One year in the Aurora Buildingstory on pg. 3

St. Vincent de Paul Societyof Lane County, Inc.P.O. Box 24608705 S. SenecaEugene, OR 97402

St. Vinnie’s Voice A publication of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, Inc.

www.svdp.us Treasuring People and Resources Volume 6, Issue 3 Spring 2005

NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE

PAIDEUGENE OR

PERMIT NO. 487

Meet our Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

What do Conferences do? . . . . . . . . . . 3

Turkey drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Kids Can . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Second Chance success . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Trailer park reincarnated . . . . . . . . . . 7

Be an Angel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

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St. Vincent de Paul and City of Eugene Housing PartnershipsSt. Vincent de Paulʼs Aurora Building is the culmination of a long history of affordable housing in partnership with the City of Eugene. Previous projects include:

Mary Skinner40 single-occupancy rentals

Hope Loop10 home ownership houses, fi ve transitional duplexes

Mac McDonald24 rental units

Bennett/Compton14 home ownership houses

Ross Lane36 rental units

Oakwood Manor72 rental units (a preservation project)

Bagley Downs30 rental units

Lamplighter Apartments12 rental units

South Hilyard Terrace21 rental units

Santa Clara Place60 rental units under construction

Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy and St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director Terry McDonald ring an old, iron school bell to sound the alarm that affordable housing is in danger of becoming a rare commod-ity in Oregon unless funding sources are restored.

Aurora Building garners national

award for EugeneWhile St. Vincent s̓ downtown affordable housing complex continues to win accolades, many experts warn that future affordable housing starts in Oregon could be scarce.

Aurora Building resident Marineusa de Souza Lathan (see story on page 7) joined Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy and St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director Terry McDonald to ring bells in the Aurora Building lobby on Feb. 10 to celebrate, mourn and alarm.

National Doorknocker AwardMayor Piercy, representing the City of Eugene, rang

the celebratory bell heralding the first annual Doorknocker Award, one of 15 nationwide. HUD presented the award to the City of Eugene and the Eugene Consortium for the innovative use of HOME funding in the project design of the Aurora Building. Partners in the consortium are St. Vincent de Paul, the City of Eugene, the State of Oregon, Lane Community College, and the Eugene Water and Electric Board.

“The Aurora Building, the Eugene Public Library should be the norm,” Piercy said. “Winning the Doorknocker Award is quite an honor. Honoring all our citizens with more beauti-ful affordable housing, sustainable business growth, and eco-nomic and educational opportunities is our challenge.”

The announcement of the award in Washington, D.C. coincided with the 15th anniversary of the HOME Program, the largest federal block grant program dedicated to producing affordable housing at a local level.

Shrinking affordable housing fundsLathan, representing the residents of the Aurora Building,

rang the second bell to mourn the fact that funding is disap-pearing for future affordable housing projects.

Without funding for affordable housing, Aurora may be the first and last of its kind in Lane County. Affordable hous-ing means stability for workers in the service industry and entry-level positions, as well as the elderly on fixed incomes, the disabled, young parenting teens and others. Energy effi-cient housing means lower utility bills for families struggling to afford health care and other necessities for their children.

Housing crisis imminent in Oregon The final bell, an old, cast-iron school bell, was rung to

raise an alarm. Because it was such a large bell, McDonald needed some help.

“I promise you, Terry, I will work hard to ring this bell,” Mayor Piercy said, as they hefted the bell to symbolically sound the alarm that if funding is not increased, those in need of affordable housing will not find it in Oregon.

Lack of affordable housing paired with low-wage jobs

see DOORKNOCKER, page 7

Dear Friends:

“Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Many of us grew up with these words from Benjamin Franklin. But he also had some things to say about faith, and with so much discussion about faith based initiatives, I thought it appropriate to share those words with you:

The faith you mention has doubtless its use in the world; ... But I wish it were more produc-tive of good works than I have generally seen it: I mean real good works, works of kindness, charity, mercy, and publick spirit; not holi-day-keeping, sermon-reading or hearing, per-forming church ceremonies, or making long prayers. ... If men rest in hearing and pray-ing, as too many do, it is as if a tree should value itself on being watered and putting forth leaves, though it never produced any fruit.

Your great Master ... preferred the doers of the word to the mere hearers; and those who gave food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, raiment to the naked, entertainment to the stranger, and relief to the sick, etc. though they never heard of his name, he declares shall in the last day be accepted, when those who cry Lord, Lord; who value themselves on their faith though great enough to perform miracles but have neglected good works shall be rejected.

Franklin wrote those words to his friend Joseph Huey, on June 6, 1753. The last lines in particular could be a description of the Interfaith Emergency Shelter System (Night Shelter). Volunteers of these faith communities refer to the homeless who stay with them as “guests.”

At St. Vincent de Paul, we strive to be “doers” and not just “hearers.” When you donate your time, your goods, or make a fi nancial contribution, you are joining in the works of St. Vincent de Paul. Thank you. To quote a lesser-known proverb from Franklin: “One today is worth two tomorrows.” Please help St. Vincent de Paul help others today.

