- Developing a spending plan that is right for you
- Wednesday, December 12th, 1:30pm-3:30pm (Workshop ID# BBC121212)
- Thursday, December 26th, 10:00am– Noon (Workshop ID# BBC122612)
- Tuesday, December 4th, 10:00am-Noon (Workshop ID# BBA120412)
- Thursday, December 20th, 9:00am-11:00am (Workshop ID# BBA1220712)
- Monday, December 17th, 1:00pm-3:00pm (Workshop ID# BBL121712)
- Wednesday, December 26th, 2:00pm-4:00pm (Workshop ID# BBL122612)
Festival of Trees Event to Benefit Community Outreach Shelter
The Festival of Trees, a spectacular winter event, will be kicking off on December 8 with a gala and auction at 6pm. The gala will feature music from the OSU men's award-winning a capella group "Outspoken," as well as food, drink, a dessert bar and raffle prizes. Family Day will be on December 9 from noon-4pm and includes cookies, coffee and punch and candy canes and photos with Santa for the kids.
Events will be held at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center on the OSU campus. Tickets are available at Rice's Pharmacy, Grass Roots Book Store, and Community Outreach, Inc. To buy tickets online, visit www.tickettomato.com.
For more information about the event, visit Community Outreach, Inc.'s event web site.
Events will be held at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center on the OSU campus. Tickets are available at Rice's Pharmacy, Grass Roots Book Store, and Community Outreach, Inc. To buy tickets online, visit www.tickettomato.com.
For more information about the event, visit Community Outreach, Inc.'s event web site.
OHCS and LASO Launch New Foreclosure Assistance Program
Low-income homeowners and renters affected by foreclosure now have access to new a statewide service that provides free legal assistance from an attorney to help address urgent foreclosure issues.
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has contracted with Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) to develop and deliver the new program. The statewide service will be offered both over the phone and in person from offices in Portland, Medford, Hillsboro, Eugene and Bend.
Interested households can call 1-855-412-8828 toll-free or 503-227-0198 in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties to learn more about the program. Intake specialists will screen callers for income eligibility and will refer qualified households to an available attorney. Program phone lines are staffed between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Assistance can be provided in English and Spanish, with additional translation services available if necessary. Program phone lines are not staffed by attorneys and intake specialists cannot give legal advice.
The program is funded by a May 2012 legislative appropriation, utilizing proceeds from the National Mortgage Settlement, settled in part by the State of Oregon’s Department of Justice.
In addition, OHCS and LASO are developing a referral program to provide legal assistance to moderate income households, utilizing sliding-scale and pro-bono assistance from private attorneys. This component of the program will provide moderate income households the opportunity to have a free one hour consultation with an attorney, with additional representation offered at a discounted rate. Information about the program will be posted as it develops at OregonHomeownerSupport.gov.
Interested households can learn more about accessing legal assistance and other foreclosure prevention programs by visiting OregonHomeownerSupport.gov. For additional foreclosure prevention assistance interested person can also visit the above website or dial 211 toll-free from any phone in Oregon.
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has contracted with Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) to develop and deliver the new program. The statewide service will be offered both over the phone and in person from offices in Portland, Medford, Hillsboro, Eugene and Bend.
Interested households can call 1-855-412-8828 toll-free or 503-227-0198 in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties to learn more about the program. Intake specialists will screen callers for income eligibility and will refer qualified households to an available attorney. Program phone lines are staffed between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Assistance can be provided in English and Spanish, with additional translation services available if necessary. Program phone lines are not staffed by attorneys and intake specialists cannot give legal advice.
The program is funded by a May 2012 legislative appropriation, utilizing proceeds from the National Mortgage Settlement, settled in part by the State of Oregon’s Department of Justice.
In addition, OHCS and LASO are developing a referral program to provide legal assistance to moderate income households, utilizing sliding-scale and pro-bono assistance from private attorneys. This component of the program will provide moderate income households the opportunity to have a free one hour consultation with an attorney, with additional representation offered at a discounted rate. Information about the program will be posted as it develops at OregonHomeownerSupport.gov.
Interested households can learn more about accessing legal assistance and other foreclosure prevention programs by visiting OregonHomeownerSupport.gov. For additional foreclosure prevention assistance interested person can also visit the above website or dial 211 toll-free from any phone in Oregon.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Second Chance Program Workshops Scheduled for January
Second Chance Renter Rehabilitation classes will be held throughout January at CSC’s Corvallis office (545 SW 2nd Street - upstairs) from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on the following days:
Tuesday, January 8: How to be a Good Tenant
Thursday, January 10: Landlord/Tenant Responsibilities
Tuesday, January 15: Goal Setting
Thursday, January 17: Conflict Resolution
Tuesday, January 22: Energy Education
Thursday, January 24: Basic Budgeting
Pre-registration is required. Due to limited space, each class is limited to 16 people. The deadline for registering is Friday, December 28th.
Second Chance helps people without stable housing remove the barriers they face in finding stable housing and become the ideal tenants that landlords seek. Second Chance helps resolve homelessness and helps individuals become self-sufficient. 94% of Second Chance participants secure permanent housing within 60 days of graduating the program. The program combines a powerful combination of education, case management, personal responsibility training, financial literacy education, money management, and more.
To register or ask a question, please contact Cindy Pratt-DeMarzo, Resource Coordinator, at cpratt@communityservices.us or 541-758-2632.
Tuesday, January 8: How to be a Good Tenant
Thursday, January 10: Landlord/Tenant Responsibilities
Tuesday, January 15: Goal Setting
Thursday, January 17: Conflict Resolution
Tuesday, January 22: Energy Education
Thursday, January 24: Basic Budgeting
Pre-registration is required. Due to limited space, each class is limited to 16 people. The deadline for registering is Friday, December 28th.
Second Chance helps people without stable housing remove the barriers they face in finding stable housing and become the ideal tenants that landlords seek. Second Chance helps resolve homelessness and helps individuals become self-sufficient. 94% of Second Chance participants secure permanent housing within 60 days of graduating the program. The program combines a powerful combination of education, case management, personal responsibility training, financial literacy education, money management, and more.
To register or ask a question, please contact Cindy Pratt-DeMarzo, Resource Coordinator, at cpratt@communityservices.us or 541-758-2632.
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