in other words
december7
2017
3
An Opinion: Looking Back on a Tough Year
By Brian Allbritton, Executive
Director, Oregon Energy Fund
Oregonians faced steep challenges over
the past year
Snowstorms last winter closed
schools and businesses for days, forcing
many working parents to take time off
whether or not they could afford it. Dur-
ing the summer, wildfires displaced many
people from their homes, while others
were told to stay inside as a dangerous
haze blanketed much of the state.
While the storms and fires were
difficult for all of us, for folks working
paycheck to paycheck, this resulted in fi-
nancial crisis. Families faced devastating
income shortages as wage earners were
unable to work. Faced with a missing or
reduced paycheck, many had to make
tough choices. Do we pay the rent or the
electricity bill? Buy food or pay for the gas
bill?
I believe that no one should have
to make these decisions.
How we responded
I work for the only statewide non-
profit in Oregon providing energy assis-
tance to families in crisis. At Oregon Ener-
gy Fund, we responded quickly to height-
ened demand in the wake of fires in the
Gorge and Eagle Creek and snowstorms
across the state. Together, we raised over
$1 million to provide utility assistance,
with nearly $10,000 distributed here in
Vernonia through our partnership with St.
Vincent De Paul. 83 individuals in the area
received help with their utility bills last
year.
Oregon Energy Fund’s emergen-
cy assistance helped thousands of people.
However, that still left a tremendous num-
ber in need, considering that 1 in 8 Ore-
gonians struggle to pay their utility bills
and still have money left for necessities
like food and medicine – even without the
complication of a wildfire or snowstorm
thrown in.
You can help, too
I’m happy to report that we now
have a way that you can help, too. Your
own West Oregon Electric Cooperative
Inc., a long-time supporter of our work, is
the first co-op in the state to offer our Pow-
erUp Program, a way of donating through
your utility bill.
You can “PowerUp” your com-
munity by rounding up your monthly bill
to the nearest dollar for regular support,
choose to contribute a little extra every
month, or make a one-time gift at any time
and for any amount.
Keeping it local
100% of all donations to this pro-
gram will stay within the WOEC service
area, so your charity dollars stay local. If
you’d like to help your neighbor in need,
please either check your next WOEC util-
ity bill or give online at www.OregonEn-
ergyFund.org/WOEC. Through the power
of giving, you can ensure that your neigh-
bors stay healthy, safe, and housed.
Publisher and Managing Editor
Scott Laird
503-367-0098
scott@vernoniasvoice.com
Contributors
Brian Allbritton
Stacey Lynn
Trish Smith
Photography
Scott Laird
Want to advertise?
Have an article?
Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com
Some Things You May Not Know...
By Trish Smith
Vernonia EMT Volunteer Coordinator
Hello. Most of you know me as
the “Ambulance Lady,” or previously as
the “Bus Lady” or the “Sasquatch Bread
Lady.”
I am fortunate enough to have
been able to serve this community for
the past 10 years as both a volunteer and
paid EMT. If not for an old friend invit-
ing me to a volunteer ambulance busi-
ness meeting, I would have missed out
on being a part of this great family as
well as a rewarding career. This is my
invitation to you.
I’d like to share some facts
about local emergency medical services
that you probably don’t know.
1. Although we work side by side, the
Vernonia Volunteer Ambulance Associa-
tion (VVAA) is separate from the Ver-
nonia Fire Volunteers. Though most of
the members are on both associations,
they are separate departments, separate
apparatus, separate benefits, separate of-
ficers.
2. The VVAA pays for school! My men-
tors walked me through every step, from
finding an EMT class, to helping me reg-
ister. When it came time to pay, they pro-
vided me with a check to cover books,
classes and tests. When it came time to
study, they invited me to the station to
practice skills over a plate of BBQ.
3. Metro West Ambulance has partnered
with Vernonia and provides two fully
stocked 9-1-1 Advanced Life Support
ambulances, all the needed equipment
and supplies, training, living quarters,
uniforms, and of course, a Paramedic
24/7. They also fund a position at 50
hours a week, Monday to Friday. That’s
where I come in! During the day my
Paramedic partner and I, or Bailey We-
gner (the other paid EMT), are paid staff
and we respond with lights and sirens in
uniform to 9-1-1 calls in the community.
Outside of those hours, I volunteer my
time.
4. Volunteer hours are unpaid hours.
Next time you see an EMT after 4:00
pm or on a weekend in their EMS garb
wearing pagers, thank them! They are
doing it because they love what they do
and what they represent. A transport dur-
ing volunteer hours can earn you some
cash. Though most of the volunteers in
Vernonia have other jobs, it can easily
turn into full time with benefits.
5. EMT’s are in great demand and make
a competitive wage! I started by filling
in at special events in Washington Coun-
ty to earn some extra money as a stay
at home mom. Shortly after, I started
working full time on an ambulance at
Metro West in Washington County as
well as filling in at the coast at Medix
Ambulance. Now here I sit, helping to
manage, train, and mentor new EMTs.
I guess you could call it “work.” I love
what I do so much, I miss it when I’m
not working.
6. What do you mean you don’t have
FULL
SPORTS
PACKAGE!
to spend thousands on school? Really?
I have zero student debt and one of the
most rewarding careers ever.
Do you want to truly make a
difference in people’s lives? If you want
to serve our community and to be there
when it counts the most, please call me
at (503) 429-4600. Let’s talk about what
we do and schedule a ride-along so you
can see firsthand what being in Emer-
gency Medical Services is truly about.
I’d also like to invite you to at-
tend one of our business meetings for the
Vernonia Volunteer Ambulance Associa-
tion at 555 E Bridge Street, Vernonia OR
97064. I look forward to meeting you!
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PO Box 55
Vernonia, OR 97064
503-367-0098
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Cedar Side Inn
Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7
Taco Tuesday
LIVE MUSIC
• Specialty hamburgers
• 8 Draft beers & mixed drinks
from opening until 9pm
3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25
Ladies’ Night
Sat, Dec. 9
every Thursday 6pm-close
Thrill Ride
• 5 Craft beers on tap
• Pool tables & satelite TV
• Free Wi-fi
• Beer & Kegs to go
Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight •
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756 Bridge Street, Vernonia
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