We assist the poor and those in need of consolation,St. Vinnie’s Voice Spring 2005

Board of DirectorsChair--Jacqueline Cole

Vice Chair--Ken CorricelloSecretary--Robin JohnsonTreasurer--Holly Cabell

Sister Margaret GrazianoVirgil HeideckerRobert HollanderBeverlee HughesKathy KinsmanDonald LambAnne OʼBrienEugene Organ

Darrel SpiesschaertEdward Thompson

Housing BoardChair--Robert Taylor

Board Liaison--Robert HollanderJean ApplemanAmy Doherty

Eleanor MulderAmanda NobleKevin OʼReilly

Linda SageDon VanHouten

Emergency Services BoardCo-Chair--Heather HannahCo-Chair--Dennis Maricle

Donald LambAnne OʼBrien

Stores BoardBoard Liaison--Ken Corricello

Charmaine ColemanLynda CookMike Favret

Beverlee HughesFred Newman

Manufacturing/Recycling BoardChair--Dennis Maricle

Jake BishopRon Darling

Virgil HeideckerEugene Organ

Finance Advisory BoardChair--Holly Cabell

Board Liaison--Jacqueline ColePat Costello

Beverlee HughesPatty Rumbaugh

Edward Thompson

Self-Sufficiency Services BoardJean Appleman

Jim BairdBenj EpsteinJerry Smith

District CouncilPresident--Kathy Kinsman

Spiritual Advisor--Fr. Thomas More McGreevyAll Conference Presidents

Community Relations BoardBill Barr

Department HeadsTerry McDonald, Executive DirectorCharley Harvey, Asst. Exec. DirectorAnne Williams, Housing Programs

Kristen Karle, Housing DevelopmentWilliam Wise, Emergency Services

Rebecca Larson, Community ResourcesGaylene Glidewell, Self-Sufficiency Services

Roxann OʼBrien, Social Services Leisha Wallace, Stores

Amy Harwood, Property ManagementCarol Belmer, Personnel

St. Vinnie’s VoicePublished by: St. Vincent de Paul Society

of Lane County, Inc.Editor: Susan Sammons

Writers & Photographers: St. Vincent de Paul staff and volunteers

St. Vinnie’s Voice is published three times a year in the summer, fall and spring.

We welcome your comments or suggestions. Please address all correspondence to:

Susan SammonsSt. Vincent de Paul

P.O. Box 24608Eugene, OR 97402

Phone: (541) 687-5820Fax: (541) 683-9423

e-mail: ssammons@svdp.usVisit St. Vincent s̓ Web site and read

St. Vinnie’s Voiceonline at:

www.svdp.us

From the Executive Director Meet the Board

Terrence R. McDonald

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, Inc.

2

Her mother is the chair of the ex-ecutive board,

so you might expect Heather Hannah to be a bit interested in St. Vin-cent de Paul. It turns out she became so interest-ed she wanted to get in-volved.

Because of a grow-ing expertise in hous-ing, Heather joined the housing advisory board in 2002. But, she says she didn t̓ think she was contributing much.

“I wanted to be more hands on. Mom mentioned the revamp-ing of the Emergency Services Board and that interested me.”

This board is in the process of redefining it-self, with Heather as co-chair along with Dennis Maricle. Donald Lamb and Anne OʼBrien, who are members of St. Vin-cent s̓ Executive Board, complete the Emergen-cy Services Board.

The first meeting of the board was Dec. 7. At that meeting, board members began look-ing at what they want-ed to accomplish. The initial meeting was at First Place Family Cen-ter and the second was at the Eugene Service Station.

“We r̓e all very new at this,” Heather said. “If we r̓e physically there we can see what needs to happen.”

The plan is to meet at an emergency ser-vices site each month so

that the board members can get a feel for what St. Vincent s̓ Emergen-cy Services does and what the needs are.

“Iʼm a finance per-son,” Heather said. “My best contribution to Emergency Services will be to help make sure the programs are self-sufficient. Weʼve been going through the financials. We want to make sure the books are clean and make sense. I want to make sure we r̓e not in desperate cir-cumstances if a funding source goes down.”

Heather earned a degree in business with a specialty in finance at Seattle University. After graduation, she went to Peru for two months to visit a friend. When she came back to Eugene, she had a job within two weeks.

For the past six years, Heather has been designing and main-taining corporate re-

tirement plans for busi-nesses.

In college she was an intern for a compa-ny in Seattle that did the same type of thing. She said she did not re-ally seek out this career, but just fell into it and found she enjoys it. The firm she is currently with does retirement plans for firms here in Eugene and as far away as Alabama.

On the side, Heath-er has her own compa-ny, Guardian Property LLC, and she is current-ly working toward her property management license. But, as busy as she is, she knows the importance of giving something back to the community.

“I have learned that William Wise (newly appointed Emergency Services director) needs a lot of help,” Heather said.

By help, Heather has more in mind than

sitting on an advisory board.

“It s̓ important as a board member to go in and physically help,” she said, “not just attend meetings. Last month, I got a friend to come with me and we helped clean First Place. It took almost a whole Satur-day, but it was fun.”

That energy has Heather looking for-ward to an active Emer-gency Services Board.

“I would like to see this board help William and the staff work on programs and getting volunteers and so on. And, I would like to see board members roll up their sleeves and help. The staff should tell us what s̓ to be done, and if we can, we should be willing to help.”

In six months, Heather says she d̓ like to see the board s̓ role expanded.

“One of the things I can help do is get more people my age inter-ested in helping. I feel that I represent a part of the community that is younger yet self-suf-ficient. Some of them don t̓ know how to help. Some of this group may not be members of a church, where much of the volunteer efforts are centered. But that passion is still there. I would like to reach out to them and show them that this opportunity to help exists.”

✧

Youthful, energetic finance specialist helps direct new advisory board

Heather Hannah adopted Mist eight years ago while she was a business student at Seattle University.

What do the conferences do in Lane County? That is as varied as Lane County itself. With confer-ences stretching from Florence to Corvallis, each conference works to provide what assistance it can.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane is guided in part by a District Council, which is comprised of confer-ences, with each conference made up of volunteers belonging to a parish or other faith community.

“It started out being called a confer-ence from the beginning,” said Lane County District Council President Kathy Kinsman. “St. Vincent de Paul started in France among a group of friends. One of the main purposes of a conference is friendship, spirituality and of course service to the poor. Conference comes from a French word meaning to bring together.”

