Category: COMMUNITY

Free Summer Meals Program for Kids & Teens

Summer Meals -Nourishing Oregon’s Kids.

There are over 800 summer meal sites in Oregon with free meals for kids and teens ages 1-18.

   Summer meal programs may serve a combination of lunch, breakfast, supper and morning or afternoon snacks. Some programs also offer learning activities for kids before or after meals.

     Click on  the map below to find a site near you.

https://www.summerfoodoregon.org/map/

 

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The Family Connection

Great parenting doesn’t happen in isolation.
The Family Connection provides a regional parenting hub where parents can come together, learn effective parenting skills from certified parenting educators, be introduced to community resources and find support from other parents. Parenting is hard work!

As Southern Oregon’s Parenting Hub, The Family Connection and The Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative (OPEC) were founded to help.
Please take advantage of our FREE parenting classes, workshops, and events!

 

Remember, great parenting doesn’t happen in isolation… Let’s get connected! We also provide organizations and agencies the ability to contract an evidence based parenting series or workshop for their clients.
Head to our online Parenting Education Community Calendar to sign-up for FREE parenting classes, workshops, and family friendly events in Jackson and Josephine counties.    https://thefamilyconnect.org/events-calendar/  

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Matching Grandmas2Go-Family Coaches with Struggling Families

We all know that babies don’t come with an “instruction manual!” What’s a mom or dad to do when they need help? The answer: … call Grandmas2Go-Family Coaches and be matched with a “trained and trusted” community volunteer Grandma!
The idea for this program came from Linda Otto, when she realized through her work as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), a Baby Cuddler at Asante Special Care Nursery, and a trained Postpartum Doula and Infant Massage Instructor, that parents today are stressed out, overwhelmed and need help. So, she decided to fill that need by starting a non-profit called Grandmas2Go-Family Coaches.
The mission of Grandmas2Go is to mentor, nurture and support parents, infants and toddlers during the critical years of childhood brain growth – from pregnancy to preschool. This multi-generational program is changing lives …not only for struggling families, but also for the senior volunteers who are staying active, engaged, and finding a new life-purpose!
In 2017, Grandmas2Go entered the national Generation to Generation Encore Prize Competition and was named one of the top five new, innovative, inter-generational programs in the country! Grandmas2Go has been featured in major local and national media including Forbes, MarketWatch, and Wall Street Journal. PBS’ online newsletter, Next Avenue, recently published an article: “Grandmas2Go Arrive with Love”. 
Volunteer Grandmas are ‘women of wisdom and experience.” We partner with local agencies to help all our children to thrive!  With families today facing a multitude of challenges, no wonder a father of twins stated, “I don’t know how we would have survived without Grandmas2Go!” A single mom wrote “My Grandma2Go helped me get through that dark period …. we love our Grandma2Go!” And from a mother of two, who was helped by her grandma-mentor to get her US Citizenship: “Thank you for helping me make my dream come true!”
Grandmas2Go is growing, replicating and scaling to serve communities throughout Oregon and across America! And we’re promoting this growth through our “Help Us Grow -“HUG” Campaign. Help us reach more families! Send your name and email address to Hello@Grandmas2Go.org and receive an invitation to Help Us Grow!
We need community support to continue our compelling work. We invite you to join us … as a volunteer Grandma, a donor, or in helping spread the word by hosting a presentation in your neighborhood, church, or social club. 
As Linda, Founder & CEO, says, “We know that one caring adult can change the life of a child. Just imagine what a team of Grandmas can do!”
www.Grandmas2Go.org
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THE KIDS DASH

The 8th annual Kids Dash is June 8th, 2019 at the Grants Pass High School track. Gate opens st 8AM. Entry fee is $10/child.

The Kids Dash was founded by Dr. Nate Tanner. It has been a KidZone Community Foundation event since 2014.

The Kids Dash includes runs for children ages two through middle school as well as relay races for the whole family, a 1600 meter run for middle school and advanced runners, a foam dart javelin throw, standing long jump, a giant slingshot game and the Hue-man race, our version of events like The Color Run(TM).

 

The Kids Dash will also have a full carnival which is free to all  and is sponsored by Asante Physician Partners.

 

New this year will be an opportunity to participate in games with student-athletes from the University of Oregon presented by the Oregon Athlete Foundation.

The event also feature a Wellness Midway with presentations by many local fitness and health-related organizations.

Please visit www.kidzonefoundation.org/kids-dash/ for more information.

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Sleep in Heavenly Peace: Providing Beds for Children in Need

Sleep in Heavenly Peace began in Twin Falls, Idaho in 2012 when a group of people built a bunk bed as a service project. After building a second bunk bed with the leftover lumber, they offered it for free on Facebook with an overwhelming response. They soon realized that the need is out there for beds for children – the roots of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) were planted!

In February of 2018, Mike Rowe’s Returning the Favor Facebook video blog spot-lighted SHP and the rush was on. Since that time, as of early 2019, 12 chapters have grown to nearly 150 chapters throughout the country. There are chapters in both Josephine and Jackson counties that build and provide beds to children who have none. The process is simple and involves the entire community.

SHP receives money from local donors and receives no government assistance. We build beds during either Public or Private/Sponsored Build Days using volunteers from our counties.

