For most of his life, Caine O’Brien admits he wouldn’t have considered himself much of a nonprofit “giver.”
While engaged in a successful technology sector career — first with microprocessors in the 1970s and 1980s and then software since the 1990s — social service support wasn’t a high priority.
“I never really thought about social needs. I thought that was more a responsibility for the government,” he said. While he would support church-related activities and showed generosity in other ways, he admits he was skeptical of giving to the nonprofit sector. “What kept me from giving was cynicism about how much money went to overhead in some organizations.”
As a resident of Lane County since 2008 after moving from Portland, he also felt frustration about the level of visible homelessness on the streets in Eugene. “I was as annoyed by panhandlers as anyone in Eugene could be.”
And then, last year, a turning point: someone he cared about was diagnosed with mental illness and was living on the street. The shaking of his voice and the tears welling in his eyes as he told this story made it clear — he had a new and visceral understanding of how good people can end up homeless. This time, “someone else’s problem,” as O’Brien put it, hit home.
“It made me look at every one of those people I saw on the street differently,” he said. “It changed my perspective of who the homeless are and who they have the potential to be.”
Armed with a new appreciation for the challenges faced by some community members, O’Brien decided to invest in the local social service network in a systematic way.
“I set out to identify services that to me minimized the waste that nonprofits can sometimes carry, as well as organizations that weren’t overrun with corporate influence,” he said. “And I wanted my donation to produce concrete and tangible results, and not get lost in the bureaucratic pot.”
Devoting time, energy and research to the effort, he determined ShelterCare fit this bill. Soon after, he designated his donation to the agency’s Shankle Residence, which provides a safe environment (housing, food, clothing and clinical support) for adults with psychiatric disabilities who are chronically homeless.
“If you just start thinking about basic rights and basic things that people should have in their lives, it’s pretty hard to argue with food and shelter,” O’Brien said. "You can't really expect people struggling to meet their survival needs to be worried about much else.”
Now semi-retired, O’Brien is ready to do something different. While this may include hobbies such as mountain biking, travel, working in the garden and playing music (piano), he is also hoping to help build a stronger community.
“I’m as much of a ‘pull-yourselves-up-by-the-bootstraps’ guy as I know,” he says. “I've created most of what I have, and I give thanks for that. And I do expect that of others. But now I know firsthand from someone dear to me that homelessness is not always their fault. This experience brought a level of compassion and understanding that I didn’t have before. Now I wonder how we can help more people.”
Dari Mart employs more than 400 people in 45 stores throughout Lane, Linn and Benton counties. It also supports local companies while donating to countless community organizations every year — including ShelterCare.
Last month, the company helped ShelterCare raise money by hosting our blue "house banks" in their stores throughout Springfield and Eugene. They collected $4,992.31 to support our "I ShelterCare about Homelessness" campaign. Considering Dari Mart's history of community investment, this isn't surprising.
"We are very active in our community. Most of what we do is unknown to the community at-large but is important to our family," said Kathy Gibson, vice president of operations, marketing and public relations for Dari Mart. "My grandparents were actively involved, which taught their children the importance (of involvement). We have to be here for our community and give back. We are fortunate to have the opportunities that we have and it is our responsibility to give back."
Her grandparents, Howard and Gladys Gibson, first started what would become Dari Mart in 1941 when they purchased 120 acres four miles north of Junction City. They worked the land and raised livestock, and soon, they had a dairy farm with 100 cows and five young children. Eventually, products produced on the farm would become the backbone of the business.
"We are a family owned, vertically integrated company with a farm, dairy, processing plant and 45 convenience stores," Kathy said. "We sell a wide range of conventional convenience store fare as well as healthy choice items that are made in our own central kitchen. We also have our own milk and ice cream that is from farm-to-table in 48 hours."
Kathy said she supports the mission of ShelterCare very much.
"I support ShelterCare's long-term solution approach versus the bandage short-term approach," she said. "Both are important and serve a purpose, but I think we need more preventative methods to help fight homelessness."
Pam Whyte and Ron Saylor are not Eugene natives but their lives have been woven into the fabric of the Whiteaker neighborhood in which they make their home.
Both took roundabout roads to Eugene. Ron arrived in 1966 from California. His parents pushed him toward the University of Oregon, hoping to “rescue him” from Berkeley. Despite their efforts, he was drawn into the politics of the era, eventually earning a master’s degree in political science—though “with a paintbrush in my hand,” he explains, referring to the trade that paid his bills and led to the launch of Saylor Painting Company.
Ohio native Pam started school at the University of South Florida, but arrived in Eugene in 1975 on a one-year student exchange program. She decided to stick with the U of O, somehow convincing the registrar’s office she was eligible for in-state tuition. She earned a marketing degree but was not interested in marketing, so pursued a career in accounting. The move paid off; today she’s a partner in the firm of Emge & Whyte.
