Perfect
Stocking
Stuffers J
Socks • Slippers • Hats
Gift Certificates
Also, you’re invited to our annual Holiday Open House
Friday, December 5, 10 am to 8 pm
FQQTWPSE
THE BIRKENSTOCK STORE
V
181 E Broadway • Downtown Eugene
Monday-Saturday 10-6 & Sunday 11 -5
342-6107 • www.footwise.com
J
Indoor Rock Gym
9,000 sq. ft. of climbing
STUDENT SPECIALS
• 10 Punch Pass
$59 without gear rental ($75 reg.)
$89 with rental ($105 reg.)
• 3 Month Pass
$99 without gear rental ($125 reg.)
$139 with gear rental ($165 reg.)
Expires 1/15/04. Please present UO/LCC student ID.
401 W. 3rd • Eugene, OR 97401 • (541) 484-9535
OUTFITTERS
Buy 2 Pair,
Get the 3rd Pair
If
FREE*
- Of equal or
greater value.
' Dec. 1-Dec. 11 - Buy 3, get 4th pr free.
The North Face
Denali
Jacket
$139.95
FREE Gift Box
With Every
Purchase!
ACdmnbia
SAVE 20%
On All
Columbia
Outerwear.
SAVE 10% On Scores
Of Gift Items and
Stocking Stuffers!
20% Off Acorn Slippers!
On
LOWA
and
Montrail
SAVE 20% Boots!
Buy any North Face Pack
at 10% OFF, and get a
Nalgene Water Bottle FREE!
M
Open Until 8p.m.
Every Night
After Dec. 12!
j-jmitecMo^tack^jn^Tand^N (^special orders - Actual items may vary.
- Same High Quality Gear -
- Same Superior Service -
- Brand New Store -
Hours: 10-6 Mon-Sat / 12-5 Sun
566 Olive St., Downtown Eugene, 343-2300
FREE PARKING OUT BACK
ANOTHER FACE
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FOOD
continued from page 2C
Field of Dreams has served more than 150
meals almost every weekend for the last three
years. Everyone who works at the site is a vol
unteer.
Many sites for food relief in the
Eugene/Springfield area are run by churches like
Crossfire.
Church groups, especially youth groups, pro
vide many volunteers, but their assistance is in
termittent.
"FFLC always can use volunteers," Sponsler
said.
At the Dining Room, volunteers can prepare
the meals in the afternoon or serve the meals
at night.
Lon Nevler said he gives time to the commu
nity that once helped him, and added that he
has fun doing the work.
"I feel great satisfaction from my community
involvement," Nevler said. "People feel good
when they volunteer."
The effort put forth by volunteers has a posi
tive impact on the community, I linthome said.
"We don't expect to change the community
overnight, but we do expect to make a difference
as time goes on," Hinthome said. "There is a lot
of good going on in our community."
After placing the harmonica in his pocket,
Suta takes a long drink of his tea and looks
around the room. He watches the people eat as a
volunteer clears dishes from a table, asking how
the meal was.
He smiles.
"People need people," he says. "People are
fantastic and you can see the good in them."
Cory Eldridge is a freelance reporter for the
Emerald.
SHELTER
continued from page 3C
Anthony Ricca is the weekend manager of
First Place Family Center.
"It's not the most glamorous job, but I love
it," said Ricca as he handed out Capri Suns to ea
ger children taking a break from play. Weary
parents lounge on the sofa, watching television.
"It's pretty nice around here," said a man stay
ing at the shelter with his wife and two children
who prefers to remain nameless. "They help out
all the kids and offer food, clothes, and find us
housing."
His wife agreed.
"It's a warm place to stay during the day, and
to do your laundry," she said.
First Place provides showers, day care, and a
homework club — a room where kids can do
homework with an after-school teacher.
First place has more than just physical bene
fits, however.
"We offer aid and protection," Ricca said.
"They can feel safe here."
The shelter has seen an increase in the fami
lies seeking help in recent cold-weather weeks.
The shelter, located at 1995 Amazon Parkway
in Eugene, has the capacity for 10 to 12 families,
and they are currently all filled.
"We have a waiting list to prevent overcrowd
ing," Ricca said.
He stressed that the shelter is for families only,
added that during the weekend there are fewer
people using the shelter because many of them
stay at friends'houses.
"If you're single, you can't get in," he said.
Families usually stay at the shelter about a
month.
First Place receives donations from a variety of
places — such as Buffalo Exchange and Bed,
Bath, and Beyond — in the form of clothes,
blankets, comforters, soap, teddy bears and sev
eral other much-needed items. Ricca said if a
child is having a birthday, First Place will wrap
something up and give it to him or her.
Volunteers help make the shelter work. Many
are interns from Lane Community College, but
some of the people who use the shelter also vol
unteer there.
"People use the facilities," Ricca said. "In ex
change they do things like answer phones and
check the mail."
Thanksgiving can be a difficult time of year for
some. In response to this need, Ricca said the
community is sponsoring a free community
Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to
3 p.m. at Whiteaker School, located at 21 North
Grand St. in Eugene.
"What I love most about this place is seeing
the kids' faces," Ricca said. "This is their last re
sort and we can give them hope."
For more information or to volunteer, contact
First Place Family Center at 342-7728.
Omie Drawhom is a freelance reporter for the
Emerald.