|
November Newsletter
Sign up to receive this newsletter in English and Spanish.
| |
A Time of Kindness & Gratitude
We hope your family is well and got outside when the sun came out this week. This month marks the start of many holiday traditions throughout the late fall and winter months. It can be a joyful time and a stressful time of year for families, parents and children alike. We've included some simple tips for managing stress below.
Ahead we will celebrate Native American Heritage Month and identify free food resources in Lane County. We are also sharing the 2025 Winter Holiday Resource List, family-friendly events and Child Care availability resources for small children and no school days.
We know parenting can be tough sometimes. We’re glad you are here.
| |
If you or someone you know needs food, you can use the Food Finder on the Food for Lane County website to easily find free pantry and meal sites throughout Lane County. Search by ZIP code, day of the week or type of site — such as mobile food pantries, partner pantries or meal sites.
When you visit a pantry, you can expect to receive a 3- to 5-day supply of nutritionally balanced groceries per visit. Please bring bags or boxes for the food you’ll receive. How often you can visit varies by pantry.
No identification, proof of income or Social Security number is required to get food from a pantry or meal site. However, to get groceries from a pantry you must meet current income guidelines. You may be asked to provide your name, address and the number of people in your household. If you don’t have a permanent residence, you can still get food. If you’re unable to leave your home, you can send someone to pick up food for you by having them bring an Authorized Representative Form. Download the form in English or Spanish.
For more information, visit our website, call (541) 343-2822 Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm or email info@foodforlanecounty.org.
| | Winter Holiday Resources & Family Fun Activities | | | | November, designated as Native American Heritage Month, offers an opportunity for all of us to become more educated about that history and current state of affairs. Like all stories, Native stories are not a single story of defeat, bows and arrows, or of “the past.” They include stories of joy, of cultural pride, of meeting everyday challenges, fun, and celebrations of family and friendship. | | | | |
US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo and Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade
In REMEMBER, acclaimed Indigenous creators Joy Harjo and Michaela Goade invite young readers to pause and reflect on family, nature, their heritage, and the world around them.
This timeless poem paired with magnificent paintings makes for a picture book that is a true celebration of life and our human role within it.
| | New Reading Resources Page | | | | We recently updated our Hub's Reading Resources page to include short videos with easy tips on how to start reading with your baby. Learning to read begins long before infants start to talk and the time spent in a trusted grown-up's arms builds their sense of belonging and connection. We invite you to check out these videos, sign up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, or find a library near you with our interactive map. | | Seeking Child Care? Onward and the Eugene Chamber of Commerce have partnered with Quality Care Connections, our local Child Care Resource and Referral agency at Lane Community College, to survey all licensed child care programs about their current openings and publish and share a monthly report. | No School Days Child Care Services | |
The following programs provide care on no school days for school-age children. Due to high demand, these programs may be full or have a waitlist.
Back2Youth
Duck Trails Youth Camp: Eugene. Kids 5-11
Eugene Family YMCA: School’s Out and Winter Break Camps
Eugene Science Center: Eugene. Grades K-5
Nearby Nature School: Eugene. Kids 5-11
PeaceHealth Play Days at Kidsports
Willamalane: Springfield. Weekly tuition
| Parent and Community Cafe | | Join the Family Leadership Council | | You’re here because you care about having a say in decisions that affect young children and families. Since 2020, The Early Childhood Hub has been listening to the experiences, ideas, and hopes of families like yours. We rely on parent voices to help us build stronger programs that support young children in our community. If you are a parent or caregiver of a child age 8 or younger in Lane County, we invite you to apply and join the Family Leadership Council and be part of building a brighter future for young children and families! | | |
Rodrigo Rivas Aguilar (he/him), Bilingual Preschool Promise Coordinator
Rodrigo grew up in Santa Tecla, El Salvador. In 2017, he moved to Springfield, Oregon with his family. A few years later, he attended University of Oregon graduating in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. During his time at UO, he formed part of the Corona Corps, a public health initiative to trace COVID-19 contacts. After graduation, he became the program coordinator for the programs where he worked as a student. Later on, he supported his family trucking business, hauling cars from Portland, OR to Los Angeles, CA with his dad. Now he is excited to learn from and contribute to the United Way of Lane County team. In his free time, you will probably find him listening and finding new music, playing video games, reading, watching movies or anime, or training for his next triathlon or running race.
Contact Rodrigo
| | |
Thanks for reading our newsletter! We would love to hear your feedback on the content of our newsletter, questions, or recommendations on what you would like to read about next time. Feel free to send us an email at education@unitedwaylane.org.
Thanks to Crosscultural Now for Spanish translation. Deep appreciation to Xana Newsletter edited by Lisa Milton.
| |
The Early Childhood Hub of Lane County is your local parenting education hub.
We previously served the community as LaneKids and the Lane Early Learning Alliance. The 2022 merger of our programs reflects the close connection between play & education, and kids & caregivers.
Our mission is to ensure all parents in Lane County have the knowledge, tools, and support to nurture their child’s optimal development for success in school and life.
| | The Early Childhood Hub of Lane County is made possible with support from: | | | | |
