Mid Columbia Community Action Council, Inc

Eric Proffitt, MCCAC Case Manager

“The new kid on the block”

My name is Eric Profitt and I recently started a new position as the Case Manager for MCCAC. My background includes a recent period at the Oregon Employment Department as a Business and Employment Specialist providing assistance to job seekers in The Dalles and Hood River areas. Previous to that I served as an Instructor/Advisor for the Workforce Investment Act with the Mid Columbia council of Governments, again, providing job search and training assistance to dislocated workers and “At Risk Youth”.

I grew up in The Dalles, graduated from The Dalles High School and later graduated from Oregon State University with a BS Degree in Agricultural Education. My travels have taken me to New Zealand, the Netherlands, Japan and Kenya. In my free time I enjoy hiking and gardening.

My family includes my wife, Julie and two daughters; Sarah is a freshman in High School and Kyrie is a freshman at Western Oregon State University majoring in Education.

I look forward to working with the dedicated team at MCCAC and providing whatever assistance might be available to those in need. I like to think of assistance programs as opportunities to help people attain self-sufficiency.

Note: Welcome Eric, you have already proven your worth in the short time you have been with us. Glad to have you!

News From the Back Room

By Margaret Davis

April and May finds our office digging out from the busy heating season. As things slow down a bit it is time to start planning for next year’s program.

This year, as in every heating season, there simply was not enough Federal funding to meet all the needs in our three county area. However, there are a few smaller programs that we have year around. OLGA (Oregon Low-income Gas Assistance) for NW Natural clients - funding is available most of the year; WECare program for Wasco Electric Cooperative clients with shut off notices; Neighbor to Neighbor for PUD clients. PUD sends us a small amount of funding to disperse each month. (Please contact us on the last Friday of each month for these funds); and CCLEP (City of Cascade Locks Electric Program) for clients in the Cascade Locks area.

QUICK ENERGY QUIZ

1. A water saving shower- head can cut energy costs in a year up to?

$50 $250 $100

2. What is the second largest energy user ?

Lights Water Heater Television

3. Refrigerators use what percent of your energy costs? 2%, 35%, 9%

4. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use what percent less energy than incandescent bulbs?

25%. 50%, 75%

5. Refrigerator temperature should be at

10^o–15^o, 0^o-5^o, 36^o–38^o

6. Freezer temperature should be at

10^o-15^o, 32^o-35^o, 0^o-5^o

(Answers on Page 3)

Food Program

Janeal Booren, Regional Food Bank Director

MCCAC is a Regional Food Bank (RFB) of the Oregon Food Bank. Mid Columbia Food Bank delivers donated food and USDA items to emergency food pantries, meal sites and other food programs each month. Outlets include: Salvation Army, FISH, Windy River Gleaners, Sherman County Emergency Food Box, Pioneer Potlatch, St Patrick’s Society, St. Vincent de Paul, The Dalles and Hood River Seventh Day Adventist, Hood River Senior Center, Community Meal, Helping Hands and Rock Hollow Senior Meals. Community Meal is a group of volunteers who plan and prepare a hot, nutritious meal three times a week, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; 4:30 at St Vincent de Paul, 315 W 3^rd St. in The Dalles. Everyone desiring a nutritious hot prepared meal are welcome.

Some interesting facts about MCCAC and the Food Program, since June of 1988 Community Action has received and distributed 5,637,714 pounds of food from Oregon Food Bank without a warehouse. This allowed agencies to distribute that food in 112,757 food boxes to low-income families in Wasco, Hood River and Sherman Counties. If we can get this much done without the aid of a permanent distribution center imagine what we would be able to accomplish with a permanent facility.

For the last few years we have been trying to purchase a warehouse in The Dalles and we are very close to getting it but we still need your help.

A warehouse will allow us to receive more fresh food and give us a way to house the food for the outlets listed in the first paragraph. Being able to house fresh food is important to us because we all need to live healthier lives. There are a lot of people that have very specific health and nutrition needs that aren’t getting what they really need. You can help eliminate this problem. Our goal is $10,000.00, this compared to how much the warehouse will actually cost is not very much but we cannot reach our goal without your support. By donating money to MCCAC you are investing in your community. Help to give the community the strength that they need to better help them selves.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation or marital status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET CENTER at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, director, Office of Civil Rights, Rm 326 W. Whitten Building, 14^th and Independence Ave. SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Answers for the Quick Energy Quiz: 1- $250 2- Water Heater 3- 9% 4- 75% 5- 36^o-38^o 6- 0^o-5^o

For information check this web site: www.PowerHousetv.com

A great site for kids to learn about energy is: www.energyhog.org

HOOD RIVER HAPPENINGS

NEWS & VIEWS

Kathleen Cervantes

Our winter heating assistance program served over 600 families in the Hood River Office. Funding was timely this year. We still have over 100 families on our waiting list. There will be some changes you will need to note for next heating season. December 1, 2005, is the day to contact us for an appointment. We will communicate complete instructions in our next issue or call the office in the fall if you have questions. And as always, if you need assistance with information or referral to community services, energy assistance, questions about energy use and your power bill rental assistance, translation, etc, please call 541-386-4027.

Come to our 4^th annual OPEN HOUSE … on

May 25. Look for us in the 4^th of July Parade and stop by our booth at the County Fair in late July.

Nuestro programa de asistencia con la Acontecimientos de Hood River calefacción ayudó a 600 familias en la oficina de Hood River. Todavía quedan más de cien familias en la lista de espera. Habrán varios cambios importantes para el próximo año. El día, 1 de Diciembre, 2005, es el día de contactar a esta oficina para hacer una cita para ayuda con la calefacción en el invierno. Comunicaremos las instruciones completas en esta publicación en el otoño, o llame a la oficina con sus preguntas antes de Diciembre.

