Category: Information

Lane County Public Health-Vaccine Preregistration

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Important things to consider when preregistering:

*We encourage anyone who has internet access to preregister on the online portal. 

*If you have a friend or loved one who does not have internet access, or has difficulty navigating the internet, we encourage you to please help by assisting them in preregistering online.

*If you are unable to complete the online form you can also preregister by phone by calling 541-682-1380.  We are experiencing long wait times in our call center due to high call volumes.  The Call Center is open 8:00am – 5:00pm Monday-Friday.  Please use the online form if possible. 

*You only need to preregister once and by only one method (either phone or online, not both to avoid duplicate entries). 

*If you have already registered with a provider or with your workplace, please DO NOT register again with the County’s database. We are all working from the same information and doing so will slow down our process. 

*If you are part of Phase1A and have not heard from Lane County Public Health or a local provider to receive a vaccine, please DO preregister using the new link.

*If you provide an email address you will receive an email confirmation that your preregistration has been received.

*Preregistering to receive the vaccine DOES NOT mean you will be contacted to schedule an appointment right away. We will still follow Oregon Health Authority eligibility guidelines AND as always, our timeline to get you vaccinated depends on supply. In other words, even if you are eligible it may be some time before we have enough doses to offer you a vaccination appointment. Your patience is deeply appreciated. 

*Please remember, Lane County does not determine which groups are eligible.

* Once you have preregistered, we ask that you not call the call center with additional preregistration questions unless you believe there is a critical error in your preregistration. 

PRIVACY STATEMENT: Some personal demographics will be collected during preregistration process to identify which phase/group you are in. Information entered will only be used for the vaccination effort and will not be shared outside of the HIPAA compliant partners distributing vaccines. As vaccine becomes available, you will be contacted via your preferred method by Lane County Public Health OR a vaccinating health partner to schedule an appointment.

Step 1: Preregister via the online link. Please take your time to answer each question as accurately as possible. 
 
Step 2: If you preregister online and provide an email address, you will receive a confirmation email that we have received your preregistration. 

Step 3: You will receive a weekly, automated email letting you know who is currently eligible and that you are still preregistered. 
 
Step 4: When you are eligible and we have doses to vaccinate you, either Lane County Public Health OR a vaccinating health partner will contact you via your preferred method to schedule an appointment.

IF YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR ELIGIBILITY ASK THE SOURCE:

  • Use the  covidvaccine.oregon.gov chatbot
  • TEXT ORCOVID to 898211 to get text/SMS updates (English and Spanish only)
  • EMAIL ORCOVID@211info.org 
  • CALL the OHA call center at 211 or 1-866-698-6155, which is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, including holidays. Wait times may be long due to high call volumes. There is an option to get a call back rather than wait on hold (in English and Spanish). Free interpretation is available for all other languages. TTY: Dial 711 or call 1-866-698-6155. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1) I am eligible in Phase 1A and have already registered with Lane County to receive a vaccine but have not been scheduled to receive the vaccine. Should I re-register with the new form? 

Yes. If you have not been contacted by Lane County or another vaccinating partner to schedule an appointment, please re-register using the new form. If you work for a medical provider, please check to make sure your clinic hasn’t already been scheduled. If your clinic has not already been scheduled, each individual should register using the new link.

2) If I have been registered to receive the vaccine through my employer or through my doctor’s office, should I re-register with the Lane County link? 

No. If you have already completed registration with your employer or healthcare provider, you are enrolled and that will be fastest and best way for you to receive the vaccine as soon as possible. 

3) How do eligible community members preregister to receive a vaccine appointment once vaccine is available?

Click here to preregister to receive the vaccine as doses become available.  See the important notes section above for alternate format options.

4) I am an educator in Lane County and heard that I am now eligible but have not received an invitation to be vaccinated. Should I preregister with Lane County’s new preregistration?

No. Public K-12 educators will receive vaccine scheduling information directly from their school district. Early learning facilities, private schools, and childcare facilities have received instructions about clinics being conducted this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Please check with your employer about attending one of those clinics.

5) How are people with preexisting conditions prioritized for a vaccine? 

We heard from the Oregon State Vaccine Advisory Committee that individuals under 65 years of age with preexisting conditions and “essential workers” will be prioritized following our 65+ population. As we receive more detailed information, we will communicate that through this email. 

You can view the most recent press conference regarding vaccination at https://vimeo.com/508602775

You can find more information about COVID-19 in Lane County at:
Phone: 541-682-1380
corona-info@lanecountyor.gov

LA VACUNA CONTRA EL COVID-19
EL CONDADO DE LANE
EN ESPAÑOL

Vaccination for seniors in Oregon begins Monday

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Starting Feb. 8, people age 80 and older can begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The Oregon Health Authority is committed to getting all older Oregonians vaccinated. There will be more seniors who want to get vaccinated than there will be vaccines available to them.  

