Since the beginning of the pandemic, millions of Americans worry about nearly empty refrigerators and barren cupboards for their children and themselves. In Lane County, the need for food security has greatly increased and those people without jobs and folks affected by the Holiday Farm Fire depend more on food pantries.
Please help by donating canned food – Peanut butter, tuna, canned stews, soup and chili are among the most needed foods.
Curbside drop off –Volunteers will be wearing masks, and we ask you to remain in your vehicle to help provide social distancing. Please pop the trunk or open the backseat door while we take your donation.
There is no better time to make a donation and impact someone’s life? That “someone” could be a loved one or friend. It’s the time of year when local blood supplies are dipping due to high patient demand. Don’t wait until a person close to you needs blood, act now by giving at a Pop-Up Donor Center near you.
All donations are by appointment only, please remember your mask. The one hour donation appointment is a safe and essential action to support local hospitals and patients. The pop-up centers are being conducted in accordance with social distancing guidelines. No walk-ins, guests, or people under age 16 are permitted onsite. All donors are required to wear masks during their appointment. Bloodworks has posted information addressing questions and concerns for blood donors at bloodworksnw.org/coronavirus.
Pop-Up Donor Center @ Eugene Friends Church 3495 West 18th Ave, Eugene January 21 – 22: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Pop-Up Donor Center @ Eugene Faith Center 1410 W. 13th Ave, Eugene January 25 – 26: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
This update provides information on the latest City activities and links to more information. For health and safety information about COVID-19 including confirmed cases and testing data, please visit Lane County Public Health or Oregon Health Authority’s websites.
Lane County Vaccinations
More people in Oregon and Lane County continue to get the COVID-19 vaccinations. These safe and effective vaccines are the latest in the efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. To date, more than 7,300 people in Lane County have taken at least the first round of vaccination – including the 999 first responders vaccinated by Eugene Springfield Fire.
Lane County is continuing to work with community partners to actively administer all doses of vaccines that are provided to local agencies from the State of Oregon. Here’s a simple breakdown to understand who is doing what: the federal and state governments are in charge of 1) establishing the rules/priorities for who gets vaccinated, and 2) distributing the vaccines to local agencies. The local agencies (health care, hospitals, EMS, pharmacies, local public health, etc.) are responsible for administering the vaccinations to people in the established sequence and with the supplies they receive.
Lane County Public Health shared this information on their COVID-19 Vaccine Information webpage: “The State of Oregon is currently receiving approximately 30,000 doses of vaccine each week, for the entire state. Lane County is approximately 10 percent of the state population, so while the state has not provided us a guarantee of the amounts it will provide to our community, just based on population we could expect to receive approximately 3,000 doses of vaccine to our community each week. At this time, we don’t have enough supply from the federal/state governments to meet the demand in our local community.” To see more, visit Lane County’s Vaccine Information page (view “How is it determined who gets the vaccine and when?” tab).
To date Lane County has shared that approximately 7,300 people in Lane County have received COVID-19 vaccine from the various local agencies noted above, as part of Phase 1A. Statewide, a total of 99,620 people in Oregon have received COVID-19 vaccine so far. Up to date vaccination numbers can be found on the OHA website.
Oregon’s Risk and Protection Framework uses data to help inform safety measures at the county level. Every two weeks, Governor Kate Brown’s office announces the revised risk status of each county based on current data. Lane County will continue to be in the extreme risk category for the two-week period beginning January 15.
The challenges of COVID-19 and its impacts on our lives have been significant. As a city, we have changed and adapted our services and programs to support the health and safety of community members and staff during this pandemic. We know you’ve had to make sacrifices and faced challenges too, and it is important to know how you have been doing since the onset of COVID-19.
We launched a COVID-19 Household Survey, which will give us a chance to gather data to determine how best to focus our efforts to recover from the pandemic. Your input on this survey is critical: Your responses will help inform decisions on programs and policies as we move into the future.
The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and we greatly appreciate your time. The information you share with us will remain confidential, and results from the survey will only be shared as a group – no individual responses will be shared. To access the survey, community members must create an account on Engage Eugene, the City’s online engagement platform. The COVID-19 Household Survey will be open through January 31.
FREE PPE for Eugene Nonprofit and Small Businesses
The City of Eugene, in partnership with Business Oregon, is offering free personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to local nonprofit and small businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Sanitation remains a key component to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and the City is grateful to be able to offer this opportunity to local businesses.