Conference members concentrate on home visits. Typically, the con-nection begins in the greater Eugene/Springfield area when someone contacts St. Vincent s̓ Social Service Office.

Staff members at the Social Service Office take information from potential clients regarding their needs and then contact the conference closest to them. A pair of volunteers from that confer-ence visits them at home to assess their broad situation and, if appropriate, con-nect them with other resources at St. Vincent s̓ or in the wider community.

St. Vincent s̓ Social Service Office Director Roxann OʼBrien said that there are limits to conference resources.

“The Social Service Office needs to know what each of the conferences can do,” she said.

So OʼBrien tries to keep abreast of how much aid each conference can give.

Then when a potential client calls, she must decide whether a home visit from that conference will help the client.

“For example,” she said, “St. Alice in Springfield is currently only able to help with beds, clothing and a limited amount of firewood, and Eugene Chris-tian Fellowship takes 20 calls for home visits per month.”

OʼBrien said she tries to have a con-ference update sheet at each desk every week. If the Social Service Office staff knows that a conference will be unable to help a client, they then try to refer the client to other agencies in the area that may be able to help.

“On average, the Social Service Of-fice gets about 150 phone calls per day – way too many for the conferences to take care of,” OʼBrien said. “In total, the conferences in the Eugene/Springfield

area average 150 calls per month.”OʼBrien said she could easily set up

1,000 calls per month if the conferences had the resources.

“So, the Social Service Office fields the best help for a client,” she said. “In addition to what the conferences can do, we have some funds from donors in the community. We just try to find the best resources we can to help a person.”

It s̓ a bit different for the conferences in Florence and Corvallis, because those who need help don t̓ typically call the Eugene Social Service Office.

“Requests for help come in to both the church and the St. Vincent s̓ store here,” said Bill Clark, an active member of St. Mary, Our Lady of the Dunes Conference in Florence.

Conference members here have de-veloped a request form and they provide

a supply of them to the church and the St. Vincent s̓ Florence store.

“Clients come to the store and fill out the form provided by the confer-ence,” said Carol Jordan, who manages St. Vincent s̓ thrift store in Florence. “Volunteers come through a few times a week and pick up the forms. After the need is determined, a client will bring in a voucher, which is usually good for 10 days.”

Jordan copies utility bills, prescrip-tions, or gas bills to go with the forms when necessary. She says they try to limit help to no more than twice a year for any one family.

Clark says the conference keeps a list of which volunteer is in charge each week.

“That person determines whether the case is an emergency and what the need is,” he said. “Then we issue them a voucher. Many businesses in town give us a discount.”

Clark said he is on call for emergen-cies most of the time, especially when Don Olson, the conference president is gone.

“We r̓e not professional,” Clark said. “We just volunteer our time, and 100 percent of all donations go to cli-ents. We spend our own gas and other expenses. Most of the assistance we give is with utilities and rent with some for major appliances.”

St. Mary Conference in Corvallis does not conduct home visits. St. Mary s̓ Social Ministry Director Sister Cathy Carr meets with people and refers them to the conference if they need help.

“We help with mostly food,” said conference member Lorraine Woelfle. “We keep a food pantry and a store here.”

seeking out and utilizing every resource. St. Vinnie’s Voice

Conference Connections

Spring 2005 3

Jerry Hohman (left) and Jack Walker, St. Paul Conference members, assemble a food box for a family of three that called St. Vincent de Paulʼs Social Service Of-fice earlier in the day. The St. Paul Conference stocks a pantry year-round with donations from parishioners.

Volunteers touch lives of their neighbors in need

New citizen calls Aurora home

Within the past year, Marineusa de Souza Lathan, who was born in Brazil, moved into the Aurora Building, landed a job in the book department of two St. Vincent de Paul retail stores and became a United States citizen.

Marineusa and her children Bemnia and Brozie say they don t̓ simply live in the Aurora Building, they are a part of something.

“People who live here know each other,” Marineusa says. “This is a close community. We often have pot lucks.”

In fact, each week at the Aurora Building starts with a community newsletter, which includes a weekly schedule of activities and events happening in the Aurora Community. Residents are encouraged to contribute items to the newsletter and offer recipes, poetry, quotes, short stories and artwork.

Bemnia says she and her brother like playing in the com-munity room, which is also often the site for parties. And their mother enjoys the building s̓ proximity to transportation and area attractions.

“It s̓ a great location,” Marineusa says. “It s̓ right down-town, but Eugene being a smaller city, it s̓ not too crowded. The library is just a block away. The fairgrounds are close by, with so much going on. People ask me why I don t̓ get a car. I don t̓ need a car. The buses are right here and are pretty good.”

Marineusa says the only change she might make is to move into a larger apartment as her children grow bigger.

Otherwise, she s̓ extremely happy about the Aurora living experience, including reasonable utility bills, the largest one to date being about $25.

“It s̓ a great opportunity that St. Vincent s̓ gives people,” she said. “We r̓e really grateful for being here. I wish more organizations would do the kind of things that St. Vincent s̓ does for people.”

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Marineusa de Souza Lathan and her children Bemnia, (left) 8, and Brozie, 7, love living in St. Vincentʼs Aurora Building.

“May rich and poor recognize that they are brothers and sisters. May they

share what they have with one another as children of the

one God who loves everyone, who wills the good of everyone,

and who offers to everyone the gift

of peace.”

Pope John Paul II1920-2005

May he rest in peace.

see CONFERENCE, page 7

Being mindful of the sanctity and dignity of all,St. Vinnie’s Voice Spring 20054

When the devastating tsunami hit parts of Asia in December, many of you called St. Vincent de Paul looking for a way to help those who were affected. We quickly set up a fund to accept your donations. Through the periodic dental van visits St. Vincent s̓ has sponsored in Eugene, we knew Northwest Medi-cal Teams would put any donations you entrusted to us to good use. What fol-lows is the text of a letter we received from them – thanking all of you:

Thank you so much for your gift to bring life-saving medical care to thou-sands of families suffering from the recent earthquake/tsunami disaster in South Asia.

