Community Action Newsletter

 

Fall/Winter 2004

 

 

 

 

INDEX

 

Ideas for Keeping Warm

 

Holiday Time Respite Care

 

Hood River Happenings

 

Holiday Donations

 

Low Income Heat Assistance

From the Boss's Desk & AARP Tax Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid Columbia

Community Action Council, Inc.

Serving Wasco, Sherman and Hood River counties

Established 1966                                            Fall/Winter 2005

Local CAP Wins National Notice

Our "CAP Team" (Standing, L to R): Bill Colmer, Barbara McNab, Margaret Davis, Miki Ingebo, Kathleen Cervantes.(Sitting, L to R): Janeal Booren, Jim Slusher, Sally Vargas.  (Linda Carroll and Barbara Felton missing from photo).  Community Action Agencies all over the nation celebrated 40 years of service to local communities this year. Your local Mid-Columbia Community Action was recognized as outstanding in their efforts over the last four decades at the national conference held in Washington D.C. in August.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ideas for Keeping Warm this Winter

by Bill Colmer

 

 

This year heating your home will cost more money per BTU of heat than ever before.  Oil prices will be almost twice what they were just last year. Electricity costs more, gas costs more and none of them are expected to get any cheaper at any time in the foreseeable future. Now is a good time to do whatever you can to cut your heating costs any way you can. I have given suggestions before for such things as covering windows with plastic, sealing up any holes that allow heat to escape, closing doors more quickly when you pass through and cutting back the thermostat when you aren’t home.

Years ago, my wife and I rented an old stone cabin for a year. It was a beautiful place with a huge stone fireplace and downstairs there was an old oil furnace. We used the oil furnace to heat the house. At first we kept the place heated up to 70 degrees when we were home and set the temperature back to about 65 when we were at work. The first month the heating bill ran us almost $300. We were stunned. We tried to heat with the fireplace, but it actually took more heat out of the house than it added. I managed to cut back a lot of the waste by closing the damper a little bit at a time, but if we went to bed with a fire burning and it went out later it would exhaust all the warm air in the house by morning. One morning I found ice in the bathroom sink!

 

We eventually turned the thermostat down to about 40 degrees when we were at work during the day. We kept it just warm enough to keep the pipes and washing machine from freezing. When we got home we turned it back up to 55 degrees. That’s right, 55 degrees. It was cold inside, but it was warm enough to keep things from freezing solid and we learned to dress warmly and dress in layers. We bought and used thermal underwear, and we wore heavy shirts and down vests INSIDE the house. After a while we even got used to it.

My suggestion to you is to buy some warm clothes. Wear them. You may feel like you look chubby in thermal underwear, but they are really warm and cozy. I have several pairs of thermal underwear now. You can get good cotton stuff in almost any discount store like BiMart or Walmart, just look in the hunting supplies section. If you want to spring for the best stuff, check out the polypropylene. I have a set of polypropylene stuff that allows me to go outside in the snow with only boots, a flannel shirt and levis and still stay warm.

If you just can’t bring yourself to wear thermal undies, then at least keep in mind that heavy shirts and sweaters will keep you warmer than T-shirts. Shorts are not appropriate in the middle of winter. Thick socks are nice and cozy. In short, if you are dressed warmly, then you won’t need to keep the house so warm. I’ve been in a lot of homes since I started this job. I often see people wearing inappropriate clothing in the middle of winter.

Dress like you live in Oregon in the winter, not like you live in Hawaii. If you dress warmly, it will not only Dress for the weather. If you dress in layers then you can take things off if you feel too warm keep you warmer, it may help you save some money on heat.

 

 

 


 Holiday Time Respite Care 2004

by Linda Carroll

                                                             

Lifespan Respite Care of Hood River and Wasco County and the Arc of the Mid-Columbia are sponsoring the fourth annual “Holiday Time Respite Care” event for families of school age children with special needs.

 

This respite event will give parents a head start on the holiday season by giving them a break from their care giving responsibilities. The Lifespan respite care providers and volunteers served 28 children at last year’s event.

 

This fun time is full of holiday activities for children with developmental, physical, mental and related disabilities and their siblings ages 3 to 12 years of age. There is no charge to families. This year’s respite will be December 10 in Hood River and December 11 in The Dalles. A fun time will be assured to everyone and Santa might just drop by for a visit and to taste one of those yummy cookies the children will decorate!

