Thank You!

Here at Community Services Consortium, we help people overcome poverty. With your support, we are able to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children and families. Thank you for your support this year, and in years to come, as we work together to end poverty in our communities.

As this year comes to a close, we wanted to share some of our successes and the impact that your support has made.

• We helped thousands of households in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties with energy assistance. This included a family with young children, which kept them safe and warm and allowed the father to continue his work towards a medical degree.
• We prevented hundreds of households from becoming homeless by providing housing and financial assistance. This included preventing a Linn County veteran and his family from being evicted from their home by making arrangements with the landlord, and providing support so they could make a plan to get back on track.
• We provided more than 40 adults with the job training they needed to find work or get better jobs, and helped nearly 70 at-risk youth to complete their educations.
• We put millions of pounds of food on the table of families in Linn and Benton county with the help of a network of 74 member agencies—including emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and gleaning groups.
• We helped prepare 160 children for success in kindergarten and beyond with the support of Head Start.

Your generous support has even allowed those that received help to pay your kindness forward.

"One of our Workforce & Education scholarship recipients in the Nursing program met with me today. She said that she is working as a C.N.A. this summer and that one of her patients, who is in hospice, is unable to afford the care she needs.

Our scholarship recipient is working for this patient at a reduced rate because the spring term tuition, fees, and supplies paid for by the CSC scholarship saved her enough money to be able to help out this patient.

The CSC scholarship has truly changed the world for this hospice patient." Maggie Underwood, Principal Employment Advisor at CSC

If you haven't had a chance to offer your support, please consider making a tax-deductible donation so that we can continue to help people and change lives in your neighborhood.

You can make a donation by clicking here, calling 541-928-6335, or mailing your donation to 250 Broadalbin St, 2A, Albany, OR, 97321.

With gratitude,

Community Services Consortium

Newport Church Makes Christmas Brighter for CSC Clients

Christmas came a little early for nine children living in CSC's Tern House and Pelican Place housing in Newport this year, as members of Ocean Unity Church delivered more than 150 gifts to them on Christmas Eve.

Jerry Johnson, a retired CSC employee and Ocean Unity Church member, spearheaded the holiday drive. The church originally intended to sponsor one family, but decided to open their hearts to all of the children living at Tern House and Pelican Place.

Several of the parents had tears in their eyes and were pretty much speechless.

One parent said, "Without these gifts, it was literally going to be the socks and underwear day. My son actually had many things to open and it was all so wonderful."

We give our heartfelt thanks to all of the members at Ocean Unity Church, who gave so much when so many have little to give. Your generosity is a shining light in our community!

CSC Hosts Fifth Annual Homeless Person's Memorial Service

Community Services Consortium hosted the fifth annual Homeless Person's Memorial Service on December 21 at Albany City Hall. The event gathers the community together to pay respect to the homeless people that we have lost in Albany during the year. This year's service included six homeless people: Robert A. Carlson, 76; Daniel S. Cowen, 59; Russell Ray, 56; Crystal L. Sprague, 33; Vincent A. “Tony” Torrier, 48; and David L. Weidrich, 42.

To read more about the memorial or to view a slide show with pictures from the event, visit the Albany Democrat-Herald site here.

The Giving Season Is Here!

Dear Friends and Community Partners,

It has been a challenging but rewarding year for Community Services Consortium, and we couldn't have done it without you.

Through your donations and support of events like the Barrel to Keg Relay and our American Winter screening, we can continue our mission to end poverty in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln County.

As we enter into the holiday season, we hope that you will include CSC in your giving plans. We are proud to announce the launch of our Giving Season Catalog, which makes it easy for you to give a gift in your name or on behalf of a loved one. Gifts to specific programs - housing, food & nutrition, and education - are available in a wide range of amounts.

This year, we are also participating in Giving Tuesday on December 3. You've heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday - now there is Giving Tuesday, a day to give back. Giving Tuesday is the perfect day to support CSC with a general donation (just use the "Donate" button on our home page at www.communityservices.us) or a selection from the Giving Season catalog.

Thank you for your generosity and support in our fight to end poverty! Happy holidays from all of us here at Community Services Consortium!

CSC Participates in Benton County Project Resource Connect

Patty, Paul and Dina help a visitor at Resource Connect

Members of CSC's Housing department participated in the fourth annual Benton County Project Resource Connect on November 16. The event brings together nonprofits and government agencies in an effort to provide low-income and homeless residents services for things like food, housing, medical care and dental work, legal assistance, parenting programs and GED classes.

Patty Wachs, Paul Barnes, and Dina Eldridge were on hand to spread information about CSC's housing programs, including the new Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, which helps veterans that are homeless or at risk of being homeless. 

For more information, you can read the story about the event in the Corvallis Gazette-Times: http://bit.ly/1iQUf16. For information about the SSVF program, contact Paul Barnes at pbarnes@communityservices.us. For information about CSC's Housing program, contact Dina Eldridge at deldridge@communityservices.us.

Second Chance Renter Rehabilitation Classes Coming in January

The Second Chance Program Renter's Rehabilitation Workshop Series will be starting up again this January. The program is designed to help prospective renters overcome obstacles which prevent them from obtaining housing. Consisting of six classes taught by qualified instructors from the community, topics include:

• How to be a Good Tenant
• Energy Education
• Landlord/Tenant Issues
• Goal Setting
• Conflict Resolution
• Basic Budgeting

Participants must attend all six workshops to receive a certificate. The series runs on Mondays* and Wednesdays, 3:00pm-5:00pm, on January 6th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 21st, and 22nd (*due to the 20th being a holiday, we are meeting on Tuesday the 21st instead of Monday that week). All workshops are held at the Community Services Consortium office in Corvallis, 545 SW Second St., Suite A.

Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact Cindy Pratt-DeMarzo at 541-758-2632 or visit the Second Chance Program website.

CSC News Roundup

CSC is incredibly thankful for our fabulous media partners that help us to spread the word about our programs and services, as well as poverty issues in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln County. Here's a look at CSC in the news since September:

Food drive brings holiday cheer to needy families - Corvallis Gazette-Times, November 26, 2013
CSC Participates in #GivingTuesday - #GivingTuesday web site, November 20, 2013
Sign up now for holiday food boxes - Corvallis Gazette Times, November 19, 2013
Benton County Holiday Food Drive - KEZI, November 19, 2013
Homeless services 'abundant' in Albany - Albany Democrat Herald, November 7, 2013
Mid-Valley Halloween Happenings (Linn Benton Food Share) - Albany Democrat Herald, October 28, 2013
Reading to children at Head Start - Lincoln Courier, October 25, 2013
Vets support services now available in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties - The News Guard, October 24, 2013
First Story, CSC Youthbuild team up to help Albany family - Albany Democrat-Herald, October 18, 2013
Kids may not get 'Head Start' if government shutdown continues - KATU, October 4, 2013
Film "American Winter" Shows Oregon's Poverty - Corvallis Gazette-Times, October 2, 2013
Government shutdown: Head Start programs in Lincoln County in jeopardy if closure persists - The Oregonian, October 1, 2013
American Winter movie, forum Thursday - Albany Democrat Herald, October 1, 2013
Federal shutdown affects local services for the poor - Albany Democrat-Herald, October 1, 2013
CSC Hosts Documentary Highlighting Oregon Poverty: American Winter Screens at LaSells Thursday, Oct. 3 - Corvallis Advocate, September 26, 2013
Ewanchyna family rises to the occasion in final charity bake sale (Linn Benton Food Share) - Corvallis Gazette Times, September 15, 2013

A Head Start Halloween

 
Written by Suzanne Miller, Head Start Director

Not only does Head Start educate and care for children’s well-being and support their families, they also have fun! This Halloween was no exception. The Head Start teachers and children dressed up in a variety of wondrous costumes. With a dedicated staff and a great curriculum with measurable outcomes, Head Start continues to be the gold standard in pre-school education. In Lincoln County, we are proud to be a shining example of the best that early childhood education and social services can offer. Our partners within CSC and throughout the community make our services invaluable to our most at risk children and families. With the ongoing scepter of federal cuts looming, it continues to be important to have the assistance of friends who can contribute their time and money to help sustain this program. If you would like to talk about the current needs, make a long-term contribution, or would like a personal tour of our facilities, please contact Dr. Suzanne Miller, Director, at 541-996-3028, ext. 272.

Supportive Services for Veteran Families Now Available in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties

Beginning in October 2013, Community Services Consortium (CSC) is administering the Coming Home Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. CSC has partnered with St. Vincent DePaul of Lane County to expand this VA-funded program into our service territory. The program is designed to help homeless and at-risk veterans and their families obtain and maintain permanent housing. 

CSC hopes to enroll 50 veteran families in this program in the next 12 months. CSC’s newest Housing Case Manager, Paul Barnes, is already connecting with local shelters and VA representatives to publicize the program’s availability. SSVF is an exciting addition to the rental assistance services currently offered by CSC, and we look forward to serving those who have served our country so selflessly. 

For more information on eligibility for this program, contact Paul Barnes at 541-704-7648 or pbarnes@communityservices.us.

Ecuadoran Group Visits Linn Benton Food Share to Learn About Innovative Gleaning Approach

Linn Benton Food Share recently hosted members of Oregon State University's Binational Learning Community on Food, Culture and Social Justice in Ecuador and Oregon, including 11 members that made the trip from Ecuador to Oregon.

The Ecuadorian group was on a two-week visit to Oregon exploring food system related sites. Linn Benton Food Share was chosen due to its innovative approach to food distribution through its network of 14 gleaning groups in Linn and Benton counties. 

Members of the group spent time talking with the gleaners, and got some hands-on experience with the repacking process. Everyone took part in a potluck at the end of the visit. 

The group will also be touring different food production sites, farms, and food markets in Oregon. In December, the Oregon-based members will travel to Ecuador for a parallel food systems visit.

Many thanks to Oregon State University's Director of Anthropology, Joan Gross, for giving Linn Benton Food Share the opportunity to host members of the Binational Learning Community! 

Support Linn Benton Food Share at the 20th Annual Magic Barrel Fundraiser

Oregon Book Award winners Matthew Dickman, Lauren Kessler, Henry Hughes, Gina Ochsner and five other distinguished writers from Oregon will read from their works Oct. 25 in Corvallis at the 20th annual Magic Barrel: A Reading to Fight Hunger event.

National Book Award winner Barry Lopez will emcee, and the event will include readings from other authors as well as music, a silent auction, free hors d’oeuvres, sweets and wine.

Admission is a suggested donation of $9 at the door, but listeners are encouraged to give what they can. Nobody is turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds will go to Linn Benton Food Share to fight hunger in the Corvallis and Albany community.

The event will take place at the historic Whiteside Theatre, a 1920s Italian Renaissance movie palace in downtown Corvallis under restoration. The music begins at 6:30pm, with readings beginning at 7pm.

For more information, click here.

Apply Now for Workforce Investment Act Scholarships

Need help with training or education for job skills, or know someone that does? CSC is now taking applications for Workforce Investment Act scholarships. Applications must be received by November 21, 2013 at 5pm. To access the application and more information, click here.