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Tag: holidays

2021 Winter Holiday Resource List

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Food Boxes

Food distribution centers are uncertain if they will be providing holiday-type food. 

  1. Food for Lane County Food Pantries
    Call for nearest food box distribution site: (541) 343-2822
    Eugene/Springfield Food Pantry Directory• Rural Food Pantry Directory

  2. Burrito Brigade
    Phone: (541) 632-3239
    Food Pantry Hours: Monday – Thursday 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
    Location: You can pick up a free food box at Sonrise Christian Church, 1300 Irvington Drive Eugene, OR 97404.
    Go onto website to sign up for a 5-minute food box pick-up slot. Registration for the week opens on Sunday evening, so please check the website. Please fill out the form to signup for food box delivery. 
    Questions? Email: info@burritobrigade.org or call 541-632-3239.

  3. Catholic Community Services 
    Phone: (541) 345-3628
    Food Pantry Hours: The Food Pantry is open to the public on Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Regular office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Except Thursdays, we close at 3:30.
    Locations:
    Eugene Site:     1464 West 6th Avenue, Eugene
    Springfield Site: 1025 G Street, Springfield
    COVID-19 Response: Pre-made bags of food are available.

  4. Community Food for Creswell
    Phone: (541) 870-2252
    Location: Cobalt Building, 364 Cobalt Lane, off N. 5th/N. Harvey Rd., Creswell
    Food Pantry Hours: Every Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Closed on Thanksgiving). Income-eligible customers may receive fresh produce, canned and packaged foods, as well as frozen meat each week as needed. Grab and Go Meal Boxes are also available at the Food Pantry. Covid-19 Care Bags are also available with masks, hand sanitizer, and information on vaccinations.
    COVID-19 Response: We ask that our customers form a vehicle line that begins at our entrance at 364 Cobalt Lane and runs eastward to First Street. Our staff will provide instruction regarding entrance to the parking lot, hands-free intake, and food loading while customers remain in their vehicle. We will be wearing face masks or shields and sanitizing our hands frequently.

  5. Cottage Grove Community Sharing Holiday Food Box
    Phone:     (541) 942-2176
    Location: 1440 Birch Ave., Cottage Grove
    Office Hours: Mondays 1:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    Food-Box Distribution Hours: December 20th from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
    Applications Available: Nov 1st – Nov 24th. Applications are required for the annual Holiday Food Box and Tree of Joy programs. Proof of income will be needed! Pay stubs or award letters for social security will be accepted. A self-attestation paper can be provided to those with no income. Delivery of food boxes will be available as well. Applications are available online, by calling 541-942-2176, or filled out in person at the location listed above.

  6. Junction City Local Aid
    Phone: (541) 998-3992
    Location: 210 E 6th Avenue, Junction City
    Food Pantry Hours: Tuesdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Thursdays 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., and last Saturday of each month 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    COVID-19 Response: We offer hand sanitizer for our guests to use. Our staff and volunteers follow food handling best practices, including frequent hand washing for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Maintaining a safe environment in our pantry is of the utmost importance. This is why we must ask all clients who are ill to please stay home (even if they don’t have COVID-19). Folks can arrange in advance for an authorized representative to pick up their monthly or weekly food items for them. Just give us a call and we can help you make the necessary arrangements.

  7. St. Matthews Episcopal Church – Food Distribution
    Phone:     (541) 689-4010
    Location: 4110 River Rd, Eugene
    Food Pantry Hours: November 20th and December 18th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Starting in January, they will resume with the last Saturday of every month from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
    In response to COVID-19: Everyone must maintain 6-feet of distance from each other. PRAY BiG Pantry is now operating a shopping style pantry. Masks are required. Physical distancing strictly enforced. Sorry-no use of the restroom.

