Whether you can spare time or money, here are ways to contribute to your community

Tatiana Parafiniuk-Talesnick, Register-Guard
·5 min read

It's the season for sharing and caring. Whether you have cash, lightly used outgrown coats or a bit of time to spare, there are many ways to contribute to the community. The following is a broad list of ways to contribute to communities in Lane County.

This list will be updated as needed. If there's a volunteer or donation opportunity you'd like to suggest for this list, email Tatiana@RegisterGuard.com with the subject line "Holiday Giving."

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Clothing donations

As temperatures fall, it's the time of year organizations do winter clothing drives. If you're cleaning out closets, simplifying your wardrobe or picked up extra socks at a Black Friday sale, lightly used or new clothing can be donated to many groups who distribute it to those in need of winter warmth. Here are some suggestions:

  • Catholic Community Services accepts donations of new or almost new clothing 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday at its Springfield building at 1025 G St., place donations at the Clothing Room’s entrance in the alley behind the building. CCS does not have the ability to wash used clothing and asks people to launder gently used clothing before donating.

  • Windermere brokers will be collecting winter necessities through Friday, Dec. 17. In the Eugene area, the donations will benefit Whiteaker Community Dinners. The organization is specifically asking for coats, blankets, sweaters, hats and gloves. Items can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at Windermere offices at 1600 Oak St. and 3011 N. Delta Highway, Suite 103. The drive ends Dec. 17.

Gift baskets include onions, a turkey, stuffing, potatoes and a pumpkin pie among other items.
Gift baskets include onions, a turkey, stuffing, potatoes and a pumpkin pie among other items.

Donate food

The Lane County area is home to an assortment of food pantries, community fridges and other food programs always in need of donations to keep up with the need. Whether you have extra veggies, eggs or canned goods, some local group can make use of your food items.

  • FOOD for Lane County accepts food donations year-round from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at its building on 770 Bailey Hill Road in Eugene. The most needed foods are peanut butter, tuna, canned vegetables, canned stews, soups and chili, according to its website. FOOD for Lane County asks people call ahead before donating a large amount of food. It can be reached at 541-343-2822.

  • Burrito Brigade hosts dozens of Little Free Pantries around the Lane County area that need help being checked and stocked. Visit their website to find a pantry in your neighborhood at burritobrigade.org/pantries.

  • Acorn Community Cafe stocks a free pantry inside their building. Cafe sales and community donations fund the restaurant's daily free meals.

Community fridges are set up around Eugene, Springfield and Lane County. Organizations are looking for people to help check, stock and clean them.
Community fridges are set up around Eugene, Springfield and Lane County. Organizations are looking for people to help check, stock and clean them.

More: 'Not getting any easier': Fewer in U.S. turn to food banks, but millions still in need

Give gifts of toys

As gift-giving holidays approach, some groups help lessen the costly burden on parents by doing toy drives.

  • Toys for Tots collects new or barely used toys to be gifted to kids for the holidays. Toys can be donated at every Lane County Bi-Mart and many UPS stores, among dozens of other locations. For a full list of drop site locations, go to https://bit.ly/3nWZ5CG. Last year, 33,556 toys were distributed locally.

Marine Sgt. Robert Medina accepts a donation from Calvin Hammond as his brother Solomon Hammond hands off goods to FOOD for Lane County's Jennifer Ziegler-Monegan to help "Stuff the Bus" with their father, Nick Hammond, at Walmart on Nov. 13, 2020, in Springfield.
Marine Sgt. Robert Medina accepts a donation from Calvin Hammond as his brother Solomon Hammond hands off goods to FOOD for Lane County's Jennifer Ziegler-Monegan to help "Stuff the Bus" with their father, Nick Hammond, at Walmart on Nov. 13, 2020, in Springfield.

Volunteer

If you want to make a difference but don't have extra money or materials to share, volunteering can be a way to give back. For many organizations, dedicated volunteers can be more helpful than large groups during the holiday break. However, many local volunteer groups have drop-in opportunities that make the most of both the volunteer and the organization's time.

  • FOOD for Lane County, the area's largest distributer of food for those in need, boasts volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and interests. To learn more, potential volunteers are encouraged visit its volunteer page at https://foodforlanecounty.org/volunteer/ or call 541-343-2822 to discuss options.

  • Catholic Community Services is seeking volunteers to help with their winter clothing drive and clothing room. Those with questions are encouraged to contact Volunteer Coordinator Maurice Akatsa at 541-345-3628 or volunteer@ccslc.org.

Learn more about CSS' work with refugees: Lane County community welcomes refugees and asylum-seekers

  • Egan Warming Center, an assortment of pop-up warming sites that shelter the unhoused from sleeping in dangerously cold weather, is always in need of more volunteers. New volunteer orientation and training is required to join. The next scheduled Zoom training is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 14 and more will be added throughout the winter. Email egan.volunteers@svdp.us to register.

More: Egan Warming Centers' season begins as temps drop, calling for more host sites and help

  • The Eugene chapter of Burrito Brigade makes burritos every Saturday and Sunday and can always use more volunteers. They also appreciate help with Waste to Taste, a food pantry service. If you are interested in getting involved you can fill out the volunteer interest form on their website at burritobrigade.org/volunteer or contact them at info@burritobrigade.org.

More: Burrito Brigade again awarded $8,400 grant for feeding community, tackling waste

  • Eugene Community Fridges, a mutual aid project aimed at giving everyone access to fresh food, are often in need of cleaning. To take a shift cleaning the fridge go to https://linktr.ee/eugenecommunityfridge. The fridges are at 1790 Alder St. and 870 W. 16th Ave.

More: Community-run food initiatives work for accessibility

Burrito Brigade members assemble its free grocery store, the Waste to Taste Food Rescue program.
Burrito Brigade members assemble its free grocery store, the Waste to Taste Food Rescue program.

Monetary support

Most organizations and nonprofits happily take monetary support of any amount. Visit the organization of your choice's website to see how to contribute.

More: FOOD for Lane County asking community to help raise $500K to expand capacity

Contact reporter Tatiana Parafiniuk-Talesnick at Tatiana@registerguard.com or 541-521-7512, and follow her on Twitter @TatianaSophiaPT. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: 'Tis the season: Three ways to contribute to your community