When will you be eligible?

Everyone 65 and older will be eligible for vaccine by the end of February. Here are dates that each age group becomes eligible for the vaccine: 

Next week, OHA will launch a new tool that will allow people to determine if they are eligible for a vaccine and register to get email alerts or text notifications about vaccine events in their area. The tool will be open to all Oregonians and information will be available in 11 languages. We will provide information about how to access the tool in Coronavirus Update after it goes live. In the meantime, Oregonians can: 

Pre-Registration Opens For COVID-19 Vaccine

Lane County Public Health has opened up pre-registration for COVID-19 vaccination– to all members of the public. Officials say since the roll out Thursday morning, people have enrolled at a rate of 5,000 every 30 minutes.

The pre-registration information effort will build a centralized database. This will help health partners reach out and schedule those wishing to be vaccinated. 

There is a reminder that vaccine availability remains limited—even among those who are currently eligible for a shot. 

Right now, internet access is required to pre-register on the online portal. Officials say if you have a friend or loved one who does not have internet access or has difficulty navigating the internet, consider assisting them in pre-registering online.

Phone pre-registration will be available in coming days.

Pre-Register for COVID-19 vaccination in Lane County in English here

and en Espanol here

EWEB – Five Emergency Water Stations Now Operational

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Just as your household invests in emergency supplies, EWEB is making investments to make sure safe, reliable water continues to flow, especially in the days and weeks following a natural disaster or other emergency. This includes renovating the Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant, planning for a second filtration plant on the Willamette River, replacing water mains, improving storage tanks, and working with upriver partners to support fire recovery efforts and protect water quality in the McKenzie River.

EWEB is also developing neighborhood emergency water stations. Working with community partners, EWEB now has five, fully operational emergency wells:

Howard Elementary School – 700 Howard Ave.
Sheldon Fire Station – 2435 Willakenzie Rd.
Prairie Mountain School – 5305 Royal Ave.
Eugene Science Center – 2300 Leo Harris Parkway
Lane Events Center/Fairgrounds – 796 W. 13th Ave.

Two additional sites are planned near Churchill High School and Roosevelt Middle School.

Using the map below, take a moment to locate the emergency water station nearest to your home. If disaster strikes our community’s water system, you’ll need to obtain water from one of these distribution sites by bringing your own storage containers. Learn how to clean and prepare water containers and find more emergency preparedness tips at www.eweb.org/emergencyprep.

Pledge to Prepare in 2021

Emergency planning experts advise Oregon residents to prepare to be on their own for a minimum of two weeks following a disaster. That means storing 14 days of water, food, medicine and other supplies.

Starting your kit from scratch can feel like a daunting task. If you are overwhelmed by the thought of preparing your home and family for a natural disaster, EWEB can help!

EWEB is once again offering their Pledge to Prepare, a 12-month blueprint for emergency preparedness. Each month through the year, EWEB shares a new set of tasks aimed at incrementally building your emergency supply kit.

More than 2,300 people have taken the Pledge so far.

Think of emergency preparedness like saving for a big purchase such as a house or a car. If you break it down into small steps you can take each month, at the end of the year, you will have reached your goal. That’s the idea behind the Pledge to Prepare.

When you join the program, you’ll receive a monthly email with step-by-step recommendations. To help you stay motivated and engaged in building your supplies through the year, EWEB will raffle off useful emergency preparedness supplies such as water storage containers, solar chargers, and first aid kits. There will be a new drawing every month.

To join the Pledge to Prepare and get started on your two-week emergency kit, visit eweb.org/pledge. Anyone can join, but you must be an EWEB customer to participate in the monthly prize drawings.

Supplies assembled by 2020 Pledge to Prepare participants Julie and Will, who said, “I am so happy we decided to join EWEB’s crusade to prepare for the unexpected! We have learned so much from this program and are appreciative for all of the information and encouragement. We feel very confident that we will be ready if any disaster may happen.”

City of Eugene: COVID-19 Community Update

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Lane County Vaccinations 

More people in Oregon and Lane County continue to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccinations. To date, more than 20,889 people in Lane County have taken at least the first round of vaccination. 

It will take some time before every Oregonian who wants to get the vaccine can get their two shots. Lane County is following guidance as it evolves from the Oregon Health Authority for a phased rollout for vaccine distribution.  

See the following resources from lead public health agencies to learn more about eligibility and keep in mind that all plans are dependent on supply.  

