Eugene Nonprofits and Charities

Reiki Home is offering a series called Master Story. Reiki Masters who have practiced for over 30 years share their paths and experiences. Each has a unique background and story to tell. Listening enriches my life and is invaluable. I’m deeply grateful - thank you Reiki Home!

The IWRC has been an indispensable part of the work I've done within wildlife rehabilitation - whether for networking with other people in the field, expanding my vision of wildlife rehabilitation or supporting me with educational materials and courses. The team has been extremely welcoming and is always open to new ideas to move the profession forward.

ELAW has global impact that makes a crucial difference. It provides scientific and legal expertise to environmental organizations around the world. This gives minimally funded environmental organizations the scientific and legal expertise they would otherwise lack that helps them win legal battles against multi-national corporations.

I have volunteered with Bags of Love,for 10 years.This organization is incredible for helping children in need.We give out over 200 bags each month for kids,that really can use the help.We provide a bag with several outfits of clothes,toiletry items,books,toys,school supplies and a stuffed animal.If you love to volunteer,this is the place for you.We have sewers,quilters,office helpers,shoppers,bag fillers,clothes sorters and more.We really are making a difference to so many children in our community.

well, yeah i pretty much agree with the other person. literally white bird is just literally the bottom of the barrel. they are just. so. bad. they have been horrible the whole time ive lived in this town. i literally tell people they are the worst. really, the worst. absolute bottom of the barrel. untrained 'people' who are -extremely- abusive. they really truly are. the 'people' who work there literally would walk past someone dying in the street and laugh. i have lived here so long and if you can get someone who has sixty seconds of training sometimes they have been helpful. but not in... a very long time. they also dont offer confidentiality anymore. it used to be you could call these lines with anonymity but now i actually literally hear them literally typing if you actually get through, they sit there and type every single thing you say. who the heck are you selling that to, white bird? the cops? thats what it seems like. you are getting way too much like cops and way not enough like anyone who cares. but that seems across the board at every level of healthcare. you are just another sick sadistic front for people who like to abuse the vulnerable. you should be ashamed, and i hope that you lose every single scrap of funding that anyone has ever given to you. but then you'll still get plenty of money from your buddies the cops. i literally tell everyone i know how terrible you are. so how can i help people 'learn about this nonprofit' what can you learn? you can learn never to go there, and that these people are basically cops. all of you, should be ashamed. completely and totally ashamed. so hopefully this was 'detailed and candid' enough for you, because what i really think of 'white bird' is what everyone calls you behind your back... yeah thats not a swear its spelled how it sounds. thats what the community knows you are. why dont you hire more people to literally hang up on the suicidal. is that what you train your 'staff'. not surprised to see this in the other review. yes, thats what you get here folks. they are totally willing to straight hang up on a suicidal person.