 

Attention!  Families and Caregivers, are you in need of respite care?  Lifespan Respite Care has a referral listing of qualified providers   who want to help you.

Care is available for all ages and special needs.  Lifespan can assist you in

locating services, financial resources, programs and options for respite

care in our communities.  Call for more information.  298-5131 or 386-4027

 

Lifespan Respite Care and The Arc of The Mid-Columbia Invites you to have a very special...

“HOLIDAY TIME RESPITE DAY”

A FREE Respite for Families of Kids with Developmental Disabilities

 and Siblings ages 3-12

 

Hood River

Friday, December 10; 6 to 9 pm                  

 Frankton School;    455 Frankton Rd

The Dalles                                                                                                                            Saturday, December 11; 11 am to 3 pm                                                                                                         Early Childhood Building;    1721 West 10th Street

AND a very special guest  (with a white beard!)    "HO! HO! HO!"

 

Get a head start on the holiday season and take a respite break! Let our respite providers entertain your special needs child and siblings while you take some time to yourself…mark your calendar now… Space is limited… Call TODAY! Pre registration required… Deadline is Monday, December 6th 

 For more information and to register call Lifespan 298-5131 or 386-4027

Event filled up last year, don’t delay!

 

 

 

Hood River Happenings

 by Kathleen Cervantes

 

 

 

It has been an exciting year here in the Hood River Office!  When you come in for winter heating assistance, you will notice that applications will no longer be written out by hand. We are now computerized! This greatly increases efficiency and will hopefully save you on parking meter costs! We want to serve you optimally throughout the heating assistance process.

 

SOME VERY IMPORTANT DO’S AND DON’TS for the Hood River Office only TO MAKE THE PROCESS THE BEST:

 

 

 

Hood River Office: 541-386-4027

 

 

 

 

Food for Thought--Holiday Donations

by Miki Ingebo

 

 

Another Holiday Season is ahead of us, and hopefully this will give everyone ideas on how to help others, and be able to access some help yourselves. Hopefully this winter won’t be quite as bad as last year, but who’s to say, right?

 

The Trees of Joy will be set up at Perfect Presents & Creative Cottage, Spooky’s Pizza, Columbia River Bank, K-Mart, Klindt’s book Store, Grocery Outlet, NW County PUD. If you’ve always wondered what the Trees of Joy are all about, it’s a great thing. Gifts benefit the Senior and Disabled people and foster children in our town. You pick an “ornament” off the tree and purchase that gift, then return it by December 19th to that tree or Saint Vincent de Paul thrift store, unwrapped, with the tag “ornament” attached so the gift can be  matched up with the recipient.

 

Helping Hands.  On Wednesday mornings from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., the Coffee House (3rd & Washington), and radio stations, Q-104 and Y-102 are collecting coats, food and toys. You can listen to these stations for current information. Items can also be dropped off at program sponsors: Nelson Tire, Grocery Outlet, Cascade Eye Center, NW Natural Gas. The coats will be given away at Salvation Army (623 E. 3rd) on November 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Project ELFF is December 7 & 8 from 6:00 to 9:00. Those interested in helping Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue can meet at the Fire Station at 5:45. Those interested in helping sort the goods received can go to Meadow Outdoor Advertising at 6:00 either night.

 

Currently Windermere is also collecting coats and blankets to benefit both St. Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army. Also the Fellowship of Churches are collecting blankets for SVDP.  Participating churches   are: St. Paul’s Episcopal, First Methodist, Gateway Presbyterian, Life in Christ Center, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, UCC and Zion Lutheran. St Vincent de Paul will also have Gift Tree’s with tags (for parents requesting gifts for their children) available on December 1st at either the Catholic Church on 10th and Cherry Heights or at the Thrift Store on 9th St. These gifts will need to be returned unwrapped with the gift tag by December 19th to either the church, or SVDP Thrift store.

 

How can YOU help? At the very least, put out some canned food when the Fire Department comes calling this December.  How about that coat hanging in the closet, the extra one, or the one the kids out grew? If it’s in good condition, why not pass it along to someone who could use it? Do you have extra blankets or quilts in good condition? It sure can get chilly when you’re trying to keep utility costs down and have a family to feed and keep warm. These are things we all have on hand—even one can of food is a help, imagine what a couple of cans per home could do to help others. A coat, blankets, gloves, hats, what would you like to get if you were in need?

