G ive
send some money to show them that you value local news.
Businesses can help schoolkids read the paper and support
the R-G’s Newspaper in Education program at wkly.ws/1eh
KLCC (klcc.org) wakes us up with the dulcet tones of
reporters like Rachael McDonald, and listening to Eric
Alan’s soothing voice and eclectic musical choices entertains
us as we work and drive. Send them some love to support
local programming, even if it’s not radiothon time and you
don’t get a tote bag. The pledge line is (800) 922-3682.
guide
SAVE THE OTHER BEASTS
It never hurts to give to a good cause
BY CAMILLA MORTENSEN
“ r
esist impulse decisions to donate.” That’s one of the pithy bits of advice on charitable giving that the
Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) sends out along with a list of the worst charities in order to keep
the generously inclined from getting scammed. EW begs to differ: Impulse donations are awesome.
Then again we are the kind of folks who pull over at a green light to give dollars to the people holding
signs that say “made some bad decisions” or who have cute dogs with them. But it’s all in whom you give to.
If you want to make some last minute donations — as gifts, as tax deductions or on impulse because it’s a good cause
— we’re here to give you some suggestions that are local groups who will put your hard-earned cash to good use and good
deeds. The online guide to charities, Guide Star (guidestar.org) lists more than 1,700 nonprofits in Eugene alone. Not all
the groups in this guide are tax deductible — check on Guide Star or the Oregon DOJ’s charity database (wkly.ws/1ei) if
you want that write-off — but all are worth the money.
THE ARTS
GREEN GIFTS
When budget cuts hit, it seems like the arts are always
first on the chopping block and that’s just plain wrong.
When we asked around town for suggestions for what
groups to give to, MECCA (Materials Exchange Center
for Community Arts, materials-exchange.org) came up
repeatedly. MECCA, a recycled art supply store, keeps
“junk” out of the waste stream and helps you turn it into
art, and it offers workshops to help you in your artistic
assemblage.
Gertie the Bookmobile (bookstothepeople.org)
recently earned nonprofit status, so making donations to
keep Lane County in free (to the homeless and seniors)
and inexpensive books is now tax deductible.
Give money to Eugene Storefront Art Project (ESAP,
eugenestorefrontartproject.org) or become a member for as
little as $15; it will give you the chance to help beautify the
now-dwindling empty downtown storefronts and that brings
benefits to everyone.
Lumber costs money, but trees that are vertical are
priceless. Cascadia Wildlands saves forests, birds, wolves
and other wild things, and lately, along with Beyond Toxics,
has begun work to fight the polluting coal trains that are
aimed toward Eugene. Visit www.cascwild.org or call 434-
1463 to donate, volunteer or for more information. And if
you want to save wolves, along with coyotes, cougars and
other predators, then feed the beast by giving to Predator
Defense (www.predatordefense.org or 937-4261).
Save Parvin Butte is the effort to stop the scenic Dexter-
area butte from being razed into a small pile of rubble. It’s a
great example of a small group of people teaming up to fight
big business for the sake of small towns and wildlife,
saveparvinbutte.org
A local group with international effects, Environmental
Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW), wins victories around
the world for clean air, clean water and a healthy environment.
Looking for global impact? Your gift will empower
grassroots leaders in more than 70 countries to build a
sustainable, just future. Call 687-8454 or visitelaw.org to
donate, volunteer or join the ELAW Host Family Program.
The Cascadia Forest Defenders (forestdefensenow.com)
aren’t a tax write-off either, but you can’t put a price on their
efforts to protect Oregon’s forests. Besides, where would EW
be if we didn’t have tree sitters, sawmill protesters and tar
sands blockaders to write articles about? Speaking of news …
STAY NONTOXIC
Give the gift of clean air, clean water and clean living.
Spunky little Beyond Toxics (beyondtoxics.org, 465-8860)
fights for social justice, clean air and getting poisonous
chemicals out of our lives and our children’s bodies.
Oregon Clean Water Action Project works with
Willamette Riverkeeper to monitor our waterways and
keep our creeks, streams and rivers clean. Keep an eye on
our news section for periodic pollution updates from
OCWAP and tax-deductibly donate at www.
oregoncleanwater.org
Eat local! Willamette Farm and Food Coalition (www.
lanefood.org) helps farmers using all that clean local land
and water to support the development of a secure and
sustainable food system in Lane County.
SAVE THE JOURNALISTS
The Register-Guard’s news staff is disappearing at an
alarming rate, and even though they might sometimes
disdain our sassy little red boxes, we love the R-G (and love
to snark them, too) for their locally owned and operated
daily news coverage. Support local news: Subscribe to the
R-G on paper, or if you read it online (registerguard.com)
D ONALD D EXTER J R DMD LLC
DENTISTRY
Our vision is simple – we believe
in integrity above all else, and we
serve those who are seeking a
trusted source for their dental care
Browse our website or call if you have any questions!
We look forward to providing your care.
2233 W ILLAMETTE S T , B LDG B • 541-485-6644
w w w. d r d e x t e r. c o m
16
December 27, 2012 • eugeneweekly.com
One of the best ways to save a puppy or kitten is by
preventing future unwanted beasties. Willamette Animal
Guild (wagwag.org or 345-3566) provides low-cost spay/
neuter services, as does the City of Eugene Spay and
Neuter Clinic (wkly.ws/2f or 682-3643), which also offers
shots, deworming and discount microchipping.
West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue (westcoastdogandcat.org
or 225-4955) steps up to find homes for abused, handi-
capped, neglected, abandoned or aged pets, no matter how
long it takes. Overburdened and also in need of help,
Greenhill Humane Society (www.green-hill.org or 689-
1503) and First Avenue Shelter (wkly.ws/1ej) couldn’t
survive without groups like WCDC.
Luv-A-Bull (luvabullpitbullrescue.com) has a been
helping Lane County’s good-natured pit bulls find homes and
shed their bad-dog reputations with its lovely sanctuary filled
with happy pitties in pink tutus and cute dog coats. The group
also kicked off the area’s efforts to save tiny Los Angeles
pups from doggie-death row. Wiggly Tails (wkly.ws/1ek) is
one of those groups focusing on small dogs (usually under 15
pounds) from high kill shelters in LA; the group also takes in
locally surrendered dogs and is in need of more foster homes.
It’s not just dogs and cats that need rescue; Red Barn
Rabbit Rescue (redbarnrabbitrescue.org) in Creswell saves
and rehomes bunnies in need (insert bunny-hugger joke
here) and a lot of our local ponies get saved and find new
homes through the tireless efforts of Strawberry Mountain
Rescue and Rehab Center (strawberrymountainmustangs.
com) north of Roseburg.
HOMELESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Someone needs to defend penniless nonprofits, and
Civil Liberties Defense Center (cldc.org or 687-9180)
gives support not only to local groups and protesters but
also to the everyday person whose rights have been
trampled and can’t otherwise afford an attorney.
The Egan Warming Center (eganwarmingcenter.com or
689-6747), administered by St. Vincent de Paul, has been
working to keep the homeless from freezing to death on the
streets of Eugene as its namesake, veteran Thomas Egan, did
in 2008. Give a warm sleeping bag, cash or a couple nights
helping out to keep folks from freezing on these cold nights.
Eugene SLEEPS (Safe Legally Entitled Emergency
Places to Sleep, eugenesleeps.org) got off to a rousing start
with a protest at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza.
Support this Occupy Eugene offshoot with a donation or
by getting involved with the effort to help the homeless
have somewhere to sleep safely.
Give to good causes and to all a good night … ■