My daughter was excited to be accepted in the Portland Youth Community program. She applied because the program states that crew members will build trails and fences, engage in conservation work, and remove invasive plants. She was also looking forward to the educational component of the program. She wanted to work outdoors, be of service to her community, and grow her skills. She paid $200 in "tuition", with the understanding that she could earn a stipend of $375 for each of the five weeks of the program. <br> <br>Unfortunately, in her three weeks, she never got to do any trail or fence building, conservation work, and only limited invasive removal. Instead, most of her time in the program was spent doing agricultural work. Her crew spent the first two weeks weeding for small non-profit gardens. While this work may have been of service to these community gardens, it was hardly the type service described by the program. The kids were required to wear hardhats to weed pepper plants in 90+ degree weather. When my daughter asked if she could wear a hat with sun protection (far more appropriate for agricultural work), she was told the hardhats were required by OSHA. (I doubt OSHA requires hardhats for agricultural work). For the educational component of the day, they took turns reading aloud from the OSHA handbook. <br> <br>In the third week of the program, the crew was put to work on private property, removing invasives. The nonprofit organization, Friends of Trees, had planted natives on this private property, and the kids were supposed to pull out any invasive plants. The owner of the property did not allow them to use a restroom. This arrangement was not only confusing (why were the kids working on private land?), but also bad optics for NYC and Friends of Trees (BIPOC kids doing free work for a rich white guy?). I suspect that the owner was a donor to Friends of Trees, and so they gave him a kickback of free labor. All good for FoT and the rich white guy, but not so great for the kids. Meanwhile, still no sun protection, no education, and no available bathroom. This was the week my daughter decided the program was not worth her time, and gave her notice. <br> <br>The program failed in every way to deliver on their promise to these kids. They learned no new skills, and had no education of any value. The crew leaders, sadly, did not foster any sense of team spirit, but instead allowed kids to engage in discussions that were highly inappropriate to a workplace (constant talk of sex, constant sexual harassment) - hardly a "skill" you want your kid to learn on the job. <br> <br>The final blow was the "stipend" my daughter received. The website states that participants who leave the program early will be paid a prorated stipend to the last full day of work. My daughter worked 11 days, plus one day the crew was given off because the crew leaders had to go to training. So she should have earned 12 days of stipend, or $900. Instead, a month later, she was paid only $225, with no explanation. This was only $25 dollars more than what she paid in tuition, barely enough to cover transportation. $25 for 11 days of being on the job from 7:30 - 4:30. Certainly this $25 was no compensation for the incredible hoops the kids have to jump through to get into this "program". <br> <br>What a disappointment. Nevertheless, my daughter learned some good lessons: Don't take a "job" you have to pay to get. Don't sell you time for cheap. Don't work if your health and safety are not properly protected. Don't stay in a toxic environment where sexual harassment is tolerated. Don't participate in a program that doesn't deliver on its promises. My hope is that she will carry these good lessons for life. Thanks for that, anyway, NYC. <br> <br> <br>

CLOUD/GREENHILL AUGUST 20, 2023 <br>The following is regarding recent activities for a lost cat by Greenhill <br> <br> <br>Recently, I was disappointed and actually appalled by GreenHills response regarding the happenings of a cat that was found and brought into GreenHill. <br> <br>I was actually considering donating to GreenHill, however, the method that they used when this cat was brought in seriously concerns me with regard to their methods and actions. <br> <br>A cat was brought in, and Greenhill told the people that they would NOT take the cat and try to find the owners because it “looked healthy and like it had owners.” so, Greenhill released the cat back to the people who found it, who took it over 10 miles from where the cat lives and they released it into the neighborhood. Where it DIDN’T COME FROM. <br> <br>The owners came to Greenhill, looking for their cat and was told what had happened to it. The cat was CHIPPED, BUT GREENHILL DID NOT ATTEMPT TO CHEK IT OUT, WHICH, IF THEY HAD, WOULD HAVE FOUND THE OWNERS IMMEDIATELY AND THE CAT WOULD HAVE GONE HOME. <br> <br>SO, HAD GREENHILL DONE THE PROPER THING, the cat brought in by the people who found it, would have been checked out for a chip, Greenhill would have immediately found the owners and the cat would have been returned home. <br> <br>Now, if Greenhill does not have a chip reader, THEY SHOULD HAVE!!! This is exactly why, those of us who can, get our pets chipped so if they get lost can be found and returned in a quick manner. <br> <br>It is why my cat is chipped. I DIDN’T REALLY HAVE THE BUDGET FOR IT, BUT FELT THAT TO BE A CARING AND RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER, I SHOULD DO IT. <br> <br>To be an animal shelter, and not have the proper tools to return lost animals to their owners is unconscionable, and poor service to the community. <br> <br>To release a pet into strangers care when they have done NOTHING to find the owners is unconscionable and poor service to the community. <br> <br>The very LEAST Greenhill COULD have done would be to take the cat and keep it for a few days until the owners would have come in looking for it. Checked to see if there was a chip that would lead them to the owners. <br>But they DID NOTHING. <br> <br>THIS POOR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IS WHY I WILL NEVER SUPPORT GREENHILL. THEY ARE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PET CARE AND RESPONSIBILITY. <br> <br>THIS LETTER WILL GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY SHOWING THE POOR JUDGEMENT AND ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF ANIMALS IN THE LANE COUNTY AREA, AND HOPEFULLY BRING ACTION REGARDING GREENHILL’S POLICIES AND BEHAVIOR. <br> <br>I only recently had reason to visit Greenhill, and thought their methods to be fairly organized regarding pet adoption. But their methods regarding lost pets is appalling and severely lacking in responsibility and proper actions. <br> <br>SHAME ON GREENHILL FOR SUCH A TERRIBLE POLICY AND LACK OF COMPASSION AND RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD PETS AND THEIR OWNERS. <br> <br>