Pam and Ron connected with each other in 1979. By this time, Ron had purchased a small house, which they still own, in the Whiteaker neighborhood. They also own other properties in the area and Saylor Painting is headquartered just a three-block walk from their home. To say that they enjoy living in Whiteaker is an understatement. When you hear them talk about the river and the parks and the restaurants and the breweries, you realize just how much they love their neighborhood.
Pam and Ron also love and care about their neighbors, and that includes members of the community who are homeless—which is why donating money to ShelterCare is so logical for them.
“We are interested in supporting a vibrant, vital, and healthy community,” Pam explained. “We are also interested in fighting homelessness and giving people the tools they need to get off the streets.”
Proving their commitment to the community, Pam and Ron have been loyal ShelterCare donors for many years, supporting various seasonal appeals, the “I ShelterCare about Homelessness” campaign, and the capital campaign that financed ShelterCare’s new Whiteaker-based Center for Programs and Services.
Pam and Ron wholeheartedly agree that their participation in the capital campaign was as much an investment in the neighborhood as it was in ShelterCare. In part, they were happy to welcome a new neighbor that transformed an old warehouse into an attractive and valuable community resource. But they also stressed that ShelterCare needed this new building to “make the agency whole” and help sustain its important work of housing Eugene’s homeless.
“It feels good knowing that there is a place where people can go for help, to meet their basic needs, and end the cycle of homelessness,” Ron explained.
Case Manager Amber Cowles (L) and ShelterCare graduate Desire Mitchell (R)Desiree Mitchell is a proud ShelterCare employee, working as a housekeeper at Garden Place and filling in as a relief employee at other programs. She and her partner have two kids and live in a nice Springfield duplex. Her life is good and her life is stable.
Yet less than two years ago, Desiree’s life was very different. In late 2013, she and her family were evicted from their apartment and forced to live in their car. Life became frightening, uncertain. Looking back is very emotional for Desiree, especially when she thinks about how hard the experience was for her kids.
Yet, just when things seemed hopeless, Desiree heard about ShelterCare’s Homelessness Prevention Program. She made a call and soon Case Manager Amber (Larsen) Cowles was working to change the family’s fortunes.
“She was so enthusiastic,” Desiree recalls.
Amber backed up her enthusiasm with action, first connecting Desiree with ShelterCare Resource Counselor Yuki Kumashiro, who connected the family to St. Vincent de Paul’s night shelter program. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than living in a car. Yuki also secured Desiree a spot on the waiting list for ShelterCare’s Family Housing Program, where the family moved after six weeks in the shelter. Desiree remembers that as a huge step forward.
“We went from having no privacy to living in a place with clean rooms, heat, real beds and a stove to cook on,” Desiree said.
Amber wasn’t finished — and she was determined to make sure Desiree and her family were working as hard as she was to make their dreams come true.
“Amber is a good motivator,” Desiree admits. “Sometimes she kicked our butts to make sure we were getting things done!”
The most amazing day was when Amber drove the family to look at a duplex in Springfield. As they arrived, Amber declared, “This is where you’re going to live.”
Soon after, that declaration became a reality.
With six months of financial support, Desiree and her partner were able to stabilize their lives in their new home. In March 2015, Desiree was hired at Garden Place and fulfilled a new dream.
“I wanted to serve my community and help people the way we were helped. What better way to do this than to work at ShelterCare?”
ShelterCare’s Uhlhorn Program celebrated its 25th anniversary on Sept. 10 at the Uhlhorn Apartments in Eugene amid a party atmosphere, delicious food and stories highlighting why the program is both so unique and important to the community.
Among those in attendance: ShelterCare consumers and former Uhlhorn residents, agency staff and governmental officials, including Nancy Pierce (on behalf of Congressman Peter DeFazio), Mayor Kitty Piercy and Oregon District 13 Representative Nancy Nathanson.
Danielle Uhlhorn gave a passionate speech about the importance of legacy and community.“What’s special about the Uhlhorn is that it provides a safe, supportive living situation for people with brain injuries, which continues to be a challenge for many people,” said Danielle Uhlhorn.
The program, which opened in 1990, was a unique investment by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It represented the federal government’s commitment to providing affordable housing to a population with special needs. It was unique in its small scale — HUD typically funded much larger projects but was willing and committed to investing in the project (20 units at the time, compared to 39 today). While those funding streams no longer exist, the impact of that federal investment continues to reverberate today in the many lives over the past 25 years that have been restored.
Ken Collins, a former VISTA volunteer and brain injury survivor who was instrumental in the program’s creation, said Uhlhorn transforms the lives of its participants.
“It brings opportunity and hope,” he said. “The residents of Uhlhorn help each other with peer mentoring and peer support. There is no other environment like this in the county.”
