If you’d like to make face masks to contribute to our medical workers, you can find directions at the following website, https://makefacemasks.com . This website was forwarded to us by our U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio.

There are several drop off points in our area, including:

Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend
Riverbend Annex 123 International Way
Springfield, OR
The drop-off location at the front of Riverbend Annex is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center
1460 G St
Springfield, OR 97477
A yellow donation barrel for the masks is located at the main entrance of McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center.

Peter DeFazio Campaign Headquarters
222 E 11th Ave. Eugene
All days-all hours

Lane County Warehouse
NEW PPE donations only!
3040 N. Delta Highway, Eugene OR 97408
Monday – Friday, 2:00 to 4:00 P.M.
Lane County PPE donation webpage

Here are some resources that are frequently referred to folks in the community:

Unemployment Insurance

The Oregon Employment Department has created new temporary rules for Unemployment Insurance, making it easier for those who are laid off because of COVID-19 to file for UI benefits. Details of temporary UI rule.

You may qualify under new rules if:

• you quit work because of a COVID-19 situation
• you were laid off, but you and your employer intend on resuming work when COVID-19 situation permits
• you are staying home from work solely for childcare purposes because of school closures

See the March 13 enews with information and links specific to the workplace, for business and employees.

Health insurance

You may newly qualify for the Oregon Health Plan if your income has recently gone down. The Oregon Health Plan allows enrollment at any time. Here’s the webpage for Oregon Health Plan, and the page where you begin the process to sign up for OHP.

“Enrollment is always open for OHP. Medicare and private health insurance plans have open enrollment in the fall. When it is time to renew your OHP benefits, we will send you a letter.”

Oregon Food Bank’s Food Finder

Anyone can type their address into Oregon Food Bank’s Food Finder and find open food sites in their area, along with hours, contact information, and more. They’re updating hours and availability daily, but advise that folks call ahead before visiting the agency closest to you. The site is also available in multiple languages to ensure that our full communities can access the information they need. 

Links of Interest

Oregon Health Authority
Oregon Coronavirus Information, Including Stay Home, Save Lives Executive Order FAQ
Stay Home, Save Lives Social Media Resources for Sharing
Lane County Public Health
  COVID-19 How testing works video
Oregon Office of Emergency Management OEM COVID-19 response
Bureau of Labor and Industries Coronavirus and Workplace Laws
University of Oregon webpage on UO’s COVID-19 response

Tim here,

I’ve been on the Bookbub mailing list for a while and there are always pretty good titles, fiction and non-fiction, and both established and new authors. The e-books are incredibly cheap: $0.99, $1.99, $2.99, and sometimes free. A lot of us now have time for reading, sign up for the Bookbub email list for some great reads at great prices.

https://www.bookbub.com/welcome

HOOTS (Helping Out Our Teens in Schools) offering mental health support during school closures

Information about HOOTS.

In light of school closures due to COVID-19 HOOTS (Helping Out Our Teens in Schools) will be offering mental health support by phone for students, families, and staff of high schools in the 4J, Springfield, Bethel and Oakridge school districts. HOOTS is primarily staffed by and born from the work that the CAHOOTS mobile crisis response program provides the Eugene/Springfield community. HOOTS normally operates weekly clinics at high-schools in our community, each staffed with a crisis counselor and medic.

This phone line will be accessible from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, March 16th and continuing until schools are able to reopen. Staff is able to provide short term counseling, resource referrals, and OHP sign up. We understand that this is a time of heightened anxiety for our community and that we are all in need of additional reassurance and support. Many social services in the area are working on providing services over the phone or via virtual platforms. Please reach out to your ongoing providers to find out if this is something available to you.

For students, families, and staff of Churchill, North Eugene High, Sheldon, South Eugene High, Ecco, Network Charter, Wellsprings, Twin Rivers Charter, Willamette High and Kalapuya, please call (541) 246-2342.

For students, families, and staff of Academy of Arts and Academics, Gateways, Springfield High, Thurston High and Oakridge High, please call (541) 246-2332.

The White Bird Crisis line will continue to be accessible 24/7 by phone at (541) 687-4000. 15th Night will also be continuing to offer support and resources for unhoused youth and those working with them via phone and text at (541) 246-4046.

For an in-person response, CAHOOTS continues to operate 24/7 at this time, if you are in Eugene please call (541) 682-5111, for those in Springfield please call (541) 726-3714.– 
NLC Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NeighborhoodLeadersCouncil
Web Site: http://eugeneneighborhoods.wordpress.com

From the South Willamette Mutual Aid Network:

Dear friends and community leaders,

The Lane County Mutual Aid network has organized to respond to the needs of the community in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We collectively have the capacity to move through this crisis with love, compassion, and a dedication to justice.

This crisis has highlighted the flaws in our current system. Due to structural inequality, economic disparity, inaccessible healthcare, and an inadequate response from all levels of government, we are all at risk. Because of this reality, we have chosen to act. 

We have live forms to Request Aid and Volunteer Aid (Spanish versions: Request Aid and Volunteer Aid), which seek to connect people to existing services and each other, and are eager to create a region-wide network of Neighborhood Point People who are keen to the needs and resources on their block.

Through this mutual aid effort, neighbors can communicate to identify and respond to each other’s needs in a way that our federal, state, and local governments cannot. Please fill out a form to request aid or volunteer. You can also find Lane County Mutual Aid on Facebook and Instagram at @lanecountymutualaid, reach out to us at lanemutualaid@gmail.com, or you can call our hotline at (541) 321-8749. Our efforts are only successful when all backgrounds, capabilities, needs, and interests are honored. Together, we can build a better world.

With Love and Solidarity,

Lane County Mutual Aid