 

 

 

 

 

 

How about picking up just one ornament and buying that special gift for someone who may not get anything otherwise? It could be slippers for a senior citizen, or the latest CD for a teenager. You can even pick and choose which gift you get to buy. Maybe the grandkids are far away, and you send them money—but miss picking out toys too? Maybe you miss your parents, or grandparents, or the next-door neighbor, and would like to share some of those memories by picking up a little something “special” for someone that may be all alone this holiday season.

 

Or, if funds are low—sign up for help with a Christmas basket, or ask for a coat, or a blanket. That’s why these programs are here, to help others. This year you may need help, but next year you might be the one giving help. It seems to work out that way. At the very least, anyone can volunteer to sort food, box up Holiday baskets, and just help others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


News from the Back Room

by Margaret Davis

 

 

The heating season is upon us again.  There are some real simple things you can do to help save on your energy costs. Here are a few tips:

1- Now that we are turning on our heaters be sure to vacuum out the dirt and dust where you can safely reach, and be sure to replace your furnace air filters monthly.

2 – Turn off lights computer, stereo equipment, and TV when you are not using them.

3 – Repair dripping water faucets, especially the hot water faucet.

4 – Make sure your hot water heater is set at 120 degrees.

5 – Keep your drapes or shades closed at night to help keep the cold air out.

     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It’s time to check the batteries in your SMOKE ALARM and your CO Meter, especially for those of you who have some form of combustible heat. If you don’t have a CO Meter yet, GET ONE! It can save your life.

          * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Senior and Disabled Households have received their Heating Assistance applications by mail and many have already been returned. Remember, these applications need to be back in our office BEFORE December 1st.

 (If you are a senior or a person with disabilities and have NOT received your application, please call us at (541) 298-5131.

          * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Opening day for the general population to contact us for Heating Assistance appointments will be December 1st (Wednesday) at 8:00 a.m. No appointment dates will be given before that time.

 

 

 

The Monthly Income guidelines for this year’s program are as follows:

 

 

1                           $1,566.83

2                           $2,048.91

3                           $5,531.00

4                           $3,013.08

5                           $3,495.16

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

From The Boss’s Desk

By Jim Slusher, Director

 

Yes it’s that time of the year, summer seemed to fly by again rather quickly and it was almost like we didn’t have autumn, we just charged right into the winter season. Which means things like colder weather, higher heating bills, frozen pipes, scrapping our windshields and hopefully some relief through our energy assistance programs.

 

This is actually the busiest time of the year for our agency and our employees, over the next several months we will interview, screen, determine eligibility amounts and process applications for nearly 2,000 households who have applied for fuel assistance in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman Counties.

However, if this winter is as cold or worse than last years, many households that are struggling financially will find themselves faced with disconnection notices, even though they may have received energy assistance from us.

 

Last winter we had about 300 households we were not able to help because we had exhausted all of our allotted funds. Several utilities have requested increases in their rates including Northwest Natural Gas by about 18%, Pacific Power about 7% and the cost of oil doubling from last winter’s record prices. This will make a tough winter for everyone.  Luckily, we have a wonderful experienced staff that does a great job of making sure the program runs in a timely, effective and efficient manner.

 

Appreciation for Our Fiscal Officer:  Due to illness, one very special staff member is not able to be here helping us through this busy winter month.  My friend and our fiscal officer Barbara Felton recently found out she has cancer and is virtually in a battle for her life. She is searching and trying all the options available to her. We are praying for a miracle that she is able to find one for this dreaded disease.

Barbara and I have worked together for nearly 20 years. She takes care of all the fiscal stuff that keeps this agency running -- and I mean running. She helps keep me out of a lot of fiscal jams that this job seems to produce and without her I would hate to guess how much trouble I would have gotten myself into.

In the meantime we are working as a team to fill in for Barbara, as I know she would do the same for any one of us.

Anyone wishing to send her a card of encouragement, I know it would be appreciated.  Barbara's mailing address is PO Box 565, The Dalles, OR 97058.

 

                                      AARP Tax Program Barbara Felton has also directed the
                                      AARP Tax Program for many years.  If you would like   
                                      information about this year's program please call Sally
                                      at (541) 298-5131.