Y, como siempre, si tengan necesidad de asistencia con información o referencias a servicios en la comunidad, asistencia con la luz, preguntas sobre sus cuentas eléctricas o cómo ahorrar dinero en el uso de la electricidad,, asistencia con la renta, asistencia con traducer al Ingles, etc. por favor, llame a 541-386-4027.

Por favor, vengan a nuestro OPEN HOUSE en 25 Mayo. Estaremos en el Desfile del Cuatro de Julio

What is Poverty?

“Poverty, some think, only exists in big cities, and only affects the unemployed, the homeless, racial minorities, recent immigrants, or people struggling with substance abuse. In reality, poverty impacts people from all sections of American society: the elderly, the working poor, children, all types of families, and residents of urban, rural and suburban communities alike.”

“In rural areas, people who are low income tend to blend in. They’re not out on the streets, and they don’t like to ask for help,” says Executive Director of Community Action Jim Slusher in the February special publication of The Dalles Chronicle.

Qúe es la Pobreza?

“La pobreza, algunos piensan, existe solamente en las ciudades grandes, y solamente afecta a los desempleados, a los desamparados, a las minorías raciales, a los inmigrantes recién llegados, o a los drogadictos. En la realidad, la pobreza impacta a gente de todas las secciones de la sociedad Americana sin excepción: a los ancianos, a los trabajadores pobres, a los niños, a todos los tipos de familias, y a los residents de las coumindades rurales, urbanos, y suburbanos iguales.”

“En las áreas rurales, la gente de bajos ingresos no se distinguen de la población en general. No están en las calles, y a ellos no les gusta pedir ayuda,” dice el Director Ejecutivo de Community Action, Jaime Slusher en la publicación especial del periódico, The Dalles Chronicle, en Febrero. tendremos una exhibición en la Feria del Condado de Hood River en Odell¿

Some interesting facts about poverty in the United States:

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov

And What is the response?

I utilize respite care for my son, Tad who was born with developmental disabilities. My column today is about a trip we took together with our respite care provider to the State Capitol in Salem for Developmental Disabilities Action and Awareness Day.

Linda Carroll

Governor Kulongoski with the 2005 DDAwareness Poster

From Tad’s Point of View

by Linda Carroll

There it was, the Capitol Building of Oregon. After finding a parking space we entered using the side entrance for wheel chairs. People with and without disabilities were everywhere. People were crowding the elevators and the stairways headed to the Senate. Once we found an elevator we joined people from all around the state in the gallery of the Senate.

I was one of the first to go in and I watched as a crowd of over 200 people from all over the state, many with disabilities, their families and friends, and caregivers crowded into the gallery. I counted over 20 people who, like me, relied on a wheelchair for mobility. I saw many of our

friends and state leaders who support and advocate for us. Looking down on the Senate

floor we could see rows of desks with big chairs where our senators sit when they are representing us, the citizens of Oregon. I was interested to see the Senate begin their session with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed with a prayer and a singing group all the way from the Ukraine. Then a lady looked up into the gallery smiled at us and said, in a strong voice, “Welcome to all of the citizens of Oregon who are here today.” She made us feel very special and recognized us as fine citizens of Oregon. I watched as they did the roll call and the Senator’ votes were counted.

Next we all crowded into the House of Representatives gallery on the other side of the Capitol. The House of Representatives floor and the opening routine was similar to the Senate’s. Once again we were welcomed as Oregon citizens, and the House officially recognized Developmental Disability Awareness Day. We invited all of our State Representatives to join us at noon for our rally with the Governor on the front steps of the Capitol Building. People held up banners and signs and waved them in the air. We let people know we were there to advocate for services and benefits for people with developmental disabilities.

Governor Kulongoski arrived shortly and proclaimed the day to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day in Oregon. Many of our leaders with the Oregon Developmental Disabilities Coalition were part of the ceremony. We presented the governor our annual DD Awareness poster. He said “I will keep it on my office wall forever.” After he finished speaking he talked and shook hands with many of us. There was a lot of clapping, waving and shouting of “We are Oregonians! We are students! We are workers! We are taxpayers!” Everyone sure knew we were there! The television news people took pictures of the governor and us. It was a great day. I hope next year we can have a busload of my friends and families go and have the opportunity to experience what I did today. Today, made me proud to be an Oregonian. I am proud to be a member of the Arc of the Mid-Columbia, and I am grateful to have so many people advocate for my friends and me.

Lifespan Respite Care Program

Connecting Families and Respite Care providers in Hood River and Wasco Counties

“There are only four kinds of people in the world”…

- Those who have been caregivers

-Those who currently are Caregivers

-Those who will be caregivers

-Those who will need caregivers

Rosalynn Carter

Good Bye Poem from Miki

This article’s the last

That you’ll read my rhyme

Been here sixteen years

Has been a long time

I’m heading south

To cactus and sun

You all may like forest

To me deserts are fun

Have held your children

And grandkids too

Has been a long run

And I’m gonna’ miss you

Done energy assistance

Food: emergencies too

If you’ve come into CAP

Odds are I’ve seen you

Have helped with electric

Or maybe the rent

Sometimes I just listened

When you needed to vent

Hasn’t been “just a job”

I’ve really cared

The good times and bad

The years that we’ve shared

It’s time to move on now

New chapter in life

Lighten my load

Reduce the strife

Gonna’ miss you

But please don’t grieve

My thoughts are with you

Even as I leave

Come join the action at………..

Mid Columbia Community Action Office

Where we are celebrating

Eric Proffitt, MCCAC Case Manager

By Margaret Davis

Kathleen Cervantes

Good Bye Poem from Miki

It’s time to move on now

News from the Boss