Correction to "LBFS Gleaner in the News" Blog Post

Linn Benton Food Share employee/driver Morrie Orth was misidentified as a gleaner in the Monday, March 18 "LBFS Gleaner in the News" blog post. We apologize for the mistake.

Local Businesses Step Up to Make Food Drive a Success

Trudy Powell (on behalf of the OSU Zoology and Biology departments) sent the following letter to the Corvallis Gazette-Times "Good Words" section regarding a food drive for Linn Benton Food Share:

Local businesses stepped up to make food drive a success

The Oregon State University Department of Zoology and the biology program are very grateful to the businesses that provided items for our February silent auction and houseplant sale fundraisers for the Governor’s State Employee Food Drive, which benefited Linn Benton Food Share.

Each year, Oregon State helps to feed the hungry in Linn and Benton counties through a variety of ways, including the annual Food Drive.

We want to thank American Dream Pizza, Bella Vino Gift Baskets, Browsers’ Bookstore, Clodfelter’s Public House, Creative Crafts and Frame Shop, Cyrano’s, Dream Dinners, Great Harvest Bread, Harrison House Bed & Breakfast, Local Boyz Hawaiian Café, Schmidt’s Garden Center, Soft Star Shoes, Squirrels Tavern, Staples and Tyee Wine Cellars for generously and enthusiastically partnering with us to raise money for those in need.

Trudy Powell for OSU Zoology and Biology

Many thanks to the generous businesses that made the food drive a success!

You can view the letter at the Corvallis Gazette-Times web site here.

CSC Youth Crews Prepare SAGE Garden for Spring

Community Service Consortium’s youth crews teamed up to celebrate AmeriCorps Week on Thursday, March 14th by completing a number of projects at the Corvallis SAGE (Starker Arts Garden for Education) garden, in cooperation with the Corvallis Environmental Center.

The YouthBuild, Natural Resource Crew, and Youth Garden crews built additional shed space, constructed a roof for a chicken coop, harvested winter kale, mulched multiple beds, turned some imposing compost piles, dug up and replanted perennials, assembled and varnished garden plot signs, and mowed and weedwhacked the one-acre community garden during the five-hour work party.

Corvallis Environmental Center Garden Manager Deanna Lloyd expressed her appreciation to the crews, stating that “it would have taken us weeks to accomplish what you all have done in one day. SAGE and our community really benefits from all the hard work you put in.”

While the day included a tremendous amount of work, there was still time for teachable moments. Natural Resource Crew member Aiden got a lesson from Lloyd in edible weeds, mustard and chard, and even got to take home some samples.

The youth crews all are part of the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps network, and enroll approximately 35 members between the ages of 16-24 throughout Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. Though each program has a different focus, all programs include opportunities for completing high school, building work-readiness skills and preparing for employment and college.

CSC YouthBuild AmeriCorps is based out of Linn County, and is a pre-apprenticeship program designed to help students earn their high school diplomas or GEDs, and gain occupational skills and work experience by building, repairing or renovating houses for low-income families.

Natural Resource Crews, based out of Lincoln County, provide youth with extensive science and environmental education through projects focused on natural resource conservation and habitat restoration. The crews complete conservation projects in natural areas throughout Lincoln County, partnering with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State Parks, US Forest Service and local watershed councils.

The CSC Youth Garden crew, based out of Benton County, is responsible for caring for the CSC Youth Garden at the corner of 2nd and Western in Corvallis. The youth tend over 40 raised beds without the use of herbicides or pesticides. The sustainably raised produce is sold at the Corvallis Farmers’ Market throughout the year at their market booth.

The CSC Youth Crews look forward to working with the Corvallis Environmental Center on other projects, as well as other community-building activities throughout the year. 

For more information on Community Service Consortium’s Youth Programs, visit http://communityservices.us/education/detail/category/youth-programs/.