This is one of the worst disasters we have ever experienced. Millions of people have lost homes and loved ones. Without immediate help, even more people could lose their lives in a second disaster caused by infec-tious disease and untreated health problems.

Each day, our volunteers are treat-ing thousands of homeless families in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. You have placed medicines in these doctorsʼ and nursesʼ hands and made it possible for them to go. Thank you for making room in your heart for the hurting people af-fected by this terrible disaster. Please join me in praying for these people in their hour of need.

Bas Vanderzalm, PresidentNorthwest Medical Teams International

✧

Tsunami triggers instant response

from St. Vincent’s faithful donors

Aturkeyin

everyfoodbox

(above) After telling St. Vincent s̓ Executive Director Terry McDonald that she was raising the turkey drive goal to 3,000, St. Vincent de Paul Turkey Drive Chair-woman Betty Snowden got to work to make it happen. After all the turkeys were collected, (left) Snowden donned a turkey suit to help distribute holiday food boxes from St. Vincentʼs food room.

Food room opens in time for holidays

On Nov. 9, St. Vincent de Paul un-veiled its new food room, which is now conveniently located in St. Vincent s̓ Richard W. Lindholm Service Center. St. Vincent s̓ old food room was located across busy Highway 99.

The Lindholm Service Center also houses St. Vincent s̓ Social Service Of-fice and Eugene Service Station, a day center for homeless adults, as well as the City of Eugene s̓ Bethel Community Policing Center.

The new food room is named for the late Theron Atkinson, a local farmer and Vincentian. Several members of his family were on hand for the festivities, as well as Turkey Drive Chairwoman Betty Snowden, Eugene Mayor Jim Tor-rey, Eugene Mayor Elect Kitty Piercy, and Food for Lane County Executive Director Pat Farr.

“Our largest single help agency is St. Vincent de Paul,” Farr said.

St. Vincent s̓ distributes approxi-mately 1,500 food boxes each month from its food room.

✧

Thanks to the indefatigable efforts of real estate businesswoman and “Hats Off” star Betty Snowden, this year s̓ food box distribution meant that more than 2,500 needy families enjoyed nu-tritious food during the holidays.

Snowden kicked off the drive at the grand opening of St. Vincent s̓ new food room, where she also cut the ceremonial red ribbon in front of the food room s̓ new freezer.

“It s̓ so important to fight hunger in

our own community,” she said.Snowden galvanized community

leaders and businesses into action, some of them giving monetary gifts while others donated turkeys or granted discounts on turkeys. On Dec. 9, she joined Safeway and Lane County com-missioners to fill trucks with hundreds of donated turkeys.

Thanks to all who helped ensure there was a turkey in every food box.

✧

Teddy Bears and More

Royal enjoyed the visit from the Bearly Jointed Teddy Bear Club at First Place Family Center, St. Vincentʼs day center for homeless families with children.

Bearly Jointed spreads early holiday joy

Angel Dinner includes special honor for Vets

Thanks to the great folks at the Bearly Jointed Teddy Bear Club, chil-dren at First Place Family Center got a bit of holiday cheer a couple of weeks early. Club members Fred Jasmer and Diane McDonald presented teddy bears and other stuffed animals to the children who were on hand, and left boxes more for future needs.

For the past 10 years, the club has donated stuffed animals to area non-profits. The club consists of teddy bear artists, crafts people and teddy bear afi-cionados, who share their love of teddy bears with the community

Thank you, Bearly Jointed Teddy Bear Club.

✧

Because this year s̓ Angel Dinner was held on Veteran s̓ Day, it seemed fitting to include a tribute to veterans who are St. Vincent de Paul volunteers.

St. Paul Catholic Church Pastor Fa-ther Steve Clovis, who recently served as a Naval chaplain, blessed veterans attending the dinner. In his remarks, he noted that there are many veterans among St. Vincent de Paul conference members.

“It comes as no surprise to me that so many Vincentians are veterans,” he said. “To serve is to live.”

Emergency Services Board Co-chair Dennis Maricle then asked everyone to stand and applaud the homeless veterans who were at the dinner, saying we owe them a special debt of gratitude.

The Angel Dinner is a chance for St. Vincent de Paul to honor those who

have served throughout the years. This year, a special award was given to Fa-ther Dan Reynolds, who is pastor at St. Mark Catholic Church in Eugene. He recently stepped down after serving as the spiritual advisor for the Society for more than nine years.

Individuals honored were: Myrtle and Elmer Harless of the St. Jude Con-ference; Social Service Office volunteer Iris Mace; Eugene Service Station volunteers Billy McKnight and Cindi Peterson; and First Place Family Center volunteer Jane Rapier. Businesses hon-ored were: Warehouse Demo Services, represented by Gloria Obenshain, as Employer of the Year; and Kendall Auto Group as Business of the Year. Both businesses hire people enrolled in St. Vincent s̓ Self-sufficiency Services Program.

Once again this year, Southtowne Rotary led a socks and underwear drive to benefit homeless and low-income people served through St. Vincentʼs. Adina couldnʼt resist sitting on the mountain of packages that rotary members placed under the tree in St. Vincentʼs lobby.

When Rexius products are delivered to a home or business within Lane County, the customer is given the opportunity to designate a qualifying non-profit organization such as St. Vincent de Paul to receive a donation from Rexius. The amount of the donation is a percentage of the sale. Each Rexius delivery includes a “Rexius Contribution Designation Card.” The customer simply fills out the form and either returns it to the driver or mails it to Rexius.