We know many businesses have been hit hard by the effects of the virus and these supplies are a small way to help. Available supplies include large and medium gloves (14,000 boxes), disposable masks (39,600 boxes) and antiseptic wipes (32,000 boxes). As long as supplies last, each eligible business may pick up a two-month supply. The supplies will be dispersed on a first come, first served basis.
Eligible businesses must meet all of the following requirements to receive supplies:
be in Eugene and headquartered in Oregon;
have 100 or fewer employees; and
have an Oregon Business Registry number for completing the form.
You must make an appointment to pick up supplies. See the online appointment form. Once a business’s eligibility has been verified, the contact person will receive an email confirmation with the pickup date, time and location.
For over the phone assistance filling out this form, you may call the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-5450. Press 2 for English and 5 for Spanish.
State of Oregon Eviction Moratorium and Landlord Compensation Fund
*Action May Be Required*
During a special session in December, the Oregon Legislature passed an eviction moratorium extension (HB 4401) that will last until June 30, 2021. The protections for renters under the new statewide moratorium are not automatic! Please visit the City of Eugene’s Housing Support webpage for important updated information.
For information specifically regarding Renter Protections view the Resources for Renters tab.
For information specifically for support for Landlords including potential financial support view the Resources for Landlords tab.
Calling All Artists for Downtown Program Fund
Is there an event or artistic installation you have been wanting to present downtown? The City of Eugene Cultural Services Downtown Program Fund offers you an opportunity to transform downtown outdoor spaces into arts and culture destinations.
Funding of up to $5,000 per project will be awarded to organizations or individuals who wish to produce their own quality programming in publicly accessible outdoor spaces in Eugene’s downtown core. Funding can support any artistic or cultural discipline, including visual, dance, music, theatre, film/video/media and multidisciplinary fields. Culturally diverse programming is encouraged. More information can be found on the Eugene’s Downtown Program Fund website.
Follow the Four:
Stay six feet apart
Wear a mask
Wash Your hands
Avoid large gatherings
COVID-19 Resources
See a list of Community Resources for physical and mental health, food, housing, businesses, employees, schools and children, as well as information in Spanish.
Also learn how you can help. Our partners have a significant amount of information available online. Please visit these resources for the most up to date information:
Today finds the winter holidays upon us, and this time of year would normally be bustling with celebrations and get-togethers. We understand and appreciate how difficult it has been to do things differently this year, and we extend our deepest gratitude to all of those who changed their routines these many months to protect themselves and the community. Vaccines are currently being distributed around the country and here in Oregon, and we can look forward to a safer holiday season in 2021.
Lane County Remains in Extreme Risk Category
Oregon’s Risk and Protection Framework, started Dec. 3, uses data to help inform safety measures at the county level. Every two weeks, Governor Kate Brown’s office announces the revised risk status of each county based on current data. Lane County continues to fall under the extreme risk category for the current two-week period that started Dec. 14.
What’s allowed under extreme risk:
Outdoor dining; takeout highly recommended
Retail stores, including Farmers and Holiday markets; max 50 percent of capacity, encourage curbside pickup
Faith institutions; indoor max 25 percent capacity or 100 total (whichever is smaller), 150 outdoor
Parks, hiking trails and outdoor gardens
Outdoor recreation and fitness establishments; max 50 people
Amazon Pool is open for limited lap swimming
Outdoor entertainment establishments; max 50 people
The first vaccines were administered this week in the United States, with the initial focus being on health care workers and people in long-term care facilities. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) submitted a draft plan to CDC on how it plans to distribute approved COVID-19 vaccines that are considered safe and effective.
We anticipate that federal and state requirements for the four basic public health measures (the 4 Ws) we are currently practicing will likely remain for the foreseeable future because it will take time for 70 percent of our population to receive both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine – the percentage that experts project we will need to reach herd immunity. Scientific research indicates the vaccines being developed are highly effective at protecting people from contracting the disease, but it is still unknown whether the vaccines prevent transmission of the virus.
Thank you for shopping locally this holiday season and in the new year. Making purchases at our local businesses means more money stays right here in our community, we support community jobs and reduced environmental impact.
Winners Announced for Stop the Spread: A COVID-19 Messaging Contest
The City of Eugene sought submissions from people ages 14-30 living in Lane County for Stop the Spread, a community COVID-19 Messaging Contest geared toward young adults. Stop the Spread encouraged anyone ages 14-30 to submit visual (graphic design or illustrative) or video content (no longer than 30-seconds) in English or Spanish that emphasizes to their peers the importance of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The City received 67 entries in total, and the winners are:
Winners were selected by a panel of judges and a public vote. All winning entries are available for download in a publicly available social media toolkit. Anyone can use this content to help message the importance of curbing the spread of COVID-19.