Stay up to date on vaccine information:

Download PDF version of OHA’s eligibility graphic. 

Free COVID-19 Testing 

The UO COVID-19 Monitoring and Assessment Program (MAP) is offering free COVID-19 testing to asymptomatic individuals in Lane County this week. An insurance card is not required. Pre-registration is required via the MAP registration portal. This portal will be updated every week for registrations the following week. You must register by 5 pm the night before your test day or your data will not be recorded and we will not be able to test you. Walk-ins cannot be tested. The testing process itself will require minimal time. While there may be some waiting time, lines are expected to move quickly and you should only need 15-30 minutes to complete the process from start to finish.

Updated Guidance for Schools 

Last week the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) released an update to the Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance. 

The updated guidance includes updated advisory metrics for in-person instruction. While health metrics have shifted from required to advisory, schools must follow all the required guidelines. 

A new requirement, that when students and staff return to in-person instruction out of alignment with the advised metrics, schools must offer access to on-site COVID-19 testing for symptomatic students and staff identified on campus as well as those with known exposure to individuals with COVID-19. 

Lane County Remains in Extreme Risk Category 

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 29. 

See Oregon Health Authority’s guidance for activities at each risk level.  

COVID-19 Household Survey  

There is still time to participate in the COVID-19 Household Survey through Jan. 31 to help the City 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.   

FREE PPE for Eugene Nonprofit and Small Businesses  

The City of Eugene, in partnership with Business Oregon, continues to offer free personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to local nonprofit and small businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Available supplies include large and medium gloves, disposable masks and antiseptic wipes. 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 serve basis. 

Eligible businesses must meet all of the following requirements to receive supplies:    

  • Be in Eugene and headquartered out of 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.  

Please note appointments are now being booked into February. We will add new appointments as the current schedule is filled. Be sure to click into February’s calendar. 

Follow the Four:

  1. Stay six feet apart
  2. Wear a mask
  3. Wash Your hands
  4. 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 County Call Center: Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., 541-682-1380

City of Eugene: COVID-19 Community Update

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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.

Oregon is currently in Phase 1a, with all groups in that phase currently eligible, including hospitals, urgent care, skilled nursing and memory care facility healthcare personnel and residents, tribal health programs, EMS providers and other first responders. See OHA’s Frequently Asked Questions regarding Oregon’s Phase 1a Vaccine Sequencing Plan.

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.

Stay up to date on vaccine information:

Lane County Remains in Extreme Risk Category

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.

See Oregon Health Authority’s guidance for activities at each risk level.

COVID-19 Household Survey

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:

  1. Stay six feet apart
  2. Wear a mask
  3. Wash Your hands
  4. 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 County Call Center: Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., 541-682-1380

City of Eugene: COVID-19 Community Update

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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 
  • Personal services 

See Oregon Health Authority’s Guidance by Activity Table for full details.  

Learn more about the new health and safety framework on our Keeping Eugene Safe page.  

COVID-19 Vaccine Update 

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. 

Learn more about vaccines on our new Vaccines page.  

Support Local Businesses 

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. 

For those remaining items on your holiday shopping list, check out the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce’s shop local guide. 

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: 

  1. Graphic (Ages 14-18): Jailyn Arleth Becerra-Brigido https://engage.eugene-or.gov/stopthespread/brainstormers/14-18graphic/ideas/12101 
  2. Graphic (Ages 19-22): Izabella Dentler https://engage.eugene-or.gov/stopthespread/brainstormers/19-22graphic/ideas/12120 
  3. Graphic (Ages 23-30): Erin Tomb https://engage.eugene-or.gov/stopthespread/brainstormers/23-30graphic/ideas/12134 
  4. Video (Ages 14-18): Bennett Krupka https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOFrcS3R5SM&feature=youtu.be 
  5. Video (Ages 19-22): Patrick Riley & Audrey Barrett https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUdDt0Eyq54&feature=youtu.be 
  6. Video (Ages 23-30): Kristen Marsters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk5tPzsB2ww&feature=youtu.be 
  7. Spanish language (any age): Arianna Alvarez https://engage.eugene-or.gov/stopthespread/brainstormers/14-18graphic/ideas/12191 

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:

  1. Stay six feet apart
  2. Wear a mask
  3. Wash Your hands
  4. 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 County Call Center: Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., 541-682-1380

Adams Elementary Winter Warmth Wishlist (donation drive for local families)

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Dear neighbors, 

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. 

The wishlist can be found here: https://signup.com/go/riMTYgZ

For more information about our Winter Warmth program, please check out our website: https://www.adamscommunitygroup.com/winter-warmth

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.

Thank you for your donations!