Families whose children have no beds may apply for them through our national website, SHPbeds.org, or you may refer a family you know is in need. Our organizations deliver beds to their homes, free of charge, complete with a bed frame, mattress, pillow, sheet set, and a blanket or quilt for warmth –
ready to sleep on.

It is estimated that 3,000- 6,000 children in Southern Oregon are sleeping on the floor, on couches, with other children, or with their parents because families are unable to afford beds for them. After paying for a mortgage or rent, food, and clothing, many times there is little money left for what many of us consider a necessity, beds. Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s mission is NO KID SLEEPS ON THE FLOOR IN OUR TOWN!


How can you help? Please contact either Southern Oregon chapter for more information. We gratefully accept donations or sponsorship, small or large. We are always in need of new, twin size bedding. We welcome volunteers for our public build days and to help with chapter events. Watch our respective
Facebook pages for news!

Josephine County: Facebook: @SHPJoCo
Jackson County: Facebook: @SHPJacksonCo

 

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The 4-H Experience

4-H is delivered by Cooperative Extension—a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences where young people learn by doing.

Kids complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and citizenship, in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.

Kids experience 4-H in every county and parish in the country—through in school and after-school programs, school and community clubs and 4-H camps.

 

These 4-H experiences grow young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities, two times more likely to make healthy decisions and two times more likely to pursue STEM opportunities outside of school. 4-H empowers young people to be true leaders. True leaders are young people who have confidence; know how to work well with others; can endure through challenges; and will stick to a job until it gets done. 4-H’ers have risen to high points of achievement and leadership in virtually every industry and sector. Including such “true leaders” as Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Jennifer Nettles; Facebook executive and “News Feed” inventor Andrew Bosworth; former U.S. vice president Al Gore; tech guru and founder of Aspera Software Michelle Munson; business leader and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Javier Palomarez; Retired NBA player and
business entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson; and former NASA Chief Astronaut Peggy Whitson, to name a few.

In 4-H, we believe true leaders aren’t born— they are grown. The 4-H experience is proven to grow true leaders with life skills such as confidence, independence, resilience and compassion. While the educational experience of 4-H is designed for youth, adult involvement is key to a young person’s skill
development. Sharing activities with siblings, parents, grandparents and friends builds strong family relationships. With so many projects to choose from, there is sure to be one that will spark interest in your family.

To learn how you can grow the next generation of leaders, please contact a local 4-H Educator today!
Jackson Co. 541-776-7371
Josephine Co. 541-476-6613
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The Recovery Village

The Recovery Village.

Find Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Oregon That Works.

Tucked away in the picturesque Pacific Northwest, Oregon is one of the country’s often overlooked treasures. From rugged coastlines to pristine evergreen wilderness, this diverse state offers no shortage of breathtaking sights. But while the Beaver State boasts beautiful views and bustling metropolitan areas, it also has a reputation for substance use. In 2012, Oregon was ranked No. 4 in the United States for past-month drug use.

While methamphetamine currently presents the biggest problem to the state, there are also higher-than-usual instances of heroin, marijuana, controlled prescription drugs, and cocaine.

For more information:

https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/local-rehab-resources/oregon/

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211info Connects People with Resources

Did you know that information on local health and social services is now accessible by calling 211? Just like calling 911 for an emergency, people can call 211 to identify, navigate, and connect with the local resources they need.
The statewide nonprofit 211info is part of the nationwide 211 phone system. Staff are available to answer calls from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact can also be made by emailing help@211info.org, texting your zip code to 898211, visiting 211info.org, or using the mobile app.
The program lists over 35,000 services varying from assistance programs to recreational activities, according to Carrie Prechtel, Community Engagement Coordinator for Jackson and Josephine Counties. Food, energy assistance, shelter, health, and dental assistance are among the top needs in Southern Oregon.
A caller gives the 211info information specialist their zip code and that’s the only information actually required. It is the caller’s choice to proceed with more personal information. After a short discussion of what the caller is looking for, 211info will refer the caller to a number of local agencies that can help and explain about the suggested services.
Staff at 211 also screen callers for qualification for programs. For example, if someone calls in about help with their energy bill, the staff might ask if they have enough food to eat and if they might need assistance with SNAP (food stamps). They will also inform them of any documents or paperwork that would be helpful to bring with them to their appointment. All information is anonymous and confidential, and there are bilingual staff ready to help.
Expanded services in Oregon include a 24/7 hotline for foster parents, giving them help and support with their foster children, and child care referrals, during extended hours including weekends, for anybody looking for any type of child care services.
For more information, go online to 211info.org — or call 211.

 

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Ashland Emergency Food Bank

Serving the community

Since 1972, Ashland Emergency Food Bank (AEFB) has provided food to residents of Ashland, Talent and surrounding rural communities. Each month, 500-600 families representing approximately 1,500 individuals come to us for food. Our customers include the unemployed and under-employed, the working poor, students, seniors and homeless. About twenty five percent are children under the age of 18.

Your support matters

AEFB is supported by a coalition of faith-based organizations, along with the community at large. Church members, school children, local residents and neighborhood businesses donate food to us directly and volunteer their labor. Ashland Food Project’s green bag collections comprise about a forty percent of our total contributions.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we are able to provide each individual or family who visits us with enough groceries to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for two to three days.

http://ashlandemergencyfoodbank.org/

541-488-9544

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