During the event, Deb Holloway, Uhlhorn director, spoke of the program’s beginnings and her gratitude for its creation: “Thank you to Bill and the Uhlhorn family. Know that his legacy and the dream of so many lives on and makes a real difference in people’s lives.”
Communication, Meeting Attendance Key Issues for Council During New Year
By Cynthia Price, Consumer Council President
Editor’s note:Cynthia Price is a ShelterCare consumer and survivor of two brain surgeries for a pituitary tumor. She grew up in Stockton, Calif., and has lived in Seattle and Portland. After moving to Eugene to enroll in the agency’s Uhlhorn Program nearly a decade ago, she has been an active council member, previously holding positions as secretary and treasurer. She was recently elected to her second term as council president for the 2015-16 fiscal year.
I write this after quite a successful meeting of the ShelterCare Consumer Council where we filled the conference room to overflowing! I so appreciate everyone who came, and I hope that next month will see even more participation! With the input of those in attendance, I’ve been able to cement at least a few of the goals on which the Consumer Council and I should focus our energies in the coming months.
One of the things we were able to share was an example of the Consumer Council’s old brochure, which was put together at least five years ago and needs to be updated. This brochure helps us to inform the community and consumers about council activities while inspiring participation. Reworking and updating of the pamphlet will begin before our next meeting, and I hope to have a new version printed and distributed by the end of the fall quarter.
Another item was a reworked and simpler Consumer Council budget presentation thanks to Karen, the Controller for ShelterCare. Karen has been instrumental in helping council participants understand funds the group has available to use. We will also be adding some line items and redistributing allocations thanks to our budget having been doubled for this fiscal year! Thanks to that budget increase, I intend to meet with folks about establishing a quarterly get-together for program participants and staff members where we can have fun, socialize, and just catch up with one another throughout the year.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a list from me if it didn’t include the all-important: communication! Now that regular and effective communication between administration, board members, and the council has been established, I intend to concentrate on the program-level communications between consumers and staff, as well as administration and program staff. To that end, I hope to set up a time in which the Consumer Council officers can meet with program managers and staff members to establish some standard practice to support effective communication in both directions.
Further, we’ll be looking at organizing more classes and activities at ShelterCare’s Center for Programs and Development (499 W 4th Ave), which will be open to all ShelterCare Consumers. If you would like to contribute to this discussion, be sure to attend next month’s meeting, which will be held September 17, 2:00pm at the address noted above.
Again, I want to thank everyone who has helped in the past year, and offer a warm welcome to our new participants. I hope next month we’ll be welcoming even more!
Heidi Ambrose-Burns is an intern at ShelterCare’s Uhlhorn Program, as well as a second-year Human Services major at Lane Community College. Last year, Uhlhorn Program Manager Deb Holloway was a guest speaker in Heidi’s self-care class, which was taught by former ShelterCare employee Gene Obersinner. Heidi was very impressed with Deb and talked to her after class, hoping to learn more about ShelterCare and the Uhlhorn Program. As a result of that conversation, she applied for an internship, interviewed, and was offered a position starting the following term. Since then, Heidi has become a key member of the Uhlhorn team, even though she is working in a volunteer role.
“I love this program, the small team I get to work with, the consumers and the program manager. I feel very fortunate to get to learn how to support individuals who have had a traumatic brain injury on their journey to recovery and living independently."
Program Manager Deb Holloway described Heidi's work, "Heidi has set the bar to a very high standard for interns. She has been fabulous!"
For Vulnerable Families, Support is a Community Effort
By Judy Newman, ShelterCare Board Member, Co-director Early Childhood CARES
Last month, I participated in a panel discussion at the Eugene Public Library hosted by Family Forward Oregon. The panel met following the screening of a documentary, “The Raising of America,” which highlighted the childcare crisis in the U.S.
While the film was national in scope, it brought to light many of the issues we face here in our own community. It also helped emphasize the importance that community support plays in helping families with children thrive.
So, what does “support” mean exactly?
To answer that question, let me first point to the research: Children need parental involvement and help in order to be successful in school. Some examples include ensuring their young students arrive at school on time and providing a place and support to complete homework. They need adult guardians to show an interest in what they are doing at school and who set up clear ground rules and structure to support social and academic success. This may be as simple as setting dinner and bedtime routines and knowing the whereabouts of their children.
Furthermore, the importance of children having their basic needs met cannot be overstated.
Examples of basic needs “ingredients” are not difficult to define: Kids need a clean, safe and consistent place to sleep. Kids need an adequate amount of healthy food. In other words, kids need a safe, comfortable and consistent living space. As we start a new educational year, these needs become even more time sensitive and relevant.
Using perspective gained as co-director at Early Childhood CARES — which provides early intervention and early childhood special education — and as a longtime ShelterCare board member, I can attest to the fact that far too many children in our community lack these ingredients.