Stay Safe This Holiday Season
Once again, our winter holiday traditions will need to look different than in past years. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) offers suggestions for maintaining your festivities and traditions with those in your household and include others virtually, including:
Lighting candles over video together with family and friends near and far.
Singing holiday songs with singalong.
Watching holiday-themed movies as a family.
Crafting or baking and dropping off what you’ve created without contact.
Playing a game over the internet.
Viewing holiday decorations around the neighborhood with people you live with, either by foot or car.
Follow the Four:
Stay six feet apart
Wear a mask
Wash Your hands
Avoid large gatherings
COVID-19 Resources
See a list of Community Resources for physical and mental health, food, housing, businesses, employees, schools and children, as well as information in Spanish.
Also learn how you can help. Our partners have a significant amount of information available online. Please visit these resources for the most up to date information:
Lane Arts – Design Arts Apprenticeship program is accepting applications for Winter Term until this Friday, December 11th! Please share this with all Lane County middle and high schoolers (and their families) in your networks! Lane Arts is offering both virtual and in-person programs in both Eugene and Cottage Grove.
I’m writing from the Adams Community Group (PTA) at Adams Elementary. 2020 has been such a tough year, and we’re seeing more need among our school community than ever before. In response, we’ve organized a Winter Warmth Wishlist in order to provide extra warmth to Adams families. We thought our neighbors in the Southwest Hills might like to help out by donating NEW winter coats, hats, gloves, warm clothing, books, and gifts to families in our neighborhood.
Donations can be shipped directly to Adams Elementary (950 W 22nd Ave, Eugene, OR 97405) and should be scheduled to arrive by December 15. If you’re shopping locally (which we wholeheartedly endorse!), please email adamseugenepta@gmail.com to arrange for a contactless pickup. We’ll be making pickups on 12/16-18.
As we turn our calendars to December, we’d like to share gratitude for those who modified their Thanksgiving holiday – potentially sacrificing time with loved ones – and helped to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community, region and state. We know it’s hard, but you’re making a difference for your family, friends and neighbors.
Many thanks to those who continue shopping locally and ordering from our restaurants and breweries. We all need support this time of year, including our small businesses. For those remaining items on your holiday shopping list, check out the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce’s shop local guide.
Oregon’s Risk and Protection Framework
Tomorrow brings more changes as the state’s two-week freeze expires. Governor Kate Brown announced Oregon’s Risk and Protection Framework starting December 3. This new health and safety framework uses current data to help inform safety measures at the county level.
Lane County falls under the extreme risk category due to the spread of COVID-19 in our community. While this is the highest risk category under Governor Brown’s new order, there are some changes.
What’s allowed:
Outdoor dining; takeout highly recommended
Retail stores, including Farmers’ and Holiday markets; max 50 percent of capacity, encourage curbside pickup
Faith institutions; indoor max 25 percent capacity or 100 total (whichever is smaller), 150 outdoor
Parks, hiking trails and outdoor gardens; max 50 people
Outdoor recreation and fitness establishments; max 50 people
The Oregon Health Authority will reassess county risk levels every two weeks based on the Disease Metrics Table. Governor Brown emphasizes that there is no Zero Risk category. Until COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, health and safety precautions will remain in place so that schools, businesses, and communities can reopen, and stay open.
Many of us are feeling exhausted, anxious, and sad after dealing with months of the pandemic. Pandemic fatigue is real, and if you are feeling it you are not alone. It’s more important than ever to take care of ourselves. Here are a few ways to prioritize your wellbeing:
Take care of your body by getting enough sleep, maintaining a nutritious diet and exercising regularly.
Replenish your energy and reduce stress through activities like meditation, yoga, gardening, music, reading, walking in nature or watching a comedy.
Connect with others. Being apart from friends and loved ones can be incredibly challenging and isolating. Find safe ways to connect like phone calls, video chats or online classes.
Limit your news intake. The bombardment of negative and sensational headlines can be overwhelming. Take a break for a day or two or limit yourself on a daily basis.
Create new traditions to give yourself something fun to look forward to, like a Friday family movie night or Sunday self-care.
