Provide Warmth for Lane County’s Homeless

Now that winter weather has arrived and temperatures frequently reach or drop below freezing, the Rotary Club of Eugene Airport wants to do its part to provide warmth for members of the community who may not have access to shelter blankets or tarps.

The Rotary Club of Eugene Airport has initiated the “a THOUSAND BLANKETS” project, which seeks to provide blankets and tarps for the Egan Memorial Warming Center of Lane County.  We encourage all community members, not just Rotarians, to join us in this worthy effort.  A drop box for blanket and tarp donations is located inside the John L. Scott Real Estate Office on the back side of the Oakway Center (2280 Oakmont Way, Eugene, OR 97401), from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  To schedule a pick-up, you can also call Eugene Airport Rotary club president Jeff Apland at (541) 228-0075.  You can make donations through the month of February.

All donations will go directly to Eugene’s Egan Memorial Warming Center.  The center exists to provide a safe place for Lane County’s homeless population to sleep indoors when the temperature drops below 28 degrees.  Saint Vincent de Paul of Lane County is the primary agent responsible for the center, but several different community members representing various nonprofits, faiths and social activist groups help make the Egan Memorial Warming Center a success.  For 2009-2010, shelters will be operated at several different locations around Eugene and Springfield.  A complete list can be found online at the Egan Center’s website.

Spread the word about this important effort.  Help get your family, friends and neighbors involved in providing warmth for Lane County’s homeless population this winter.