For example, did you know during the 2013-14 scholastic year that more than 1,600 homeless students attended public school in the three school districts in Eugene and Springfield? Despite this seemingly dire situation, recent events give us reason to be hopeful:
The Oregon Legislature this year wrapped up what I consider to be an unprecedented level of support for early childhood services and programs, including key investments in quality childcare, pre-schools and home visiting programs.
This past April, Senator Jeff Merkley announced a $2 million public-private partnership that will support youth development and school readiness for Lane County children entering kindergarten. The goal of the program — dubbed the “Social Innovation Fund” — is to ensure children entering kindergarten are prepared for kindergarten both socially and academically by providing an evidence-based “Kids in Transition to School” (KITS) program to every incoming kindergartener and their parents the summer before starting school and eight weeks into the fall.
Continued community collaboration — such as the partnership that exists between ShelterCare and Early Childhood CARES – strengthens the ability of our community to support vulnerable children and parents in Lane County.
What are some examples of actions you can take right now to help support our community’s youngest and most vulnerable members?
Some solutions, such as giving to charitable organizations that work with these families, are obvious. ShelterCare is one such organization that works hard for families in need. Additionally, the Social Innovation Fund announced in April — which United Way manages — is seeking a total of $1 million in additional matching funds each year to support the effort.
Also, be aware of school supply drives that give direct support to families, and support quality after-school programs that provide stability and safety for families.
Finally, get to know your neighbors. Many are families with kids that can use a helping hand or even a sympathetic ear. Sometimes, these families simply need to know they are not alone, and we are all in this together.
ShelterCare and Dari Mart are partnering up to create change.
Look for the change banks at all Dari Mart stores to donate your change to ShelterCare throughout the month of September. Your change will be used to help people keep, recover and stabilize their housing.
Christopher Pond said his company's decision to partner with ShelterCare was an easy one.
"Helping a locally based organization that does such positive work benefits the entire community, and we are happy to have a small part in that," said Pond, Santa Clara Fred Meyer Home Manager. "It is my job to foster relationships that will help my business grow in any way possible, and I look forward to helping again when I can."
Santa Clara Fred Meyer representatives Christopher Pond (center) and James Young with ShelterCare Supported Housing Office Manager Jessie Johnson at the Center for Programs and Services. Fred Meyer provided ShelterCare clients with deeply discounted household goods (pictured), as well as $2,000 worth of plant seeds for client gardens.
Over the summer Fred Meyer stepped up in a big way, providing the agency with an assortment of deeply discounted household goods for agency clients, as well as $2,000 worth of plant seeds.
"Coming down and touring [the ShelterCare Center for Programs and Services] was a great experience. It helped to solidify what your scope of work and purpose really is," Pond said. "It is awesome that you were able to get all of your offices under one roof to streamline the process and help even more people in the area."
Fred Meyer was founded in Portland in 1922 and acquired by Kroger in 1999, Pond said.
"But we are still run with a local feel," he said. "We are still based out of Portland and were one of a handful of companies that provided benefits to part-time employees before it was cool. We employ over 700 associates in the Eugene/Springfield market alone, and support numerous community organizations."
Fred Meyer employees recognize that investments in the community and nonprofit organizations make for a better place to live.
"Together we support a vast number of community organizations," Pond said. "We work directly with Food for Lane County with both direct donations on perishable products as well as food drives in our stores. We have a huge Relay for Life team at both the corporate and local levels. Susan G. Komen/Race for the Cure is also an organization that garners support at both levels."
Fred Meyer customers even have a say when it comes to nonprofit donations, he said.
"Fred Meyer not only directly supports nonprofit organizations, but we let our customers decide where their share of our support will go," he said. "They can choose through their rewards card which organizations will receive funding based on purchases they make."
Pond pointed out that ShelterCare is one of the organizations that people can select to support from their rewards account online.
Pam Whyte and Ron Saylor are not Eugene natives but their lives have been woven into the fabric of the Whiteaker neighborhood in which they make their home.
Proving their commitment to the community, Pam and Ron have been loyal ShelterCare donors for many years, supporting various seasonal appeals, the “I ShelterCare about Homelessness” campaign, and the capital campaign that financed ShelterCare’s new Whiteaker-based Center for Programs and Services.
ShelterCare’s Uhlhorn Program celebrated its 25th anniversary on Sept. 10 at the Uhlhorn Apartments in Eugene amid a party atmosphere, delicious food and stories highlighting why the program is both so unique and important to the community.
Danielle Uhlhorn gave a passionate speech about the importance of legacy and community.
“It brings opportunity and hope,” he said. “The residents of Uhlhorn help each other with peer mentoring and peer support. There is no other environment like this in the county.”
By Cynthia Price, Consumer Council President
