Non-profit Organizations
Non-profit organizations work for our communities making a difference every day.
Local Non-profit Organizations
Centro Latino Americano empowers Latino families by providing opportunity and building bridges for a stronger community. In 2018, 22 staff members and 40 volunteers had over 6000 contacts, and served 1000 individuals.
CSS is a non-profit with the focus of creating low-cost/big impact strategies for supplying basic shelter and supportive community to those in need. Thanks to CSS, 119 people received safe shelter in 2018. Of those, 53 exited into a better living situation.
The Egan Warming Center is a coalition of community members representing service providers, nonprofits, faith and social activists communities and local government who have come together since 2008 to ensure that homeless people have shelter during extreme cold weather. During the 2018/2109 season, they served 1,527 people with over 3,000 meals and 6,803 beds.
The Eugene Mission’s ultimate goal is to provide holistic long-term solutions that lead to the wellness of its guests. They served 250,000 meals, provided 140,000 beds for people to sleep, and served 3,000 individuals in 2018.
Food for Lane County is a food bank dedicated to alleviating hunger by creating access to food. In 2018, they distributed 96,148 food boxes to 69,236 people. Served 36,401 meals at their Dining Room, 82,087 meals through their Summer Food Program, and 78,639 meals through Meals on Wheels.
Huerto de la Familia (The Family Garden)
Huerto de la Familia works to increase food security and economic empowerment by providing resources in agriculture and entrepreneurship to Lane County Latinos. The organization helps people who have large potential, but little access. Huerto de la Familia promotes 4 programs:
Organic Gardening offers Latino families organic gardening education and workshops related to health and food preservation.
Micro-enterprise offers Latino families opportunities to create farm and food-based micro-businesses.
In partnership with Heifer International, the Small Farmer’s Project supports a family run cooperative farm business.
A series of short films with first-hand accounts from participants in Huerto de la Familia’s programs.
Laurel Hill Center is committed to helping people with psychiatric disabilities make choices and acquire skills that increase their self-reliance and ability to live and work in the community. In 2017-2018, they served 803 individuals. Of those, 72 people moved to permanent supportive housing, 36 graduated the Renter’s Education Program, and 145 were provided with peer support during their short stays. They also provided over 40,000 pairs of glasses through SWEEP Optical.
Looking Glass Community Services
Over their years of operation, Looking Glass has established a reputation as the leader in supportive services to youth and families in Lane County. In 2018, they performed 444 in-home interventions, hosted 70 youth in their transition program, provided 1,283 beds, helped 9 former foster youth into apartments, enrolled 68 drop-outs in New Roads School, and answered 1,240 calls from youth on their crisis line.
Shelter Care assists people on their journey toward stable housing. From July 2017 to June 30, 2018, Shelter Care helped 1,431 people. 534 parents and children secured housing, 272 adults on the road to recovery were provided with stability and independence, and 444 unhoused adults living with mental illness received apartments and support.
Sponsors, Inc. provides transitional housing and employment opportunities to people who are released from Oregon prisons and jail in Lane County, Oregon. In 2018, they helped 500 participants with criminal backgrounds obtain gainful employment, 500 participants were placed in transitional housing, and 107 were paired with a volunteer mentor.
The Eugene Service Station (ESS) provides homeless adults with a warm and welcoming place where they can meet their basic needs (food, day shelter, clothing, laundry, showers, supplies) and get assistance stabilizing their personal crises. The ESS has telephones, message services, computer access, job and housing referrals. In 2018, ESS helped 3,997 adults, supplied 113,759 meals, and provided 23,611 showers.
First Place Family Center is a refuge and place of support for children and their families who are low income, at risk of losing their housing or are already in transition between homes due to job loss, health issues and other critical problems. They served 668 families, including 1,286 children, in 2018.
United Way is focused on creating a community where all kids are successful in school and life because they believe healthy, successful kids are the best investment in our future. Their 2017-18 fiscal year saw the distribution of 75,000 emergency food boxes to families, as well as 16,000 dental kits and 5,478 books to elementary students. They also supported 1,326 children and families through a Family Resource Center, and provided 375 youth with academic support, enrichment, peer leadership, and career training.
Local Non-Profits Benefit Schools
As a part of their commitment to education, EWEB provides about $500,000 in grant funds to the four school districts in their service area in support of water and energy curriculum and activities.
Each year thousands of students in the following school districts benefit from programs funded through their education grants.
- Eugene School District 4J
- Springfield School District
- Bethel School District
- McKenzie School District
Springfield Education Foundation
Spring 2019 Innovative Educator Grants
A number of teachers throughout the district were recently surprised – with cash!
The Springfield Education Foundation awarded a total of $32,000 (19 grants). It was the second round of grants that were given out during the 2018-2019 school year, and teachers were elated to receive the funding.