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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2017)
Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 18, 2017 5A Help the homeless Community forum to address needs, resources By Emily Mentzer How can you help? The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — With one of the coldest winters on record and snow still on the ground, citizens of Dallas began a community discus- sion: How can we help those who are homeless? Brent DeMoe, director of Polk County Family and Community Outreach, and three other organizations will host a forum on home- lessness Thursday from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. at Valley Life Center in Dallas. DeMoe said the point of the meeting isn’t to sit and listen to what agencies have to offer, but to have a conver- sation with people who want to help immediately, help in the near future, and make plans for down the road. “This is 100 percent in- spired by Facebook and so- cial media and this commu- nity right here,” he said. “We cannot solve this issue in one 90-minute meeting, but it’s to get things started.” On Jan. 4 at the Dallas Service Integration Team meeting, someone from West Valley Housing Authority said the organization could use some coats, hats and gloves. County Commissioner Mike Ainsworth was there and challenged the group to collect some — and quickly. “It really just snowballed in such a positive way from there,” said DeMoe. It started with a post on the Dallas, Oregon Community Bulletin Board that morning. By noon, it had been shared 89 times, DeMoe said. Donations poured into the Academy Building Re- source Center, where West Valley Housing Authority is a partner organization. “Conservatively, we had 500 coats donated, hats, scarves, gloves, clothing — new and used — boots, shoes,” DeMoe said. “We got six brand new clothing racks What: Community Forum: Local Solutions to Address Homelessness. When: 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Thursday. Where: Valley Life Cen- ter, 1795 SE Miller Ave., Dallas. Of note: Free child care and refreshments will be offered. donated to us. Now we can display things. We can or- ganize things.” The donations were or- ganized by volunteers and will be distributed to Central Resource Center and to Falls City and Grand Ronde, also. DeMoe said he shouldn’t have been surprised about how effective Facebook is in getting the word out about needs of the community — he uses Facebook regularly, himself — but he and his staff at Family and Commu- nity Outreach had never thought to post needs on the social media website. He and his wife, Lisa, started going through the community bulletin to an- swer any question they could about what resources are available to people in need. “What I’m finding is there are people who don’t know about the resource center,” DeMoe said. “There are peo- ple who don’t know about the health clinic. There are peo- ple who don’t know even about parent education.” A second Facebook page focused on helping home- less was created on Jan. 5, and that’s when DeMoe real- ized he and his department and partners could help. The community member who started the homeless page suggested getting a group together to discuss ways to help, DeMoe said. “I’m thinking, why is it her that has to suggest that? Why aren’t we getting a group of people together? And why don’t we include all of these people?” he said. The Community Action Agency, Salvation Army, and the only shelter program in Polk County, Interfaith Hos- pitality Network, will join DeMoe at the forum on homelessness. “I hope to say, if you’re in- terested in warming shelters, Pastor Heather Wright’s sit- ting right there; go to that table,” he said. “If you’re a church and you want to do this, get over there and do that. If you’re here from a school and want to do a coat drive, start tomorrow. Get coats of all sizes and we will get those coats to everybody who needs them through these partners.” In Polk County, West Salem is No. 1 for homeless- ness, followed by Falls City and Independence, but that’s not to say Dallas and Mo n m o u t h d o n’t h a v e homeless people, DeMoe said. The forum is meant to be countywide, not just for people in Dallas. Free child care and re- freshments will be available at the forum, donated by Mid-Valley Parenting and Country Financial. RSVP is not required, but would be appreciated to Alin- na Ghavami via email at Ghavami.alinna@co.polk.or.us. POLK COMMUNITY CONNECT for the/ Itemizer-Observer Free rides to the Polk Community Connect event at Valley Life Center on Jan. 25 in Dallas are available at the above locations and times. Community Connect on Jan. 25 dental care, basic health screen- ings, pet care, bike repair, hair- cuts, clothing, backpacks, and camping items — all at no cost to those who need them most. The clothing, backpacks and camping items are first come, first served. Other resources will be available from a variety of providers including children and youth services; education information; job assistance; housing programs; veterans services; benefits information; behavioral health; and com- Itemizer-Observer staff report DALLAS — On Jan. 25, Val- ley Life Center, 1795 SE Miller Ave., in Dallas, will be busy with volunteers feeding, clothing, and otherwise help- ing those Polk County resi- dents who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness. It’s the Polk Community Connect, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Transportation is provided to and from the event for those who cannot make it. Services available include munity mail service. Free meals will be provided to those who need it. The day also serves as the an- nual point in time homeless count, where volunteers in cities and counties all over the nation take a physical count of all they can find who are homeless. To serve as a provider for the event, contact Alinna Ghavami, Service Integration, 503-623-9664 ext. 2457. To volunteer: polkconnectvolun- teer@gmail.com, or call 971- 599-3845. Our 1 Year Anniversary in January— 20% OFF your total purchase! Expires Jan. 31, 2017 Fashion Sense Resale Shop 427 E. Main St, Monmouth ~ Mon-Sat 12-6 ~ Sunday 12-4 RECYCLE CIRCLE S MARKET 1082 MONMOUTH ST. INDEPENDENCE, OR 97351 (503) 838-4526 Call in advance for faster service! 8 pc. 8 pc. 2 Large Sides $ & 4 Biscuits We’re spreading the news! 2 Large Sides $ & 4 Biscuits 14 95 Available • Sandwich • Burrito • Biscuits & Gravy Biscuits & Gravy Polk County is in the direct path of the eclipse taking place in August 2017, making it the best place to view it from. Single 1 $ 59 Double $ 2 59 People are anticipating 50,000 visitors to our area. Will you be ready? Advertise in our planning guide! Deadline is February 2nd All ads include FREE color. Publishes February 15th Size Price 1/8 page (3.667” x 2.25”)............$75 1/4 page (3.667” x 4.678”)........$130 1/2 vertical (3.667” x 9.5”) ........$270 1/2 horizontal (7.5” x 4.678”) ....$270 Call to reserve your spot. 12 95 Full page (7.5” x 9.5”)...............$330 503-623-2373 Heidi at ext. 115 • Rachel at ext. 110 or Karen at ext. 118. Itemizer-Observer 147 SE Court St, Dallas • 503-623-2373 • www.polkio.com GRAND OPENING! Dallas Retirement Village celebrates the grand opening of Lodge Residences and Clubhouse To mark its 70th anniversary and celebrate the much-anticipated grand opening of the Lodge Residences and Clubhouse, Dallas Retirement Village is having a special event for the public on Wednesday, January 25 at 11:00 am The fun begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 am. Afterward, guests are invited to tour the new Lodge Residences and Clubhouse — with wine tasting and coffee sampling in the Clubhouse lounge, movie and snacks in the theatre and a performance by our resident drum collaboration. Appetizers and refreshments will be served. For more details, call 503-623-9211 503-623-9211 225 NW Jasper St, Dallas, OR 97338 www.dallasretirementvillage.com Dallas Retirement Village is a faith-based, non-profit organization open to all.
