Total of $474,250 distributed in initial wildfire “response” phase of funding
Future grants will address longer term needs as United Way pivots to recovery efforts
Just four weeks after the Holiday Farm Fire erupted, and thanks to quick action, countless community collaborations, and the generosity of many near and far, United Way of Lane County has raised and distributed a total of $474,250 in Wildfire Response efforts.
Staff members of ARC of Lane County, one of the organizations receiving wildfire response funds, preparing food boxes
“Our work has long been about ensuring kids are successful in school and life,” shared Jared Pruch, Director of Community Impact at United Way. “Yet without a roof over their heads, food on the table, and the safety and security of basic stability in their lives, our vision for Lane County’s kids is not possible. So while we keep our compass pointed toward academic success and providing every opportunity for youth to reach their potential, we are in the meantime doing do everything we can to ensure the stability our kids and our communities need amidst so many crises. This requires not just financial investments, but a real collective effort of our entire community, so we’re bringing partners together across sectors to strategize, leveraging connections, resources, and volunteers, and building out what we hope will be more just and resilient communities here in Lane County. With our communities’ support, we can make this possible.”
Initial Response Funding Supports Day-to-Day Needs
United Way’s initial “response” phase of funding prioritized support for organizations and initiatives providing vulnerable populations with basic needs such as food, shelter, medical care, crisis counseling, respite care for children, financial assistance, and connection to community resources.
As Disaster Mental Health specialists, Green Cross Academy of Traumatology offers crisis counseling amidst disasters, and is one of the programs funded by United Way this past month.
“Our teams are working with up to 100 people a day,” Green Cross board member Dr. Mary Schoenfeldt said about their Holiday Farm Fire response, “providing resources, emotional support, coordination and at times, crisis intervention and an outlet for the pent-up emotions that go with this kind of a disaster. We have talked with individuals, with families, with store owners, with responders, in-person and through technology channels. Your financial support helps make that happen.”
Other programs funded include Every Child Lane County, supporting foster and recently adoptive families displaced by fires; Lane Senior Support Coalition is providing low-income seniors living in rural areas with propane, generators, gas cards, temporary shelter, and other supports. Direction Service’s grant supported food and prescription replacements, shelter, clothing, and more for individuals and families with special needs. Catholic Community Services used funds to distribute direct financial assistance to evacuees; Greenhill Humane Society is helping ease strain on those caring for pets and livestock while displaced by offering pet boarding, a lost-found database, and pet supplies. Carry It Forward will use funds to support vulnerable unhoused populations including people of color, people with disabilities, and medically complex individuals also impacted by fires. The Center for Community Counseling funding will support no-cost crisis counseling services to low-income, uninsured, underinsured community members and anyone else seeking counseling.
United Way has distributed wildfire response grants to the following 39 organizations :
Catholic Community Services ($200,000) McKenzie Community Development Corporation ($50,000) Blue River Health Clinic/Orchid Health Clinic ($20,000) McKenzie Education Foundation ($20,000) McKenzie Community Track & Field ($10,000) McKenzie Discovery Center ($10,000) McKenzie River Food Pantry ($10,000) Northwest Youth Corps ($10,000) St. Vincent DePaul ($10,000) Upper McKenzie Community Center ($10,000) 8:46 Justice Today ($5,000) Carry it Forward ($5,000) Center for Community Counseling ($5,000) Community Outreach through Radical Empowerment ($5,000) Direction Service ($5,000) Eugene Family YMCA ($5,000) Every Child Lane County ($5,000) Green Cross Academy of Traumatology ($5,000) Greenhill Humane Society ($5,000) Lane Senior Support Coalition ($5,000) Living Water Family Fellowship ($5,000) McKenzie Bridge Christian Church ($5,000) Occupy Medical ($5,000) One Hope ($5,000) Options Counseling and Family Services ($5,000) Oregon Cancer Foundation ($5,000) Rural Organizing Project ($5,000) South Lane Mental Health Services, Inc. ($5,000) The ARC of Lane County ($5,000) Walterville Grange ($5,000) WhiteBird Clinic ($5,000) Oregon Community Programs ($3,000) Diabetes Community Care Team ($2,500) Friends of Fish Lake ($2,500) Full Access ($2,500) Mapleton Food Share ($2,500) Marcola School District 79J ($2,500) Screamin' Jay's Hot Lunch (with Oregon Hospitality Fdn) ($2,500) The Child Center ($1,250)
From Response to Recovery
Funded program CORE worked with local restaurants to deliver meals to community members staying in hotels after being displaced by wildfires.
As county-wide efforts pivot to long-term recovery for the Blue River and McKenzie River communities, United Way, too, is pivoting to its next phase of investments. Future funding will be distributed in slightly larger amounts, and support not just immediate needs of those impacted, but also more complex needs such as addressing access to school, health care needs, and more.
Amidst so many crises, United Way of Lane County is constantly being challenged to respond to the ever-changing needs of local communities. And that is the work United Way was built for.
Your donations make these grants possible: thank you
Thousands of individuals and many local organizations have contributed the funds for these recent investments, including Meyer Memorial Trust, Goodwill Industries, First Interstate Bank, PacificSource Health Plans, Eugene Area Radio Stations - EARS, Reynolds Specialty Contracting, Bigfoot Beverages, International Paper, Zoom Management, 280 Labor Management Coop, Pacific Cascade Federal Credit Union, Hershner Hunter, LLP, NW Natural, and many more.
As United Way shifts to longer term needs, donations to the United Way’s Wildfire Response Fund are still crucial. Those interested in giving can donate online at http://egiving.unitedwaylane.org/wildfires; mail checks with “Wildfires” in memo line to United Way of Lane County at 3171 Gateway Loop, Springfield, OR 97477, or call 541-741-6000.
With the long term impacts of the fires still yet to be seen, community members are also encouraged to support United Way’s on going work in the community by making a contribution to the Live United Fund at www.unitedwaylane.org/donate.