Community Services Consortium (CSC) is a state-designated Community Action Agency serving Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties with housing, nutrition, economic stability, and educational assistance programs since 1980. To support our Youth Programs or any of CSC’s poverty-fighting programs and services, visit our website at www.communityservices.us. Donations may be made through our website or mailed to our main office: Community Services Consortium, 245 Broadalbin Street, Suite 2A, Albany, OR 97321.

CSC Head Start Representatives Attend Winter Legislative Meeting

Melissa Wigmore and Saka Coy meet with
Oregon State Representative David Gromberg

CSC Head Start Parent Representative Melissa Wigmore and Teacher/Advocate Saka Coy attended the Oregon Head Start Association Winter Legislative Meeting held in Salem in February 2013. On Thursday February 7, they joined other Oregon Head Start staff and parents at the State Capital to meet with the State House and State Senate lawmakers. Meetings with Oregon State Representative David Gomberg from Lincoln City and Oregon State Senator Arnie Roblan from Coos Bay provided opportunities for Melissa to educate about the CSC Head Start program. Both lawmakers and their staff enthusiastically welcomed parents and staff into their chambers and listened to individual parent stories about Head Start. The lawmakers told Melissa and Saka that they fully support Head Start and will do all they can to protect future funding of all Head Start programs in Oregon.

LBFS Driver in the News

The Corvallis Gazette-Times has published an article featuring the work of dedicated Linn Benton Food Share driver Morrie Orth. You can read the full article, Fresh delivery, at the Corvallis Gazette-Times web site.

Many thanks to Morrie and all of the other drivers that help Linn Benton Food Share put food on the table for so many families!

Gleaners Celebrate 40 Years of Gleaning Oregon’s Bounty

Contributed by Nancy Nash

There was some serious celebrating on March 12 this year at the State Capitol, as the Oregon Food Bank honored the 40th anniversary of organized gleaning in Oregon! The celebration included speakers and legislators, table displays and networking with gleaning groups, a legislative training session, and visits to legislative offices to educate on behalf of gleaners, gleaning programs, and low-income Oregonians.

Community Services Consortium is proud of its contribution to the gleaners groups in our region. Of all the gleaners statewide, Linn Benton Food Share’s program is the largest in the state, with 14 gleaning groups and a total of 7,900 low income members in Linn and Benton counties.

Cookie Johnson, coordinator of the Mary’s River Gleaners in Corvallis, headed over to the State Capitol, where she and three other members of the group had a display about Mary’s River Gleaners and talked to legislators. Johnson wants to raise awareness about the contribution that gleaners make and to “get the word out that people here in Oregon are hungry, especially the elderly and the homeless.”

Gleaners provide much more than food to their neighbors. The Canyon Gleaners, who also attended the celebration, deliver once a week to their “adoptees,” individuals and families that are unable to take an active part in the gleaning. Peggy Nickich, coordinator of the group in Mill City, told about one of her adoptees who has often said that Peggy’s visits are the woman’s “only social life.”

“Our legislators need to know just how important the gleaners are,” Nickich said. “We provide not only food, but wood, clothing, and companionship to our members.”

In some cases, they may be the only link a person has who is isolated from their community. Johnson tells the story of one of her 13 adoptees. She brings food to a woman, who hasn’t been out of her house in over 14 years.

“It took quite a while for her to just let me in the door,” Johnson recalled. “But now,” she said, “her face just lights up when I come. I make her my last delivery, so we can sit and have tea and just talk for a while.”

Linn Benton Food Share is the only Regional Food Bank in Oregon that funds a position devoted to supporting our gleaners: Gleaning Programs Coordinator. The coordinator, Susan James, plays an invaluable part in the success of the 14 gleaning groups. “Linn Benton Food Share is wonderful,” says Cookie Johnson. “Susan is the liaison between different organizations and grocery stores for us, and helps with any problems. She always has time for us.”

Community Services Consortium will celebrate this milestone with its gleaners at their Annual Gleaning Picnic in August.

