SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2017
Food Share
from 8A
stages of a new fundraiser set
tentatively for next September.
I’m also looking for more grants
for food. So, there’s money out
there, I just have to find it.”
While any one of these issues
would create a challenge for food
share, all three at once have cre-
ated a considerable burden on the
institution. It also shows that,
like most nonprofits, food share
is running on razor-thin margins.
And the need is great.
According to City of Florence
officials, there is a housing crisis
in the Siuslaw region, with home
prices and rental rates skyrocket-
ing.
Many working residents are
working low wage jobs that only
provide minimum hours. To sup-
plement this, they work two to
three jobs just to cover costs.
Even with that, some of these
workers live in their cars or tents
in friend’s yards.
Some senior residents are find-
ing that programs like Social
Security are stretched too thin,
with more than 70 percent of
their income going to rent alone.
This often does not include the
cost of utilities.
These economic factors have
placed additional stress on pro-
grams like Florence Food Share,
as its purpose is not to provide
full time food for families, but to
supplement them in hard times.
“Food share really helps those
people who are either the work-
ing poor or the unemployed or
seniors on a fixed income,”
Barton said. “It helps them so
they don’t have to choose
between getting prescription
medication or eating, or choosing
between paying their heating bill
during the winter bill or eating.
Because of us they can do both.”
But as wages go down and rent
rises, people are relying on these
programs more and more for
everyday survival.
But this does not mean that
these programs are giving up.
Florence Food Share President
Rick Klessig said, “I know we’re
at that lean time of year where
funds are low for operating
expenses. The pantry is doing
fine. I know typically things will
pick up as the season progresses.
“I would encourage the com-
munity to remember, during this
season, that we need food for the
shelves, we need cash for operat-
ing expenses. ... We do the best
we can to fill a need. We always
need resources.”
He said that nonprofit organi-
zations often have to “roll with
the punches,” especially as need
grows among the people food
share serves.
Barton also refuses to give in
to despair about their setbacks.
“When I’m asked if food share
is in danger, that thought never
crosses my mind,” Barton said.
“I can’t let it cross my mind.”
The people she serves at food
share require that she keep her
optimism.
“It’s hard for me when I see
somebody who could be my son
walking through here, it breaks
my heart,” Barton said. “For the
elderly that are coming through
here, that could be my mom or
my dad on a fixed income, and
they have no choice. I thank God
we’re here for them.”
Upcoming fundraising events
for Florence Food Share include
the 17th annual Food Share
Pounding on Saturday, Nov. 18,
at Grocery Outlet, 2066 Highway
101.
The 22nd annual Empty Bowls
Fundraiser will be held Friday
through Saturday, Dec. 1 to 3, at
the Florence Events Center, 715
Quince Street.
For more information or to
inquire about volunteering or
donating,
visit
florence
foodshare.org.
9 A
Apply for Soroptimist ‘Dream’ grant by Nov. 15
Don’t miss the chance to
apply for the Soroptimist
International
Club
of
Florence’s
annual “Live
Your Dream Award.”
These awards are for
women who are head-of-
household and want to fur-
ther their education. The
funds are given directly to
Planning
the individual to help with
living expenses while attend-
ing school.
The application period is
open now through Nov. 15.
An application can be
found online at soroptimist.
org/liveyourdreamawards.ht
ml. The “Live Your Dream”
link contains information
about eligibility, a video and
instructions for the applica-
tion process.
A local woman was award-
ed a $1,000 grant by the
Florence Soroptimists and
her application was forward-
ed to the Soroptimist
International of the Americas
Northwest Region to be
included in a pool for an
additional award. She was
then selected to receive an
additional award of $1,500.
For more information
about the award or filling out
the application, call Nancy
Bosket at 541-902-7250
or email siflorence@soropt
imist.net.
be more actively involved in
Florence, is also inadequate
for current needs.
According to Langborg, the
station houses critical equip-
ment that will be needed in the
event of a Cascadia subduction
zone earthquake. However,
since it resides in the tsunami
zone along the Siuslaw River,
it is ineligible for necessary
seismic retrofitting.
“It is my recommendation
that both districts work togeth-
er to address these problems
by creating a joint facility,”
Langborg said.
