Egan Warming Centers Closing for Season, Seeking Volunteers to Pack Supplies

With less than three weeks left in their operational season, Egan Warming Centers are asking Lane County residents to help sort donations and pack equipment into shipping containers at three upcoming events before the program closes for the year on March 31.

St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County, which administers the Egan network across Eugene and Springfield, has scheduled volunteer shifts at three sites this month. On Saturday, March 21, a donation sorting event runs at the Cleveland site, 135 N Cleveland St on the south side of the warehouse. The following day, Sunday, March 22, volunteers are needed at the Springfield site on the corner of Centennial and Mohawk, between Wells Fargo and Coburg Pizza, for a pack-up event. A final pack-up event takes place Sunday, March 29, at The Zone, 530 Hwy 99 North just north of Roosevelt. All three events offer two shifts: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and volunteers can sign up for one or both. No prior experience with Egan is required. Sign-up links are available at eganwarmingcenters.org.

The program runs from November 15 through March 31 each year, activating warming sites whenever average overnight temperatures are forecast to fall below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. During activations, volunteers staff heated locations through the night, providing guests with sleeping pads, blankets, warm drinks, meals, basic first aid, and hospitality.

The season's wind-down comes after a year of significant operational strain. SVdP's website notes the program absorbed a 50-percent reduction in its funding, the result of a state directive to reduce spending for shelter sites. SVdP has already cut case-management staff across its shelter programs to comply with the new budget limits.

The staffing pressure was already visible in January. When a prolonged cold snap pushed overnight lows into the 20s across the Eugene area, with wind chills as low as 20 degrees and a National Weather Service Cold Weather Advisory in effect, Egan centers ran continuously for a full week. "Our volunteer base is really exhausted and really struggling to stay operating," Bill Barnard, Director of Operations for St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County, told KLCC at the time.

Material donations remain welcome as well. Barnard said coats and blankets have been especially critical: "Blankets are a huge need right now. We would absolutely love anything along those lines that would greatly contribute to the shelters." Donations of winter clothes, socks, boots, and monetary contributions for food and supplies can be dropped off at any St. Vinnie's location; just tell staff the items are for Egan Warming Centers.

SVdP can be reached at 541-687-5820, by mail at PO Box 24608, Eugene, OR 97402, or online at svdp.us.