Now through April 30, 2005, Oregon Community Credit Union is offering a way for its members to

designate a donation to their favorite non-profit organization. When opening a

new Bonus or Premium Checking account, a member receives $50 into

their new account and can designate a $50 donation to the school or non-profit organization of their choice. That s̓ $50 for you and $50 for St. Vincent de Paul.

any charitable work that advances those goalsSt. Vinnie’s VoiceSpring 2005 5

Your support means so much to so many.

Thank you to these businesses and organizations for helping St. Vincent de Paul serve those in need between Nov. 1 and Feb. 28.

Volunteer in the Spotlight

Michael Richardson filled the lobby of St. Vincentʼs admin-istrative offices with bags of clothing and toys he col-lected for the homeless as part of an Eagle Scout project. Michael began by distributing bags with flyers request-ing donations. His efforts helped enrich and warm the holidays for many homeless and low-income men, women and children in the area. Well done, Michael!

Scout project aids homeless

Advance Cabinet Designs, Inc.Albertsonʼs Community PartnersThe American Legion Eugene Post #3Andreasonʼs Cremation & Burial ServiceApplied Scientifi c Instrumentation, Inc.The Assistance League of EugeneB & B Battery Co.Bari Lipp FoundationBearly Jointed Teddy Bear ClubBethel Lions ClubBJ Equipment Company LLCBlais Family TrustBoy Scouts of America, Oregon Trail CouncilBusiness Mentors Inc.C & B LocksmithingCadence Management Corp.Candyland VendingCarman Johnson Souther Insurance Carmel Of Maria ReginaCarol Trevelyan Strategy GroupCentral Lutheran ChurchCentral Presbyterian ChurchCentury Designs, Inc.Chambers Family FoundationChurch Of St. Mark ConferenceChurch Women United Of EugeneCity of EugeneCity of Springfi eld

Coca-Cola Bottling Company of OregonColumbia NW Enterprises LLCThe Conley Capital GroupCostco WholesaleCritelli Builders LLCDown to Earth Distributors, Inc. Dr. Thomas Kopriva, DDSEarly Bird Kiwanis ClubEmerald Empire Kiwanis ClubEmerald Empire Late Great ChevysEpiscopal Church Of The ResurrectionEugene Active 20/30 FoundationEugene Elks Lodge #357Eugene Tile Co.Fairfi eld Church Of The Nazarene First Congregational ChurchThe Fred Meyer FoundationGarden Way ChurchGateway Medical Equipment and SuppliesGlobe Bldg. & Elect. ContractorsGrocery OutletHelen L. Curry Living TrustICS BookkeepingIzzyʼs Pizza Bar and Classic BuffetJ. D. Rinaldi Fabricators, Inc.J. G. Adams LimitedJerryʼs Home Improvement CenterKeyBankKnights of Columbus Council #1430

KLSRKZELLane County Combined Fed. CampaignLane County Home and Garden ShowLane County Public Works EmployeesLane Forest ProductsLaughing Stock FarmsLevi StraussLHM Hydraulics, Inc.Liberty NorthwestLumber ProductsMadison Middle SchoolMcBirney Family TrustMcKay Family FoundationMcKenzie Valley Presbyterian Church WomenMolecular Probes, Inc.Murphy Plywood CompanyMusgrove Family MortuaryNatural Resource AssociatesNora M. Lane Revocable TrustNorthwood Christian ChurchO.U.R. Federal Credit UnionOur Lady of Perpetual Help Youth Papaʼs PizzaR & M Clark Family FoundationRainyday FloristRandom LengthsRexius Forest By-Products, Inc.

Richardʼs RemodelingRiver Road 2nd HandRoyal Caribbean Cruise LinesSafeway Food & DrugSeven Feathers Hotel & Casino ResortShield Mortgage CorporationSiuslaw BankSkyline Thinning Co.Smithʼs Exterminating ServiceSouthtowne RotarySpringfi eld Faith CenterSt. Maryʼs Episcopal ChurchSt. Paul Catholic ChurchSt. Peter Catholic ChurchSt. Thomas More Newman CenterTelephone Pioneers of AmericaU.S. Bank, Private Client GroupUnitarian Universalist ChurchUnited Lutheran ChurchUnited Way of Kitsap CountyUnited Way of Lane CountyUnity Of The Valley ChurchValley Covenant ChurchVFW Ladies Auxiliary Post #3965Wal-Mart FoundationWal-Mart Springfi eld StoreWells Fargo Home MortgageWillow Creek Tennis and Sports Center ZF Mathers LLC

Kids Care

A $4,500 grant from the McKay Family Foundation has provided 19 activities scholarships for children who live in St. Vincent s̓ housing and 20 more scholarships will be available for children this spring.

The scholarships help youngsters participate in community activities that run the gamut from drum lessons to weight-lifting classes. In addition to taking care of initial fees or tuition payments, the grant will help purchase such necessary items as uniforms and sports equipment, art supplies, and musical instruments. Although essential to involvement, these things are usually not included in lesson or participation fees.

The Global Citizenship Team at Molecular Probes, a subsidiary of Invitrogen Corporation, contributed $2,000 for St. Vincent s̓ Prescription Drug Assistance Program. This fund helps low-income people in Lane County with the high cost of non-narcotic prescription medications. These medications not only enhance the quality of life, but can literally be lifesaving.

Recent GrantsMcKay Family Foundation

Molecular Probes, Inc.

Fred Meyer Foundation

Eugene Active 20/30 ClubThe Eugene Active 20/30 Club granted $2,000 to St. Vincent s̓ Social Service Office to benefit children from homeless and low-income families.

St. Vincent s̓ received a community grant totaling $1,080.50 from The Fred Meyer Foundation for its After School Programs and Child Development Center. The grant will be used to purchase school supplies and nutritious food for the After School Program and baby and toddler food for the Child Development Center.

