COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | MAY 21, 2020 | 3A Local agencies re-purpose technology for collaborative COVID-19 response Text alert system and network of partners provide immediate support to Lane County nonprofits Whether to provide sleeping bags to shelters, clothing to families, or con- nect food banks with more volunteers, a new network of partners and a repur- posed technology tool are filling urgent needs around Lane County — in a matter of seconds. This newly formed net- work is the Lane Emer- gency Response Network (LERN) — a joint effort of 15th Night partners, COAD (Community Organiza- tions Active in Disaster) members, Lane County, PacificSource Community Solutions, Trillium Com- munity Health Plans and United Way of Lane Coun- ty — joined together to respond to the needs of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. LERN utilizes a text- based alert system so nonprofit “advocates” can submit urgent requests to a wide network of “pro- viders’’ around the county. Nonprofits can request vol- unteers, as well as in-kind donations on behalf of spe- cific clients, or on behalf of their organization as a whole. Upon receiving the text alert, providers represent- ing a variety of public, pri- vate, and social sectors can instantly respond if they can fulfill the need. So far, LERN’s text alert system has filled over 60 requests, including cloth masks for shelters, house- hold items for families in transitional housing, and sleeping bags for an emer- gency respite shelter. To- day, Burley is delivering a bike trailer to a family needing transportation op- tions, a connection made through LERN. This new network was formed in mid-March when, anticipating the high volume of needs that would arise from the COVID-19 pandemic, members of COAD started to centralize a wide, well-resourced net- work of providers, ready to respond to the needs of nonprofits and their cli- ents. 15th Night stepped for- ward with technology to automate and streamline the process. By adapting 15th Night’s text-alert tech- nology, LERN was able to connect those in local non- profits and the individuals whom they serve — with the people and organiza- tions that could fill their in-kind needs. LERN also has a “com- munity responder” role for individual volunteers inter- ested in helping out. Com- munity responders receive alerts for specific volun- teer needs — for instance, delivery of a prescription or food box — which are then filled based on which community responder is able to meet the need most efficiently. “As we adjust to our new daily lives and to a new normal, ways to vol- unteer are adjusting, too,” said Alexis Amavisca, Vol- unteer Engagement Co- ordinator at United Way of Lane County. “Being a Community Responder gives volunteers the chance to help local agencies and individuals in need simply via text message. Recent- ly, an organization sent an alert requesting 50 fabric masks needed to open a new temporary emergen- cy youth shelter. The alert was sent to Community Responders and within 20 minutes, three Commu- nity Responders replied, including Eric Richard- son of Eugene/Springfield NAACP, indicating they could donate more than enough masks to open the youth shelter.” While LERN is set up to connect social service providers and clients, addi- tional new resource inven- tories are emerging to meet the needs of the commu- nity. A new resource map created by United Way of Lane County outlines the other systems, including the Lane County Mutu- al Aid Network — which focuses on neighbors helping neighbors — and LaneKids, a resource guide for families with children. Agencies interested in participating in LERN as an advocate or provider can contact Megan Shultz at Megan@mshconsulting- nw.com. Individuals wanting to sign up as Community Responders can do so at www.unitedwaylane.org/ covid19ran. Healing Matrix, Taubert Foundation award more than $65,000 to local nonprofit programs A number of local non-profits and commu- nity-oriented programs recently received financial awards from the Taubert Foundation and Healing Matrix, which have worked together for almost a de- cade to promote activities and partnerships that im- prove all aspects of health for community members. Infusions of cash during these challenging times will help programs that are struggling with too few resources and too many needs. The grants cumulatively totaled over $65,000. The award recipients, along with the amount awarded and a brief de- scription of the intended use of the funds, includes: • Bohemia Food Hub ($11,500) — Support the BFH’s efforts to broaden opportunities for rural food entrepreneurship among underserved groups by pro- viding low-risk exploration of food business ideas. The funds will help a physical makeover of part of the Bohemia Food Hub (S. 10th St) to develop three storefronts that will serve as a restaurant pilot area, host pop-up food events, and host teaching demonstra- tions. • Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council ($4000) — Support ongoing na- ture-based experiential en- vironmental learning for middle-school students, in- cluding monthly hands-on lessons and capstone stew- ardship projects. • Cottage Village Coali- tion ($10,000) — Support ongoing development of Cottage Village, Oregon’s first rural tiny-house vil- lage. • McKinney-Vento ($20,000) — Provide $75 emergency grocery gift cards to each of the more than 250 houseless students in the South Lane School District. • Senior Center foot care ($1,000) — Provide Regis- tered Nurses with the sup- plies and equipment need to provide foot-care ser- vices for seniors at the Cot- tage Grove Senior Center. • Soil/FoodWeb consul- tant ($3,850) — Funding a community member to complete a Soil Food Web course in regenerative ag- riculture; after this two- year program is complet- ed, the trainee will share the knowledge with others throughout the community via info booths at the Farm- ers Market, presentations (e.g., at Science Pub), and visits to local schools. • Soup’s On ($5,000) — Replace old refrigerator and freezers, and provide ad- ditional storage, to enable Soup’s On to continue to provide a free community dinner every Sunday night at the Community Center in Cottage Grove. • South Valley Farmers Market ($7,000) — Enable the market’s continuing service. (Thursdays, 4 to 7 p.m. at Seventh and Main streets.) Cottage Grove Historical Society offering education grant through June 30 In honor of one of its founders, Marcia E. Allen, the Cottage Grove Histor- ical Society is offering a grant of up to $200 to edu- cators in the Cottage Grove area and/or the South Lane School District attendance area who choose to use some aspect of Cottage Grove-area history in their classroom. The grant is open to teachers of kindergarten through 12th grade in both public or private schools. Grant applications are due on June 30 and the funds will be awarded for the 2020-21 school year. Any subject matter is el- igible. Some examples would be photographing or drawing historic sites for an art class, learning about local pio- neers for an Oregon Trail unit, or having students explore the history of their school. For more information about the grant, private message the Cottage Grove, OR. Historical Society Facebook page, or email them at cghistoricalsoc@ gmail.com. The grant application can be found at https://cghisto- ry.org/index.php/ed-grant. Note, the application says that the deadline is at the end of May, but it has been extended until the end of June. SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY THANK YOU FOR HELPING HELP US FUND LOCAL TO FUND LOCAL COVID-19 REPORTING REPORTING COVID-19 IN IN OUR OUR COMMUNITY! COMMUNITY From Baby to Graduate (it seemed like just a few short years) LOCAL NEWS FUND COVID-19 8th Grade, High School, or College Grads name School: Birthday: Parents: DONATE NOW Grandparents: GIVEBUTTER.COM/COTTAGEGROVESENTINEL Your support and words of encouragement mean the world to us! Support local journalism. Your local paper is your friend, let’s keep her safe at home! ~ Dana M. Keep Journalism Local!!! ~ Eve P. Hey, Best Local Paper in western Oregon Hey Best Local Paper in western Oregon! 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