I have been a volunteer at Cascades Raptor Center for the past 8 years and it has been a truly rewarding experience. I have volunteered with a number of organizations since retiring as a teacher (3 in Utah and 4 here in Oregon). Cascades Raptor Center ranks among the best, if not the best. <br> <br>As a volunteer, I feel like I was very well trained/mentored and have been given a wide variety of experiences (animal care, greeter, animal transport/rescue/release, and education). There are always opportunities for learning new information and skills. There are also social events that help volunteers/staff get to know each other better. Admittedly, the work (animal care) can be hard and dirty at times (I was prepared), but is so rewarding. I am still in awe, after all these years, at how lucky I am to be volunteering among such amazing raptors and people. <br> <br>The aviaries and grounds are always kept looking clean and beautiful. We have an amazingly skilled facilities crew (mostly volunteers) who do a tireless job building/fixing aviaries and numerous other tasks on the property. As a greeter, I have often heard guests mention how everything looks so nice and well taken care of. <br> <br>I am truly in awe of the dedicated staff at Cascades Raptor Center. Their backgrounds and expertise are all quite impressive, and yet they are very down-to-earth and approachable. Many are involved in their professional organizations (members, presenters, and board members/officers). They are up on and contribute to current animal training research/recommendations. The staff work just as hard as the volunteers (well, actually harder) and aren't afraid to get as dirty/sweaty/wet/cold as we do. They are always enthusiastic and willing to answer questions and share knowledge/information with volunteers and guests. From the start, I have always felt tremendous support and appreciation from the staff. <br> <br>Finally, I love volunteering at an organization whose mission focuses on both public education and rehabilitation. The health and well-being of the birds is always a top priority, along with educating the public about all things raptor-related. Cascades Raptor Center reaches a large number of people, including students, locals, and vacationers. I know most of our visitors leave with a greater knowledge and appreciation for raptors and their value to the environment which hopefully can lead to better protections for these birds. <br> <br>I highly recommend volunteering at Cascades Raptor Center for a very rewarding and fulfilling experience.

