Eugene Airport Rotary President Jeff Apland and Past President Steve Clarke Help Eugene’s Homeless Battle the Heat

Rotary President Jeff Apland and past President Steve Clarke have been delivering water to the “homeless and the hot” the last 2 days, and hope to continue throughout the week until the heat passes. 

Jeff Apland, Steve Clarke and his son Alex and nephew Malcom, loaded up trucks and canvassed the Eugene/Springfield area.  Their road map included all the streets and avenues of downtown Eugene, parks, bridges, walkways, and dirt trails along the river. 

The crew passed out over 300 bottles of water on Monday, and passed an additional 250 bottles on Tuesday.  Most of their delivery was by foot, which allowed them to find the shady spots where people were hiding from the sun.

President Jeff Apland has discovered and learned the following from this experience:

1) Everyone can use some ice-cold water on a hot day.

2) A child will sometimes ask if he can get an extra bottle for one of his friends who lives a few bushes down.

3) Even the down and out may stop and ask you to pray for them that they make it another week, another day.

4) Sheer happiness from parents and kids alike.

5) I can make a mean dog smile.

6) I have been told I will be saving someone’s life today by offering them water.

7) It feels so much better to give than to receive.

Rotary is gladly accepting donations of water, ice or cash to purchase water in the next few days until the heat wave passes.  Any volunteers who would like to help hand out water would be greatly appreciated!

Please contact President Jeff Apland at president@eugeneairportrotary.org if you would like to help.