In his report, the chief direc-
tor evaluated the ongoing inte-
gration of SVFR and WLAD
under the IGA.
“It is my opinion that the
IGA is successful,” he said.
“Both districts have made
tremendous gains this past
year and service levels are
improving.”
Recommendations from the
management teams from both
organizations were included in
the information given to the
directors, including one final,
significant point — it was time
to begin conversations about
the eventual merging of the
two districts.
The current IGA establishes
a shared administration for the
fire and ambulance districts,
but operations remain sepa-
rate.
Langborg said, “I believe it
is time to begin discussing our
future and determine what our
future could look like if the
two districts were to move
towards an operational merg-
er.”
starting the service, but we still
plan to hold the pilot project
for the full 12 months. It’s the
right thing to do to ensure that
the selected vendor is the best
fit for the service and for the
community they will be serv-
ing.”
Fortunately, the funding for
the pilot program, $290,110,
has been secured as part of a
larger block grant. This money
will be available to purchase
the vehicle as soon as it has
been selected and approved by
LTD management.
Lang and other LTD offi-
cials are eager to begin transit
service between Lane and
Lincoln counties and feel the
delays, while regrettable, are
all part of initiating a new
service line.
“We can’t wait to share
more details as they are made
available. We plan to provide
broad outreach in anticipation
of the date we begin service,”
Lang said.
For more information about
LTD and its services, visit
LTD.org.
from 1A the delivery of EMS. It is time
WLAD employees suggest-
ed renewing operations meet-
ings and improving internal
communications. They also
suggested having another open
house as a way of communi-
cating more directly with the
public.
Later in the day, Langborg
presented a summation of the
reports from both departments
and made recommendations to
the directors that focused on
the future of the two organiza-
tions.
“The fire district needs to
take a greater role in EMS,”
Langborg said. “The members
of SVFR want this and our
community expects it. It is
unusual for a fire district not to
that SVFR reconsider our
involvement and determine
what our role should be.”
Another major concern for
Langborg is the inadequacy of
the WLAD facility near
PeaceHealth Medical Center
on Ninth St.
This concern was repeated
in comments from both
WLAD and SVFR employees,
and the stakeholders identified
the facility as a priority.
“The ambulance district
does not meet our current
needs,” Langborg said. “The
replacement and/or remodel of
this facility has been discussed
for years.”
He added that SVFR Station
2, located next to Florence
City Hall in Historic Old Town
tion process for the “vendor,”
Transit
from 1A or company, that will be
Lang continued, “It is also
because of the purchase of the
vehicle. The procurement
process in government is very
deliberate, which makes it
lengthy. This is because
we have to comply with
FTA
(Federal
Transit
Administration) standards and
regulations, as well as be good
stewards of public funds.”
To a lesser degree, LTD’s
delay is also due to the selec-
awarded the contract to oper-
ate and manage the as yet
unnamed Florence to Yachats
route.
“Because we’ve had such a
great response from prospec-
tive service providers, we need
to be fair and equitable in
choosing who will be deliver-
ing service during the pilot
project,” Lang said. “To do so
requires us to undergo a pro-
curement process that length-
ens our overall timeline for
THIS WEEK
ON
THE
COAST
A W EEKLY L ISTING OF C OMMUNITY E VENTS IN THE F LORENCE A REA
S UBMIT ALL E VENTS I NFORMATION VIA E MAIL TO P RESS R ELEASES @T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM
Nov. 4
Falling Leaves Bazaar
Sponsored by St. Mary’s Women’s Guild
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Open to public
St. Mary Our Lady of The Dunes
85060 Highway 101
Pre-holiday Country Store
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Open to public
Florence United Methodist Church
K9Genius Academy Grand Opening
10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 2 p.m. ribbon cutting
Open to the public and leashed dogs
1790 Highway 101 in Florence
541-590-5131
Sol Seed Reggae/Fusion Music Night
9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
$10 cover
Bay Street Grille
1341 Bay St.
Nov. 5
Florence Ukulele Club “The Flukes”
1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – Beginners
3 to 4 p.m. – Song Circle for all levels
All welcome – Loaner ukes available
Siuslaw Public Library
janetwellington@charter.net
LRP Presents “Annie”
7 p.m.
