Local Projects

Rotary’s mission is “Service above Self” and Southtowne Eugene Rotary members live out that mission locally. Below is a list of the many projects we are involved in.

With those 11 Community Partners, Southtowne Rotary has developed 14 programs to assist and serve their clients. 
The 14 projects can be divided into three categories: 

HOMELESS SUPPORT

FAMILY SUPPORT

SENIOR SUPPORT

These programs maximize the use of Southtowne funds by avoiding duplicating efforts of other community services offered. Southtowne Rotary developed areas of service where we believe there exist important needs, using existing community partners with whom we help serve people in need and bridge the gaps existing in community services offered by other organizations.

 Homeless Support

  1. 15th Night – RAN: We respond to various requests of the Rapid Access Network (RAN) that serves area youth who lack secure housing, by providing food, clothing, hygiene products, backpacks, camping equipment and food cards for homeless students.
  2. 4J McKenney-Vento: Provide much-needed school supplies for homeless students.
  3. 4J ECCO Highschool: Working with the ECCO staff to assist approximately 45 students in acquiring necessary legal documents (e.g., birth certificate, Social Security number, Oregon ID) as well as facilitating college and scholarship applications.
  4. Hosea Drop-In Center: Providing one dinner and two lunches at the center each quarter. We also provide clothing, camping items and hygiene products as our budget allows. 
  5. SVDP’s Youth House: Providing food every week to the residents of this facility for homeless females ages 16-18.
camp 99 project
Fairfield
Cam receiving an award from Rotary members

 Family Support

1. Pilas Program: Provide bi-ligual books and fiesta fun for the whole family at different events throughout the year hosted by Plaza de Nuestra Comunidad (Downtown Languages). Provide supplies and also provide incentives for graduation (such as food, gift cards, bi-lingual books, to families). Pack lunches are donated for their summer program.

2. Southtowne Opportunity Scholarships: Not every adult needs to attend college, but there are many parents that need a leg up to get a certification so they can begin a career that provides for their family. The school district and head start staff recommend adults who are taking classes to complete a certification, do a training program or certification, and when possible a Rotarian with similar career mentors the scholarship winner.

3. Head Start Service Team: Providing storytime and craft time monthly with our little friends at Head Start in the Bethel School District. Your donations go toward providing every student with a book. Each year for winter break, we give over 100 sets of warm sweatsuits to families and we meet other emergency clothing needs. The team has also provided safety equipment such as cabinet and door locks, and safety gates for Early Head Start families.

4. Emergency Services: When Head Start teachers learn of a crisis going on with one of their student’s family life, they call Southtowne Rotary members for help. Rotary leaps to action, whether it’s providing a working refrigerator or helping a family to be housed rather than living in a car. We work with other non-profits and fill short-term gaps for utilities, appliances, etc.

5. Community Partners Food Box Program: We provide boxes of non-perishable foods to the food cupboards at three Head Start school locations, Downtown Languages, and Fairfield Elementary so that the educators there can provide food to families in need. Emergency food boxes go to families in crisis recommended by community partners. We now deliver over 1000 food  boxes each year. With the partnerships of the Mission and Food for Lane County we are able to provide over 60 lbs of food & cleaning supplies per box for under $20. We are now filling boxes once per month.

6. Fairfield Elementary Support: Rotarians provide books and coach 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade children for the Oregon Battle of the Books competition, meeting with children under the librarian’s supervision to prepare them for the school-wide and reigional competition.

Senior Support

  1. Meals on Wheels: Two Southtowne Rotarians deliver hot meals to senior citizens on a rotational basis.
Cam receiving an award from Rotary members

Our Current Community Providers