Hult Center Presents Still at Home Talent Show – Holiday Edition
The Hult Center’s “Still at Home Talent Show – Holiday Edition” is now seeking entries from local creatives between now and December 10 for 2020 Holiday Card designs, original dances, as well as holiday songs both new and reimagined. Get the full details on how to apply and possibly win some snazzy prizes.
Stay Safe This Holiday Season
Follow the Four:
Stay six feet apart
Wear a mask
Wash Your hands
Avoid large gatherings
COVID-19 Resources
See a list of Community Resources for physical and mental health, food, housing, businesses, employees, schools and children, as well as information in Spanish.
Also learn how you can help. Our partners have a significant amount of information available online. Please visit these resources for the most up to date information:
Thanksgiving is this week, and what would normally be a bustling time of year looks like a slow-motion video.
One way you can help our community during this two-week freeze, if you are financially able, is to purchase pick-up orders from our local restaurants or gift certificates as holiday gifts. Our restaurants and bars are once again restricted to take out, which jeopardizes the future of many of these local businesses.
This update has information about ways you can support our local economy this holiday season to help small businesses survive the pandemic, as well as resources for keeping yourself healthy through these difficult times.
Shop Local
The holiday season normally ushers in a time of local economic prosperity as consumers purchase goodies and gifts, but this year will look much different due to COVID-19.
The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce is asking the community to consider shopping locally for the holidays, and so Chamber staff created a festive guide.
If you have a product or service you’d like to have included in the holiday guide, please fill out the form for the Chamber to include.
#LoveLaneBiz
Supporting local businesses during this time will help these companies bounce back and our economy to recover. Right now, that support means shopping local, following health guidelines and providing grace and understanding as businesses adapt to and navigate new guidelines being required by the state. Take the pledge.
Holiday Market in the Park Blocks
The Holiday Market, with its extensive array of craftspeople, returns to its downtown roots by moving from its indoor venue at the Lane Events Center to the outdoor Park Blocks.
The Holiday Market will be open at the Park Blocks from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays, from Nov. 21 to Dec. 19 and will require people to wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing. The Holiday Farmers Market also remains on the Park Blocks each Saturday through Dec. 19 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Business Support
Layoff Aversion Funds
A limited amount of new funds will be available to help Lane County businesses keep their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the State of Oregon Two-week Freeze requirements that began November 18, Lane Workforce Partnership will distribute a limited amount of Layoff Aversion Funds in Lane County to the following types of Lane County eligible employers with fewer than 20 employees:
Restaurants
Bars
Gyms
Fitness organizations
Other indoor recreational facilities
Lane County Employers interested in receiving funds should complete the Application Form in its entirety (all fields are required) and submit to fiscal@laneworkforce.org by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2. Initial distributions will be made during the week of Dec. 7.
Business Investment Grants
The City of Eugene and Community Lending Works are hosting a grant opportunity for small businesses with priority of award going to those owned by black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) community members and women. Eugene businesses in the most impacted economic sectors (hospitality, retail, arts, and culture) ranging from 2 to 25 employees who have experienced negative impacts from COVID are eligible to apply.
Award amount is based on employee count:
Businesses with 2-10 employees are eligible for $5,000 awards
Businesses with 11-25 employees are eligible for $10,000 award
The grant opportunity opens today and applications will be accepted through end of day on December 6, 2020 – see Community Lending Works website for more details.
None of us expected the pandemic would still be impacting our lives when the holiday season came around. Holidays often bring up a range of emotions for people, from joy to loneliness, and this year has been especially difficult for everyone.
The CDC has put together a guide for holiday celebrations and small gatherings with suggestions of how to safely celebrate (you’ll notice that wearing masks and keeping 6 feet of distance continues to be one of the top recommendations). Getting outside is one great way to take care of our mental health. Consider some of these options:
Many parts of Oregon already have snow – go for a drive to enjoy the scenic beauty, or bring a sled along
Try creating something seasonal, like homemade eggnog, or a wreath for your front door
Make homemade gifts to mail or deliver to loved ones
Taking care of your emotional health and wellbeing is important right now. It’s vital that we all try to decrease stress and anxiety. It can help keep you physically healthy and, in turn, help those around you. See our Health and Wellbeing page and open the Mental Health tab to find helpful local and national resources.
Stay Safe This Holiday Season
Follow the Four:
Stay six feet apart
Wear a mask
Wash Your hands
Avoid large gatherings
COVID-19 Resources
See a list of Community Resources for physical and mental health, food, housing, businesses, employees, schools and children, as well as information in Spanish.