  8. Veneta/Elmira Kiwanis Holiday Food Box and To-Go Meals 
    Phone: (541) 935-4555 Ext. 100
    Food Box: Love Project Food Pantry takes applications for a Drive Through/No Contact distribution of food boxes. More details on the location and time of distribution are available on the applications.
    Applications: Available December 1st. Pick-up at Rays Food Place or Banner Bank (same parking lot) 25013 OR-126, Veneta, 97487
    Food Box Pick Up Date: December 18th

Holiday Meal Sites

  1. Junction City Moose Lodge #2238
    Phone:     (541) 998-1164
    Location: 427 Front St., Junction City
    The Lodge is partnering with other local organizations for a Community Thanksgiving Dinner and other holiday activities. Call 541-998-1164 for information or visit their Facebook page for updates.

  2. Veneta/Elmira Kiwanis Holiday Food Box and To-Go Meals
    Phone: (541) 935-4555 Ext. 100
    Location and Hours: To-Go Meals will be provided at the Fern Ridge Service Center at 25035 West Broadway, Veneta on Wednesday, November 24th between 2:00 p.m.- 4 p.m.

Holiday Gift Programs

1.   S.A.N.T.A. Project (Sharing Among Neighbors Toy Appeal)

Phone: (541) 935-3282

Location: Veneta Elementary Gymnasium, 88131 Territorial Hwy, Veneta

No application is required. Participants must live in the Fern Ridge Area and proof of child’s age is required.Call for more details or visit their Facebook group for information on eligibility and requirements:

Distribution Time: Saturday December 11th at 9:00 a.m.

2.   Cottage Grove Tree of Joy

Phone: (541) 942-2176

Location: 1440 Birch Ave., Cottage Grove

Starting November 1st – 24th, applications will be taken for the annual Tree of Joy program. Applications for Tree of Joy are in-person paper only at our office.

3.   Toys for Tots

Want to volunteer? Please register on the website or contact us at EugeneT4T@usmc.mil.

Requirements: Toys for children up to age 13. Requirements: Proof of Lane County residency, proof that the child lives with you, and proof of child’s age is needed. We strongly suggest you do not bring children with you. Tickets are issued to minimize the wait time but are not required to receive toys on the dates of the distribution.

Acceptable Documents:For Parents: Local photo ID or photo ID with local mail (to show Lane County residency)

For Children: The first sheet of a medical card showing both the parent’s and child’s names, IRS tax forms, Renter’s Agreements, ODHS paperwork that includes both the parents and child’s name(s), any other legal document that includes the names of the parent(s) and the child’s name(s) and date of birth(s).

Eugene/Springfield

Tickets Distribution Site: 2525 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Eugene from 3:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 17thToy Distribution Site: 3106 Pierce Parkway, Springfield, OR

  • Toy Distribution from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 11th

    • Toy Distribution from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 12th

Oakridge

Toy Distribution Site: Oakridge Fire Station, 47592 OR-58, Oakridge

  • Tickets will be issued at the distribution site until December 10th.

    • Toy Distribution from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 11th

Cottage Grove

Toy Distribution Site: Cottage Grove Fire Station, 233 E Harrison Ave.

  • No tickets issued for this distribution.

    • Toy Distribution from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 12th

Florence

Toy Distribution Site: 2625 US – 101 Florence, OR

  • No tickets issued for this distribution

    • Toy Distribution from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 4th

Please contact the organizations listed here to verify the information and obtain any updates.

This list was compiled by Community Partnership Coordinators: Maritza Herrera maritza.y.herrera@dhsoha.state.or.us and Tricia Merrick TRICIA.L.MERRICK@dhsoha.state.or.us. Updates? Please contact them at their email addresses.(Revised 11/21)

Guest Blog: Tips for Enjoying the Holiday Season

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Parent and child laughing together while rolling out holiday cookie dough

This was adapted from a Parent Chat presented by Krista Jo Swanson and Cathy Hyslop, Early Childhood CARES Behavior/Autism Consultants. A recording is available at this link https://uoregon.zoom.us/rec/share/uilhk2lh1ElWe_caNbp9Uu2PUD9jQ8cRvltMzLKek6jmAAUDTBaLOW2jwyTfE8MY.mS4zhDV2BykA5XSo , enter passcode Zr9v$#0f when prompted.

