6A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JUNE 14, 2017
Beds for Freezing Nights marks its 6th year Local resident
By Cindy Weeldreyer
For The Sentinel
Beds for Freezing Nights is
a godsend for those who don’t
have a warm place to sleep on a
freezing cold night. The all-vol-
unteer nonprofi t organization
traces its roots back to Decem-
ber 16, 2008, when 60-year-old
Maj. Thomas Egan tragically
froze to death in Eugene on
a night when the temperature
plunged to 15 degrees. His
death sparked the formation of
the Eugene-Springfi eld warm-
ing centers that now bear his
name.
In 2009, representatives from
local social service agencies,
church leaders, government
offi cials and public-minded
individuals vowed to do some-
thing that would prevent a sim-
ilar tragic death here in Cottage
Grove. The Beds for Freezing
Nights (BFN) Coalition mobi-
lized to establish an all-volun-
teer nonprofi t group to offer an
emergency warming center to
serve the unhoused on the cold-
est winter nights.
Now completing its sixth year
of operations, BFN has served
hundreds of individuals needing
a warm, friendly place to come
in from the cold on frigid winter
nights. A core group of leaders
and faithful volunteers and do-
nors is the reason for the orga-
nization’s success. Lutheran
Pastor James Markus has been
a strong BFN supporter and has
served fi ve years on the board of
directors.
“We had a historic year in
the number of guests we served
this winter,” Markus said. “A
few times we were pushing 20
guests and nearing our capaci-
ty. We served 47 unduplicated
guests and averaged 11 guests
during our activations this win-
ter.
Since its fi rst operational sea-
son in 2010-11, BFN has served
587 guests and has had 117 ac-
tivations. The organization has
a $6,200 annual budget that
includes a hefty liability insur-
ance policy. It currently has 34
volunteers.
BFN has two city-certifi ed
emergency warming center lo-
cations: Our Lady of Perpetual
Help Catholic Church and First
Presbyterian Church. OLPH is
the larger of the two facilities
and serves as the group’s prima-
ry site. When weather forecasts
predict an overnight low of 29
degrees, BFN prepares to acti-
vate a shelter. The Volunteer Co-
ordinator Christine Moats sends
out an email poll to a cadre of
committed volunteers. Sleep-
ing rooms are segregated so six
men and six women are needed
to staff the shelter’s three shifts
between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Moats said through her vol-
unteer work with Community
Sharing she became familiar
with the homeless clients it
served. When she saw the BFN
Call to Action requesting vol-
unteers she thought it would be
another way she could serve her
community.
“We are deeply grateful for
the dedicated BFN volunteers
who leave the warmth and safe-
ty of their homes on cold, icy
nights to ensure there is a warm
safe place for those who need
it,” Moats said. “We do need
more volunteers. Right now
during long activations our vol-
unteers need to work multiple
days to keep the shelter open.”
Logistics Coordinator Steve
Thoreson is completing his
sixth year in this important po-
sition. He began helping his
predecessor Tom Gutmann set
up for activations by moving
supplies and equipment to and
from Gutmann’s garage.
“It required a considerable
about of effort, Thoreson said.
“Tom still continues to help
with logistics but we no longer
have to store supplies in his
garage, we can store them at
OLPH. Both OLPH and First
Presbyterian are generous in of-
fering their facilities for shelter
from the cold.”
South Lane Wheels Execu-
tive Director Ruth Linoz joined
the board seven years ago and
became board president in
2016. South Lane Wheels was
one of the founding organiza-
tions of BFN. She remained on
the board because she enjoys
the opportunity to meet and
serve with her neighbors who
all share a deep compassion and
dedication to help people access
a safe, warm place to stay on
freezing nights.
“I’m impressed and very
thankful for the growing net-
work of generous donors, vol-
unteers, host churches, and local
offi cials that make this human-
itarian mission possible each
year,” she said.
The current board offi cers
and coordinators are: President
Ruth Linoz, Vice President
Lise Colgan, Secretary James
Markus, Treasurer Janice Gut-
mann, Logistics Coordinator
Steve Thoreson, Volunteer Co-
ordinator Christine Moats, and
Weather Watcher Don Strahan.
Other board members are Bon-
nie Boone and Adam Creighton
After eight years of leader-
ship, Fred Colgan is stepping
down from the board. Other de-
parting board members are Tom
Gutmann and his wife Janice,
who has served as BFN’s trea-
surer. Lise Colgan, is now the
last of the original board mem-
bers from 2009 still serving on
the board of directors. All the
original board members remain
passionate about the importance
of the organization and most
continue to serve as shelter vol-
unteers.
“BFN has become a self-sus-
taining and important part of
Cottage Grove's outreach to
vulnerable people,” Lise Col-
gan said. “I'm very happy to see
new people coming on board to
make sure that it continues its
crucial mission.”
BFN’s success is fueled by
the compassion of its volunteers
and the community it serves.
Its reputation for treating each
guest with dignity and respect,
its high level of organization,
its unblemished safety record
and its commitment to host-
ing everyone who abides by its
guest rules, all contribute to the
fulfi llment of its purpose “to
ensure shelter is available for
those who need and want it be-
tween November 15 and March
31.”
turns 100
Hazel Vaught celebrated her 100th birthday on May 31. The Cottage Grove
resident moved to the city in the '90s after owning property for several
years. Vaught was born in 1917 and married Lamar Vaught in 1936. The
two share two children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
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NEWS FROM OUTSIDE THE GROVE
Lorane: CAL School Board meets
on June 15 at Applegate Elementary at
7 p.m. Eighth grade Recognition is June
16 at 7 p.m. in the CHS gym. Everyone
welcome to come. School is out for the
CAL School District on June 19 after an
all district trip to Wildlife Safari. Enjoy
your summer. Wishing all you fathers a
very Happy Father's Day.
Drain: Drain City Wide Yard Sale: Au-
gust 12, 7:00 a.m., sponsored by North
Douglas Middle School Vollyball, Bas-
ketball, and Track, Ms. Emily Reed, has
saved the day. Spaces in the park will be
$10.00.
Surveys about the future of the Drain
Library are now available at Drain City
Hall.
Yoncalla: A chance at a $500 scholar-
ship is still available for young girls who
register to be part of Queen's Court at the
Douglas State Fair. Details can be found
at https://ndcountyfair.wixsite.com/fair/
princesses.
Creswell: Summer Lunch Program
Starts June 19th at Holt Park. For more
information contact Stefani Roybal, Sum-
mer Food Program Assistant Manager at
541-343-2822 x351.
Holt Park Restrooms Temporary Clo-
sure while Public Works puts a fresh coat
of paint on the restroom walls at Holt Me-
morial Park the week of Monday, June
12th through Friday, June 16th, 2017.
The Flower Basket
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