Tickets required
Florence Events Center
Open to public
Florence City Hall
ci.florence.or.us
Nov. 7
Free Healthcare Assistance
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Department of Human Services Office
3180 Highway 101 in Florence
541-337-0661
Nov. 8
Dunes City Council Meeting
6 to 8 p.m.
Open to public
Dunes City Hall
82877 Spruce St., Westlake
Nov. 9
Nov. 6
Florence, Lane County Dems Meet
1 p.m.
Open to public
Florence Senior Center
Last Resort Players Present “Annie”
7 p.m.
Tickets required
Florence Events Center
eventcenter.org
Melody Ann
Beaudro
P RINCIPAL B ROKER
Licensed in the state of Oregon
1749 Hwy. 101
Cell: 541-991-2151
Melody@trhunter.com
www.trhunter.com
TR
HUNTER
CUSTOM ENGRAVING
& CUTTING
Free Healthcare Assistance
Oregon Health Plan insurance enrollment
and renewal
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Department of Human Services Office
3180 Highway 101 in Florence
541-337-0661
Florence City Council Meeting
5:30 p.m.
Siuslaw Friendship Club Meeting
Guest speaker Mike Bones
11 a.m.
Open to public
Shorewood Retirement Residence
1451 Spruce St.
Nov. 10
Coastal Women Veterans Luncheon
11:30 a.m.
Open to all women veterans
Shorewood Retirement Residence
1451 Spruce St.
541-997-1249,
towanda1249@yahoo.com
LRP Presents “Annie”
7 p.m.
Tickets required
Florence Events Center
Nov. 11
Veterans Day Ceremony
9 to 11 a.m.
Open to public
Florence Elks Lodge
Wise Woman Emerging Workshop
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$75 workshop
Yachats Commons
541-610-2677
Handmade Holiday Gift Gallery
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Open to public
The Studios at Jayne Smoley Design
1458 First St.
Florence Veteran’s Day Parade
541-997-5691
541-361-9080
jmirvis@charter.net
Florence, Oregon
Veteran’s Day Social
4 to 5 p.m.
Meet Spruce Point veterans
Spruce Point Assisted Living
375 Ninth St.
541-997-6111
2nd Saturday Gallery Tour
3 to 5 p.m.
Open to public
Various locations in Historic Old Town
Florence and Uptown 101
2ndSaturdayGalleryTour.com
LRP Presents “Annie”
7 p.m.
Tickets required
Florence Events Center
Nov. 10 to 12
17th Yachats Celtic Music Festival
Tickets required for most events
yachatscelticmusicfestival.org
MM Piano Studio
ESTATE JEWELRY AND
ANTIQUE FURNITURE!!!
Mary Morganti
We buy, sell and consign quality
estate/heirloom jewelry & furniture.
Gold, silver, platinum jewelry with
precious & semi precious stones.
Auto, Home, Life, Business
Flood, Antique Auto, RV’s
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Supplements
Health Insurance
Call 541-997-8104,
Florence Antiques
Phone (541) 997-9497
1234 Rhododendron Dr / Florence
CCB# 55030
County Transfer & Recycling
Teacher-Pianist
Accompanist
Commerical • Residential
Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly,
One Time Pick-Up.
Private Lessons in Florence
for Ages 6-Adult.
Easy curb side recycling program-
No additional costs to our customers.
5078 Coastwood Lane
Call us at 541-997-8233
FLORENCE
Awards • Plaques • Name Badges
Gifts • Signage • Glassware
Grand Marshals – Korean War Veterans
2 p.m.
All patriotic groups and individuals are
welcome to participate
Open to public
Historic Old Town Florence
Glass For Every
Purpose
1780 Kingwood St.
541-997-8526
Great prices on all
top national brands!
685-A Hwy 101,
Florence, OR.
541-997-3273
Member MTNA
and OMTA
Call or Email
520.850.3563
m
maryjo3663@msn.com
Village Grooming
4981 Highway 101,
across Munsel Lake Rd
541-305-5411
Call for appointment