✧ THANK YOU ✧

Businesses donate as customers designate

Tee time will be here before you know it!

St. Vincent’s Annual Golf TournamentNew date -- Friday, Sept. 30

New place -- Springfield Country Club

Join friends, family and co-workers for an afternoon of golf followed by a delicious dinner

Proceeds benefit children in St. Vincent’s housing

For more information:call Tournament Chair Bill Barr -- 746-4140

Eighth graders from OʼHara Catholic School spent a morn-ing of Catholic Schoolʼs Week sprucing up St. Vincentʼs Ross Lane, an affordable housing complex in the Santa Clara area of Eugene. Teri Dibos, eighth grade teacher at OʼHara, said the students chose to spend a day in service during a class discussion of the schoolʼs motto:

“Enter to Learn... ...Go Forth to Serve.”

Joe Potts will tell anyone who asks that St. Vincent s̓ Second Chance Program made a huge difference

in his life.“Second Chance gave me the direc-

tion I needed,” Joe said. “It s̓ something very large in someone s̓ life.”

To understand that, you need to understand how far Joe has come.

Joe was born and raised in Detroit, Mich. He fell into peer pressure and a life that included drug use. In his late teens, he left Michigan for Spokane, Wash. He kept clean for two years be-fore relapsing.

“I ran all the way to the West Coast trying to run from something that was in me,” Joe said.

Next, Joe ran to California where he met the woman who would be the mother of his sons. Up to this point, Joe s̓ entire adult life had revolved around drugs and the petty crime it took to feed his habit. But, as he watched his sons grow, he began to realize what this life was doing to them. He left the boysʼ mother in an attempt to get his own life straight.

A short time later, while visiting his sons, Joe saw the drug activity going in and out of the house. Knowing he had to do something, he immediately peti-tioned the court for temporary custody of his sons, and at the same time entered a 90-day program to get himself clean.

He asked the counselors there to keep his certificate of completion until he was clean and sober for a full year. Joe picked up that certificate, and he hasn t̓ looked back.

After two more years in California, Joe decided he needed a fresh start, away from the drug influences. He moved to Florence, Ore., and stayed with a friend. He almost immediately found a job at Burger King, where he advanced to manager in the space of about six weeks. Things were looking up for Joe.

However, during these years, he be-gan to experience deep vein thrombosis in his legs, a condition in which a blood clot forms inside a deep vein and either partially blocks or completely blocks the flow of blood in the vein. An episode in 2000 put him in the hospital. He was put

on blood thinning medication, which he must take for the rest of his life. His doc-tors advised Joe not to go back to work. Despite this setback, Joe was still deter-mined to make a better life for himself and his sons, and about three years ago, he moved his sons to Florence.

Not long after that, came Joe s̓ first contact with St. Vincent s̓ and Donna Frach, who would become his Second Chance case manager in Florence.

“I was doing a school supply drive,” Donna said. “After I put his kids on the list, he asked if he could help. We then got talking about the other services St. Vincent de Paul and other agencies could offer him. I told him about Sec-ond Chance. He was really motivated on his own. He asked how he could get involved.”

St. Vincent s̓ Second Chance brings together Lane County landlords with in-dividuals, and sometimes couples, who are homeless, who live in substandard rentals, or who have damaged rental histories. The program consists of eight weekly classes, designed to help pro-spective renters gain skills, boost self-esteem, set reachable goals, repair credit history and use wise financial planning.

“The classes addressed everything I had to take care of to get on my feet again,” Joe said.

One of the requirements of the pro-gram is to identify issues of concern and create a five-year plan to address them.

Joe listed his concerns as: “1) medical for myself and my children; 2) income; 3) permanent housing; 4) em-ployment; and 5) legal issues regarding

sole custody of my children.”It has only been a little over a year

since Joe completed the Second Chance Program, yet he has successfully ad-dressed each of his issues.

“There are people you encounter during social work that you know will succeed,” Donna said of Joe.

On December 15, Joe and his sons moved into new housing. He credits Second Chance and the folks at Siuslaw Outreach Services, formerly known as the Women s̓ Center, in Florence with significant help in attaining his goals.

As for his health, Joe went to the doctor recently and was told his condi-tion was permanent but stable as long as he continues to take his medication and follow doctor s̓ orders. Currently, that includes giving himself daily injec-tions of blood thinning medication. Side effects include weakening bones, so he also takes daily calcium supplements to counteract that.

The condition often makes him feel tired and weak. His stomach is bloated from the injections. He cannot sit for more than 30 minutes at a time, cannot lift anything heavy, has to prop his leg up when he is sitting, and cannot drive for long distances.

Even though he has physical limita-tions, Joe said, “I do what I can.”

And he does. Joe often volunteers at Siuslaw Outreach Services and he recently met a woman with MS who he takes to her doctor appointments when he is able. He also tries to motivate oth-ers to get involved.

“I am hoping that my story and other stories of success coming out of Second Chance will convince people what great, life-changing things these programs do for people,” Joe said. “People don t̓ real-ize that no matter if it s̓ money or other gifts or volunteering your time, it all goes back to the community.”

And for his part, Joe is attempting to get a certificate from Lane Com-munity College in social services and is completing basic studies in psychology.

“As for my future,” Joe said. “I want to keep making life better for my children. The more I can accomplish for myself, the more I can give them.”

Is within the missionSt. Vinnie’s Voice Spring 20056

Single father makes second chance count

Joe Potts (center) is proud of his sons Nathan (left) and Ray, who are thriving in the supportive community of Florence. Both boys are good students and play basketball for their school. Ray loves sports and plays baseball and is also on the track team. Nathan wants to become an architect.