I have never been treated as poorly as I was by this organization. <br> <br>Before I began working at PPSO I has a high opinion of PPSO and Planned Parenthood in general. I had dreamed of working with Planned Parenthood in some capacity since I was in middle school. It took less than 2 months for me to lose all respect that I have for Planned Parenthood and the individuals who work at PPSO. <br> <br>During my interview process, everyone I interviewed with was extremely polite and friendly. All the staff members I met seemed to be genuinely excited about hiring me onto the team. During the interview process I was very upfront about the fact that I didn't live in Oregon, and would have to relocate myself and my family for this position. I was repeatedly told this was not an issue, and was even guaranteed relocation assistance as part of my offer letter. My manager even connected me with their sister-in-law who is a relator to help my family and I find a place to live. <br> <br>I began working for PPSO remotely, as I needed time to finalize my moving plans and secure housing, and at first, everything seemed great. The team I was a part of was (in the beginning) extremely friendly and helpful. I was even emailed a week before my start date by my manager who said “If there is anything we can do to support you. You are our community now.” <br> <br>Not even two weeks into my employment I was pulled into a meeting, under false pretenses, with my direct manager and my assistant manager. I had requested this meeting, as there was a section in my offer letter than I wanted some clarification on. Instead of discussing this, the meeting almost entirely was my manager and assistant manager telling me that I needed to consider the ‘fessibility’ of my continued employment at PPSO. I was told that I would most likely need to adjust my hours to better meet the organizations needs and account for the time zone difference. I told both individuals that I would be willing to be flexible (within reason) and that I was extremely committed to my position and work at PPSO. <br> <br>Following this meeting I requested, via email, that my managers relay to me what hours they would like me to work in order to best meet the needs of PPSO. I was never given any information regarding what changes they wanted me to make, despite it being the crux of the entire meeting. <br> <br>Regardless, I continued to do my work. Even after the aforementioned meeting I was consistently praised by my lead manager both in private, and in team meetings, for the quality of my work and how crucial the work I was doing was to the organization. Despite the hiccups and a few odd conversations, everything seemed to be going well. <br> <br>On January 10th, 2023 I had a meeting with my manager so that we could discuss some questions I had regarding a specific task I was working on. My manager clarified some information for me, once again praised the work I was doing and thanked me for my diligence, and then we ended our meeting. <br> <br>3 hours later I had another meeting with both my manager and my assistant manager; this was supposed to be one of my routine weekly checkins. However, as soon as the meeting started my manager told me that “this isn’t working out”. They never said the word fired, they never said I was being let go, they said ‘terminated’ once in the whole meeting and just kept repeating that “this isn’t going to work out”. I asked why, if there was something I had done or a reason I was being fired. The only explanation given? “This isn’t going to work out”. <br> <br>I sat there, crying, telling my managers that this job had been my lifeline - that I had no support from family and no friends I could lean on, I told them I had no community support htat I could fall back on (and these were all things that they knew before they even hired me). I told them how even with this job I was still paying for groceries with credit cards because I couldn’t afford groceries after paying all my bills. I told them how during my interview they had focused so much on intersectionality, diversity, and equity - and how firing me 10 days into the new year with no warning and for no reason (and without any severance) was completely inequitable and did not take into account diversity or intersectionality. <br> <br>My manager looked at me as I was crying and shaking and asked me if I still had the boxes my equipment came in, and proceeded to ‘think out loud’ about how they were going to get me to ship the equipment back. To the issues I raised regarding equity, all they said was, in a monotone voice, “you may not believe it right now but we are sorry”. <br> <br>My family and I were less than 3 months away from moving, we were actively working with a relator (who I will once again state was my managers sister-in-law) and a banker to purchase a home in the area. In trying to asses purchasing a home I applied for a home loan, in doing so, had to have my credit checked. So now, 10 days into the new year, I am unemployed with a sub-par credit score and a lease that ends in March with nowhere to go and no way to finance a move. <br> <br>PPSO ruined my life, they threw me out into the cold without a second thought <br>

As a parent of a delightful son on the autism spectrum, for 25 years I have participated with Kind Tree as a volunteer with the art program outreaching at community events and venues, hosting an adult peer support group, as well as helping with the annual Friends and Families Camp now engaging 250 campers, care providers, family members and volunteers. Currently I serve as the Kind Tree Board President. <br>My reason for continuing with Kind Tree includes my son, certainly. When I talk with other people experiencing autism, parents, caregivers and the folks we support at Camp, their first comment is, "This is the first time my client, or my child or myself feel accepted and allowed to be who we are." <br>Instead of saying, "You poor thing. How can we fix you," Kind Tree says, "So, you experience autism. What do you want to do?" Whether it is teaching skills or having fun, Kind Tree seeks to lift up all who seek us out.<br>Michael Omogrosso 541-844-8719

They worked tirelessly to get books out to the community during the Covid shutdown and even geared up for a big in-person sale in April of 2022. I love the commitment of this all volunteer group to making sure the Eugene Public Library can offer the best resources and programs possible.

This is an awesome group of women dedicated to helping Women and Children at Risk in Lane County, Oregon<br> They have not only given more than $100,000 in cash to agencies that support their mission, but have done so with no paid staff. Only volunteers. They do all possible to keep overhead expenses below 5% of revenue. A very dedicated group.

In the darkness of autism journey,Bridgeway house is trying to shine the light and brighten the lives of the children and the family.We hope that it gets the support and the staffing it needs to contribute more to the special needs community.We are thankful for the services it offers including ABA therapy ,speech and OT and also the school for the school age children.

I enjoy having Jaydenar and Kimberly in ballet. They love it and the cleanliness is exquisite.

This small library is 100% volunteer-run. It exists to provides affordable access to library services to residents in the unincorporated River Road and Santa Clara areas. If you love books as well as the idea of helping provide library access to our neighbors, check out thsi small, friendly library.