If you would like to make a difference through our Gleaning Programs, contact Diana Teem at Community Services Consortium 541-574-2277 or email dteem@communityservices.us. For more information on Linn Benton Food Share’s Gleaning Programs in Linn and Benton counties or any of CSC’s poverty fighting programs visit www.communityservices.us.

EUC Sequestration Benefit Reduction Calculator Now Available

Worksource Oregon has released an Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Sequestration benefit reduction calculator, which can be found here on their website. These sequestration reductions impact only EUC benefits.

The calculator can be used to get your estimated new benefit amount after the sequestration reductions are implemented (please note that it is just an estimate, and not the definite amount). Sequestration reductions will go into effect for benefits paid for the week of March 31 - April 6, 2013. Payments for that week are made the following week, April 7 - 13, 2013.

Apply Now for CSC Workforce Training Scholarships

Community Services Consortium is offering one-time workforce training scholarships for training opportunities to residents of Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties.

The scholarships are funded through the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program administered by CSC’s Workforce & Education Department in our three-county area.  Applicants and training programs must meet WIA eligibility requirements.

All requirements are outlined in the application and must be met to be eligible for scholarships, which can include awards up to $5,000 per eligible training.

Applications must be received at the Linn Workforce Development Center by March 14, 2013, at 3:00pm.

To learn more about the scholarships and to see if you might be eligible, visit CSC’s website at http://communityservices.us/jobs/scholarship-award/.

Community Services Consortium (CSC) is a state-designated Community Action Agency serving Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties with housing, nutrition, economic stability, and educational assistance programs since 1980.

To support this project or any of CSC’s poverty-fighting programs and services, visit our website at www.communityservices.us. Donations may be made through our website or mailed to our main office: Community Services Consortium, 245 Broadalbin Street, Suite 2A, Albany, OR 97321.

Clarification About CSC and Sequestration

Several days ago, CSC posted talking points excerpted directly from a White House Press Office release on the subject of the potential “sequestration” of federal funding. To the extent that our blog appeared to support or advocate a particular political agenda, we need to clarify: CSC takes no political position “for” or “against” the sequestration. Our intent is to bring you news about CSC and services and programs that affect our clients and communities.

As for the effect of sequestration on CSC, we will know more on March 1^st . Barring direction to the contrary from our funders, CSC has plans in place to continue all services and programs for at least the next 30 days, with the exception of federally funded long-term rental housing assistance. There, we will pause, waiting for clarification from our federal and state government before entering into long-term rent subsidy agreements.

So, if you are in need of assistance, or if you can offer assistance, CSC is still the place to start. Give us a call or come to one of the many locations we have listed on this blog. And thanks to those of you who take the time and care to communicate with CSC on our blog. We appreciate you.

Martha Lyon
Executive Director
Community Services Consortium

Mortgage Payment Assistance Still Available to Homeowners Receiving Unemployment

Opportunities still exist for distressed homeowners receiving unemployment benefits to apply for the Mortgage Payment Assistance program at www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org. The program is scheduled to conclude at the end of March.

The Mortgage Payment Assistance program is offered by the Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative and designed to help Oregon homeowners receiving unemployment benefits avoid the threat of foreclosure. For qualified applicants, the program makes up to 12 months of mortgage payments up to $20,000, the maximum dollar limit, and will be sent directly to their mortgage lender or servicer each month.

The Mortgage Payment Assistance program has new opportunities to apply every two weeks on Wednesdays at noon. Please check the program page at www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org for availability schedule.

The Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative website provides helpful information about the application process, including a how-to video that answers the most common questions about the program.
To learn more watch the “How to Apply” video and take the eligibility questionnaire and to apply visit www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org.

The Mortgage Payment Assistance Unemployment program will help an estimated 4,000 Oregon homeowners stay in their homes. To date programs offered by OHSI have assisted over 4,500 Oregon homeowners.

Homeowners without internet access can make alternative arrangements by calling the CSC office in Albany at 541-928-6335, the CSC office in Newport at 541-265-8505 or the Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services office in Corvallis at 541-752-7220.