Check out the HBA Garage Sale,where you will find everything AND

the kitchen sink

Great prices on tools, equipment, building materials and supplies.

Your next home improvementproject starts here!

Saturday, April 16 � 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.Sunday, April 17 � 11 .am. - 4 p.m.

Home Builders Association2053 Laura Street, Springfield

A portion of the proceeds build playgroundsfor children living in St. Vincent de Paul housing.

Springfi eld Mayor Sid Leiken leads a round of “Happy Birthday” at the Heart for the Homeless celebration at First Place Family Center on Valentineʼs Day, which marked Oregonʼs 146th year as a state.

Valentine celebration honors caring hearts

Valentine s̓ Day has been the tradi-tional day for First Place Family Center to honor those businesses, faith communities and individuals that make its outreach possible. Valentine s̓ Day is also Oregon s̓ birthday, making it a double celebration.

Special recognition this year went to The Fred Meyer Foundation for its grant to help provide nutritious snacks for children in the day care center and after school programs; Safeway Food and Drug for collecting donations for First Place during the holidays; Big Town Hero for providing a constant supply of bread for the center; and First United Methodist and Church of the Nazarene for extra service to the Interfaith Emergency Shelter Sys-tem, which provides meals and overnight shelter for homeless families.

First Place welcomes volunteers. If you would like to help, call Rebecca at 687-5820, ext. 121.

CarsforaCauseDonating your car

helps families in need and your taxes*

607-4541

*consult your tax advisor

of St. Vincent de PaulSt. Vinnie’s VoiceSpring 2005 7

Transformation at Garfield

What’s new in housing

St. Vincent de Paul acquired the Garfield Trailer Park in February 2004, and went right to work making improvements.

“The intent is to focus attention on fixing this place up,” said Bob Ault, housing coordinator for St. Vincent s̓. “It has a less than illustrious past.”

Last summer, St. Vincent s̓ made extensive renovations to the trailer park and the small rental cottages on the property. The trailers are all owner-occupied, with residents pay-ing rent to St. Vincent s̓ for space. As people move out, the plan is to remove and replace any very old trailers.

“A lot of these trailers were never intended to last 50 years,” said St. Vincent s̓ Executive Director Terry McDonald. “We will not be displac-ing anyone, just replacing trailers as units become available over time.”

That s̓ what brought BRING recy-cling employees to the park recently. As part of a trailer demolition, they recycled aluminum, wood, and some appli-ances. Now this lot at the northwest corner of the park sports a newer used trailer that will serve as an attrac-

tive anchor to the park. Rita Tinney, Garfield s̓ on-site manager, is pur-chasing the trailer in a lease-to-own agreement with St. Vincent s̓.

“There are not many opportuni-ties for older single adults to own affordable housing,” McDonald said. “This will be an opportunity for them.”

(above) Workers from BRING recycling brought sledgeham-mers, ladders and other de-molition tools to dismantle and recycle salvageable parts of an older trailer. (right) Rita Tinney will call this trailer home after some skirting is added and a few minor repairs are made.

Trailers fulfill home ownership dreams

Broken pottery and glass tumble

into new life

Polished glass and pottery chips grace the landscape in front of St. Vincentʼs Seneca store in Eugene.

and rapid escalation in utility costs may reprise the housing crisis of the early 1980s, McDonald said.

According to the Oregon Housing and Community Services Oregon Con-solidated Plan, approximately 160,000 households in the State of Oregon are eligible for affordable housing but can-not find it. Locally, the Lane County Consolidated Plan counts 7,000 Lane County residents as eligible for sub-sidized housing. Only 4,000 can be served with the current housing stock and Section 8 vouchers. Quality, af-fordable housing that contributes to familiesʼ stability is critically needed in our community.

There are several sources of fund-ing drawn upon to help build affordable housing, but most of that funding is

shrinking. For example, an important tool for affordable housing grants, the HUD Community Development Block Grants program, is scheduled to be cut by one-third. The federal HOME pro-gram, which supplied a portion the Au-rora Building s̓ funding, will experience similar cuts. In fiscal 2004, the program provided $2.05 billion nationwide. In the proposed 2006 budget, it drops to $1.49 billion.

Under this scenario, the Aurora Building would not have been built, Mc-Donald said. The award winning build-ing is located at 11th and Oak streets in downtown Eugene and is a mixed-use building with 54 residential units and commercial space on the ground floor. Aurora demonstrates the successful use of sustainable design and “green” build-

ing techniques in a downtown setting.

Impressive energy savingsThe Aurora Building uses geother-

mal heating, cooling and water heating systems, which have cut tenantsʼ heat-ing bills by approximately 50 percent. One-bedroom apartments are carrying an energy cost between $12 and $15 per month, while a family in a typical two-bedroom apartment spends between $21 and $30 per month.

St. Vincent s̓ affordable housing has provided safe and attractive housing for hundreds of families over the years. Yet, local housing experts say that signifi-cant affordable housing may not be built here in the coming years. The crisis has already begun, placing the future of in-novative affordable housing such as the

Aurora Building in danger. A group of Oregon cities, including

the City of Eugene, along with com-munity development practitioners, have formed the Oregon Housing Alliance to “open doors to opportunity.” The Alli-ance has developed an action agenda to address the crisis. Proposals call for making more funds available to develop affordable housing, reducing rents for low-income renters, creating a low-income rentersʼ income tax credit, and repealing legislation that prohibits local jurisdictions from requiring affordable housing as a condition of development approval.

To help, please contact your legisla-tors and ask them to raise the cap on Oregon Affordable Housing tax credits and to increase the Housing Trust Fund.

DOORKNOCKER from pg. 1

Developers at St. Vincent de Paul have once again found a use for dis-carded materials that were destined for the dump.