Holidays can be stressful for adults and children. Changes in routines, sensory overload, managing expectations (others’ or our own), and traveling can all contribute to holiday stress. Experts from Early Childhood CARES share tips on ways to manage your child’s (and your own) stress during the holiday season.

Routines

Young children usually need consistent routines and often the holidays bring anything but that! Think about your current routines. How do they change during the holidays? As much as possible, maintain your regular, daily routines like bedtime, playtime, and mealtime, so your child has some consistency, even when traveling. If routines will be disrupted, identify them early. Consider practicing flexibility at home before the changes occur. You can do that by making small changes in your current routine to see how your child responds. If it’s difficult, do it more often in very small steps.

Sensory Overload

Sensory input is something that impacts our senses, like lights, movement or noises. One input on its own may not be too much, but as we spend more time around sounds, lights, or hubbub, they can stack up and become overwhelming. This is sensory overload. Get to know your child’s sensory responses. Tune in to how your child responds to sensory inputs throughout their day. Then practice sensory calming activities before you go on outings. Bring along tools for helping your child meet their sensory needs like head phones, blankets, chewies, favorite toys, or bubbles.

Family Expectations

Share your needs with family and friends who are visiting. Before a visit, let guests know when they can arrive and when you need them to leave. Share your child’s sensory needs, and let people know if/when they need to keep the noise level down.Ask for help with cooking or have a potluck instead of making everything yourself. Reduce meal time stress and clean-up by serving food in ready-to-store containers or using disposable plates and silverware. If you like setting a fancy table, ask your guests for help cleaning up and washing dishes.

Expectations for yourself

Remember that your child is likely to pick up on your mood. If you are stressed because company’s coming or you haven’t finished shopping, your child may react strongly, which only adds to your stress.

If money or gift-giving expectations cause stress, think about other ways to celebrate by creating new family traditions, such as:

  • Bake holiday cookies together. Let your child do the mixing or pour on the sprinkles.

  • Take winter walks, a holiday bus tour or a drive to look at the lights and decorations.

  • Have special toys, music, and books that you bring out just during the holidays.

  • Share stories and photos of favorite holidays from past years. 

Travel and staying over

If possible, spread out holiday visits instead of having one giant get-together. Talk with friends and family ahead of time to let them know what your child needs to have a good visit. Ask the host family to have a room or space for your child to take a break, if they need one. When you arrive, visit that space first and help your child get settled. Let your family know doing this step first will help you make the most of your visit. Taking frequent outdoor breaks can also help, if weather allows.

Your Home and Decorations

From adding decorations to moving furniture to make room for guests, these changes can also cause stress for children. Think about what’s really important for you, and what you can let go.

If decorations are important to you but cause stress:

  • Decorate with child-friendly items like soft toys and pillows.

  • Use pipe cleaners to hang ornaments on trees.

  • Let your child remove child-friendly decorations from the tree (or other display) whenever they want. Keep a container nearby to put them in.

  • Keep fancier decorations high up and out of reach, or don’t use them (for now) to eliminate any temptation to climb.

  • Give your child their own decorations that they can play with.

  • Don’t make any changes at all! If having to put up/take down/deal with decorations causes too much stress, it’s ok to skip it this year.

Final Thoughts

  • It’s OK if things don’t go as planned.

  • Take a break/nap with your child if you need one.

  • Don’t try to keep up with friends or family that make all their gifts from scratch and seem to do everything perfectly. Your life if not theirs.

  • Celebrate what you can do.

  • Make arrangements to have a break from parenting and practice self-care, at the holidays and year-round!

Don’t overload yourself with your own expectations and commitments. Find time to enjoy yourself and family – no matter what happens.

Early Childhood CARES provides early intervention and early childhood special education to infants, toddlers and preschool age children in Lane County. All services are free of charge to eligible children. Visit https://earlychildhoodcares.uoregon.edu/ to learn more.