Please help get the word out!

Visit the Dept. of Justice website for more information: http://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer/Pages/foreclosure_settlement.aspx

CSC Lincoln County Head Start Preschoolers Get a Hand Up from Chapel by the Sea

Vicki and Robert Hunt and Martha and Merv Nerling of Chapel by the Sea meet with Andrea Daniels of Lincoln City Head Start to plan this year’s May 23rd Staff Appreciation Luncheon. 

When Head Start Community Services Consortium bought three acres of wooded land on church grounds from Chapel by the Sea in Lincoln City nearly 15 years ago, little did they know that they would develop an enduring relationship with the church.  

At first, the relationship was tentative, with the congregation navigating how best to participate with the preschool. They tried a “read aloud” to the children and having lunch with the children, but neither of the activities took off. 

Then eight years ago, as Chapel by the Sea Education Committee Head Merv Nerling became more aware of the children's needs, he initiated a church fundraiser to buy Christmas presents for the children. And, as Merv always does, he made it personal.  The congregation didn’t purchase gifts or donate money for gifts for “Boy – aged 3” or “Girl – aged 4” - Merv took the time to find out each child’s name and to get a list of what they really wanted for Christmas. 

The annual gift-giving through Chapel by the Sea’s “Angel Tree” program spurred two other programs to help the preschool.  Merv started providing each graduating preschooler with school supplies required by the school district to take to kindergarten at Oceanlake or Taft Elementary.

“It doesn’t take much to make a difference,” Nerling said. “For about $7 per child, we give them something that makes them feel special on graduation day.” The church Education Committee, now headed by Vicki and Bob Hunt, continues to provide each child with items like pencils, crayons, and glue sticks in a brand new backpack – a tangible recognition of the students’ accomplishments. 

The church has also acknowledged the staff at Head Start. As Nerling worked closely with the staff, he was impressed with the dedication and commitment they showed in giving the children a good preschool education that prepared them for kindergarten. So Merv started the annual Staff Appreciation Luncheon, which takes place at the church each spring. “Church members plan and prepare a tasty meal, usually cooked by Merv, who is a great cook,” Bob said. Church members share the meal with Head Start staff. “We want them to know how much they are appreciated,” he said. 

“The congregation of Chapel by the Sea exemplifies the best of what a good neighbor is,” said Andrea Daniels, Education Supervisor at Lincoln City Head Start. Recognizing that many families take Christmas gifts and school supplies for granted, and are not so easy to come by for some families, Chapel by the Sea stepped in and “adopted” the 80 or so children across the street.

“We feel like family,” Daniels said, who appreciates the “little things” that church members give to the children. “The children love the organ music. Once we went over to listen, and the organist took the time to show the children all the different sounds the organ can make. They had a lot of fun and loved it!”  

As they plan the next annual event, Lincoln City Head Start looks forward to many more years in partnership with Chapel by the Sea, their neighbors across the street. 

If you would like to make a difference to a CSC Head Start student or family in need, contact Diana Teem at Community Services Consortium 541-574-2277 or email dteem@communityservices.us.  For more information on Head Start in Lincoln County or any of CSC’s poverty fighting programs visit www.communityservices.us. 

Visit CSC on Our New Facebook Page

Oh yes, it’s true! CSC now has a Facebook page, which you can access here. We hope you will stop by, "Like" our page and read about all the successes, challenges and hard work our programs are doing to make a difference in our communities.

The CSC Facebook page may be brand new, but Facebook is not new to CSC.  Many of our programs  have used Facebook to successfully connect with partners, participants and supporters for quite some time.  “Like” or view the CSC program pages at the links below.  We hope you will enjoy the successes and announcements they share. We have shared many of their posts and pics on our new CSC Facebook page.

Linn Benton Food Share
CSC Youth Garden
Career Tech Charter High School
Weatherization Training Center