The discards are safety glass from shower and patio doors and chipped pottery and other stoneware dishes. The uses are limited only to your imagina-tion. So far, St. Vincent s̓ has marketed the materials as innovative landscaping decor and for craft projects such as growing flower bulbs or creating furni-ture mosaics.

The process begins with workers manually breaking the glass or pottery into shards. Next the shards are tumbled in an old cement mixer with water and a bit of sand, which smooths the materials. Then the chips are dried and packaged for sale.

Currently, the polished glass and pottery are available for sale in five-pound bags or in bulk at St. Vincent s̓ stores in Florence and on Seneca Street in Eugene. In addition, all of St. Vincent s̓ stores carry kits containing paper white bulbs, polished glass chips and a container.

Woelfle said that parishioners as well as donations from several other area churches stock the food pantry.

All conferences rely on donations to fund their good works, and they raise funds in various ways.

In Florence, St. Mary s̓ Church takes up a collection four times a year, and conference members hold fundrais-ers about three times a year, including an auction, which Clark said raised about $5,000 last year.

Dennis Maricle, a St. Catherine of Sienna conference member, says the parish in Veneta takes up collections in Lent, at Thanksgiving and on any fifth Sunday of the month. Several parishes in the area, including St. Paul and St. Jude conferences in Eugene, have monthly collections.

Each conference in Lane County does an amazing amount of good with the limited funds available to them, but the work of the volunteers is where the

true value of St. Vincent de Paul confer-ences lies.

“Conferences make person to person contact,” Kinsman said. “You would lose that if everybody just went to the Social Service Office. We are one of the few organizations that maintains that personal contact.”

If you would like to join this re-warding outreach, contact Rebecca Larson at 687-5820, ext. 121.

CONFERENCE from pg. 3

St. Vincent s̓ newest affordable housing complex should be ready for oc-cupancy in July.

Santa Clara Place will feature 60 units of housing. One-, two- and three- bedroom rental units will feature energy saving solar pre-heating water systems.

The complex is the first multi-family project to receive EWEB s̓ “Earth Advan-tage” designation. Look for more details in the next issue of the Voice.

Santa Clara Place nearing completion

In her spare time, Rita Tinney knits these slippers

for families at First Place Family Center. She would

appreciate donations of yarn. If you would like to

help, bring yarn to any St. Vincentʼs store and label it

“Ritaʼs Slippers.”

Tea & CrumpetsFine furniture

from England & Scotland plus other fi ne collectibles

100 East 11th Ave.868-0200

Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Monday - Saturday closed Sunday

a part of St. Vincent de Paul

Dear Friend,

My home is filled with angels. I’ve collected them for years now: angels on my mantle, angel ornaments, an angel wall hanging quilted by my sister, Rose. They are angels of light and angels of goodness.

Last spring, I opened my home to additional angels – those who gave to our Compassionate Community Campaign, which raised more than $25,000. Paired with other donations throughout the year, and matched with revenues generated by St. Vincent’s thrift stores and recycling operations, here is what we accomplished – together:

✧ 30,100 people received emergency help in the form of prescription, utility or rental assistance, or vouchers for clothing, furniture and other basic needs.

✧ 20,600 food boxes were distributed to the hungry.✧ 700 families had an affordable place to live, complete with resident

services.

This is wonderful news, but I must add that the need far exceeds our resources. In 2004, St. Vincent’s had to say, “I’m so sorry” to twice as many people as we were able to help.

Now, as never before, we need angels in our midst – not ethereal beings, but down-to-earth angels with worn hands and a feather or two out of place. We need angels whose feet touch the ground, angels who change the world.

In my volunteer work with St. Vincent de Paul, I have witnessed transformations. I’ve seen despair turn to hope and distress eased to peace all thanks to the help provided through your generosity. Your monetary gift, however large or small, becomes life-sustaining medication, nutritious food, homelessness averted.

The members of our Board of Directors recognize their leadership role on behalf of the poor and needy, and they recognize the importance of doing what they can to help. Each and every member of our Board has pledged to make a financial gift to this year’s Be an Angel Campaign.

I want to thank you for your past support and invite you to join us in being an angel to those who turn to St. Vincent de Paul for help. They are single moms with children in tow. They are grandparents raising grandchildren. They are people down on their luck and frightened. They need an angel. Please be there for them.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline ColeBoard Chair

Mr./Mrs./Ms.

Address

City State Zip Phone

e-mail

Enclosed is my donation of q$25 q$50 q$100 q$500 q$1,000 qOther $

Treasuring people and resourcesSt. Vinnie’s Voice Spring 2005

You may charge my: qVISA qMasterCard Card # Exp. Date:

Signature

Name (as appears on card)

For a monthly pledge, please charge my credit card on the day of the month for the next months.

Thank You

All donations are tax deductible

8

Be an Angel Today

My pledge for those who need an angel in 2005 is $

which I will pay in 12 monthly installments of $

❑ My fi rst payment is enclosed (make checks payable to St. Vincent de Paul) ❑ Please send a monthly invoice

Electronic funds transfer makes it easy to honor a monthly pledge. Contact me about this option. ❑

Be an Angel Campaign – because there are times when we are all called upon to be angels

Angels quietlymake wonderful things happen.

Thank you to all the angels

out there.

--Jacqueline Cole,with two of herfavorite angels.

by Dennis Maricle

Sunday A fternoon TeaJoin us at Tea & Crumpets to learn about easy ways to gift St. Vincent de Paul, served with tea and scones.

A financial planner and a local attorney answer your questions in an informal setting.

Space is limited to 12 participants, so call early to reserve your spot. Time and date in May to be announced.

Contact: Rebecca 687-5820 x121

CAPTAIN S

ERVIC

E

q I have remembered St. Vincent de Paul in my will or estate plan. q Please send me information on how to remember St. Vincent de Paul in my will.