I just want to say that I would not take you cat here. I got my sweet mia fixed here because I couldn’t afford to go to our other vet to get her spay. They did the surgery super fast and I got her back within the same day. But day two Mias lower stomach area where she got her incision started to swell and got infected. We did everything the vets told us to do and when we tried to go back in to get the free checkup that we were offered they said we’d have to wait till later that week to get her in. But that was too late because her incision was already pretty bad day 3. We took her to our normal vet and they had to clean, disinfectant, and stitch up her incision because they (WAG) used glue to hold her skin together when they should’ve done stitches. Even our vet told us that they get a lot of animals that have problems who got work done here and many of them don’t make it. We were lucky and got mia in soon enough to give her antibiotics and as of right now she’s doing okay. But unless you desperately need your cat fixed I would go somewhere else so you don’t have to go through what I just went through with my sweet mia.

I was a fairly new artist when I was invited to join New Zone Gallery. Within a year, the opportunities given by this gallery helped me develop into a moderately successful artist, selling my work both locally and in other galleries in Oregon. I have learned so much over the past 10 years due to being a member of New Zone. I see what this does for other emerging artists who often make their first sale here and realize they are talented. <br> <br>New Zone Gallery welcomes emerging and successful artists as members. This is a cooperative, member run organization. The gallery manager oversees gallery operations. Each member gallery sits and has a task to help keep the gallery running. Relationships are fostered between the 65 artists. Marketing and artistic suggestions are offered as needed and to help newer artists understand their place in the gallery. The board meets monthly and makes decisions, listening to members’ suggestions. <br> <br>The gallery also collaborates with many other local non-profits, offering space for their activities or shows at a very low cost. This is an amazing organization that has helped keep visual arts alive in downtown Eugene for well over 30 years and has run on a shoestring with little outside help. With donations, the gallery can expand outreach to assist many more emerging artists.

Steve is my hero and the reason i love animals and nature i am beyond honored to have grown up watching him literally save the ?????? nd i miss him everyday I hope soon I'll be able to join his cause

Tried to call and spoke with their bookkeeper. She was very rude and untransparent with her companies finances (all publicly available via reporting). Was calling to arrange a large scale donation and was hung up on. I will not use this non-profit for any events or donations.

The VLT has been an active theater in Eugene since 1929. Essentially it was the original Community Theater of Eugene and has always provided an open environment for all people that have any interests in all aspects of Theater. It has been a part of my life for the past 30 years and I am looking forward to continuing to participate with this organization for many more to come. The theater has provided many opportunities for me and my wife to get our creative juices flowing and we have found many friends within this community. I believe that Eugene is a better place to live in because we all have opportunities like this to enrich our lives.

I used to be a kid that couldn't even step foot outside my bedroom door, but then i found Wellsprings. For the first time i could go to a school where people knew what i was going through and more than that, knew how to deal with it. If not for Wellsprings i never would've finished my education. Yet now i stand proud with a high school diploma and have even gone on to become part of the Wellsprings board of trustees.

The only thing truthful about the review left by "Rebecca M.1" is that Luvable does not allow walk ins and meetings are by appointment only as we spend a great deal of time with each family, helping find the perfect match for them and the dog. Everything else in that review is completely false and downright laughable at how ridiculous this scenario described was. We have not even had litters of puppies at this property for months. Our address is not even made public for people to just "drop in".

The villages where India Partners is working are in desperate need. I understand that safe water is a key to transformation, by bringing safe water the lives of children are changed in areas of health and education. India Partners selects very specific villages where my donation will do the most good. I know that my gift is making a difference.

I started volunteering with Dove over a year ago and was blown away with how loving, kind and open the staff were. I was just helping wash laundry for them once a month but they started to invest in me personally. This organization is filled with professional and passionate people. Every single person that comes in is communicated to that it is their choice, they have time and we will listen. It is completely a patient centered process and facility. Every person working at Dove is all in to care for these patients, absolutely no matter what! No matter the individual's circumstances, beliefs or decision. They are loved and cared for at Dove. Plus the services are free and confidential. It is truly unbelievable.

The Relief Nursery provides invaluable guidance and support for families in crisis and is making a real difference in the community by focusing on families and helping them find safety sand stability by providing them with the tools and resources to be functional families.<br>