Also learn how you can help. Our partners have a significant amount of information available online. Please visit these resources for the most up to date information:
Eugene is once again in a make or break moment. Our COVID-19 cases have been rising steadily for weeks and our hospitals are sounding the alarm.
To prevent hospitals from being stretched to capacity, Governor Brown has announced a statewide two-week freeze in addition to a new travel advisory (more info on both below). These new measures put strict limitations on social gatherings, which continue to drive our COVID-19 case increases.
We can’t control the pandemic, but we can control the steps we take to protect ourselves and the community. If we do not act now to slow the spread of the virus, these restrictions will be extended.
Statewide Two-Week Freeze Begins Today
Last week, Governor Kate Brown announced a statewide two-week freeze, implementing new measures to limit gatherings and stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 across Oregon.
The two-week freeze will be in effect from today, November 18, through December 2.
These risk reduction measures are critical in limiting the spread of COVID-19, reducing risk in communities more vulnerable to serious illness and death, and helping conserve hospital capacity so that all Oregonians can continue to have access to quality care. They include restrictions on social gatherings, restaurants, retail, gyms and more. See our Keeping Eugene Safe web page for more information.
City Services Affected by the Freeze
Some City of Eugene services will have temporary changes due to the statewide freeze from Nov. 18 through Dec. 2:
Eugene Public Library: All locations will remain open with most services continuing, including holds pick-up and book returns. Because fewer people will be allowed inside the buildings, two services will temporarily not be available: at the Downtown Library, there will not be counter service for same-day borrowing; and at Bethel and Sheldon branches, there will not be Internet computer access.
Recreation: Sheldon and Amazon pools are closed. Adult programming and indoor sports leagues are canceled. We will be able to continue offering childcare, youth programming, outdoor sports leagues and virtual programming. Check with specific programs for any additional details.
Parks and Open Space: The Rhododendron Garden at Hendricks Park and the Owen Rose Garden are closed. Community gardens are open for harvesting produce. All volunteer events during this period have been canceled and park rental applications are not being taken.
Eugene Police Department: Eugene Police Records Section Front Counter is providing only the following services: vehicle impound releases, pet fix-it tickets, potentially dangerous dog (PDD) registration and posting bail. All other Front Counter and Records Services are suspended. Learn how to submit public records requests.
Together with the governors of Washington and California, Governor Brown announced a joint travel advisory effective November 13, 2020. The advisory urges anyone entering Oregon – either residents returning from a trip, or non-residents entering Oregon on a trip – to quarantine for 14 days. It further advises Oregonians to refrain from any non-essential travel to other states or countries. Read the full advisory.
Winners will be announced by Friday, Nov. 20. The winning graphics and videos from young adults ages 14-30 will be shared with other young adults to emphasize the importance of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Celebrating Thanksgiving Safely
It is difficult to think about Thanksgiving looking different this year. But social gatherings among all age groups are the largest cause of increasing COVID-19 cases. The governor’s statewide freeze currently limits gatherings to no more than 6 people total, from no more than 2 households, whether indoors or outdoors.
The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to share it with people in your household. You might also consider alternatives like hosting a virtual Thanksgiving meal, playing games with people in your household or safely preparing a dinner and providing a “no contact” delivery to a friend or neighbor. We all have a responsibility to keep ourselves and others healthy so that we can move toward a return to our favorite holiday traditions.
And One More Thing To Consider This Thanksgiving…
Follow the Four:
Stay six feet apart
Wear a mask
Wash Your hands
Avoid large gatherings
COVID-19 Resources
See a list of Community Resources for physical and mental health, food, housing, businesses, employees, schools and children, as well as information in Spanish.
Also learn how you can help. Our partners have a significant amount of information available online. Please visit these resources for the most up to date information:
Starting today, Nov. 18, Oregon will begin the statewide two-week freeze.
Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order 20-65 following last week’s announcement of a temporary statewide freeze to stop the rapid community spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. In light of increasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the order outlines necessary risk reduction measures designed to limit gatherings and curb human contact.
“I know Oregonians have made tremendous sacrifices throughout this pandemic and that these new, temporary restrictions may seem daunting,” said Governor Brown. “But, we are at a breaking point. If we don’t take further action, we risk continued alarming spikes in infections and hospitalizations, and we risk the lives of our neighbors and loved ones.”
“I also know that Oregonians come together in times of need, and we owe it to each other to take these measures seriously. It is up to all of us to work together to get this virus under control.”
For more details about the freeze see the news release and check out the graphic below. You can also find this graphic in multiple languages for sharing here.
