Facing hunger and homelessness is one of the hardest tasks any individual may ever have to deal with. The idea of sleeping on the street and foraging for food seems unappealing at its least and deadly at its worst.
When parents don’t have enough money to put food on the table or a roof over the heads of their children, they are often forced to make the choice between living on the street as a family or going to a shelter and being divided into separate living quarters.
In Eugene, First Place Family Center provides a safe place where families can remain together while getting the help they need. The center provides services including shelter and meals to low-income and homeless families.
Anthony Ricca is the weekend manager of First Place Family Center.
“It’s not the most glamorous job, but I love it,” said Ricca as he handed out Capri Suns to eager children taking a break from play. Weary parents lounge on the sofa, watching television.
“It’s pretty nice around here,” said a man staying at the shelter with his wife and two children who prefers to remain nameless. “They help out all the kids and offer food, clothes, and find us housing.”
His wife agreed.
“It’s a warm place to stay during the day, and to do your laundry,” she said.
First Place provides showers, day care, and a homework club — a room where kids can do homework with an after-school teacher.
First place has more than just physical benefits, however.
“We offer aid and protection,” Ricca said. “They can feel safe here.”
The shelter has seen an increase in the families seeking help in recent cold-weather weeks.
The shelter, located at 1995 Amazon Parkway in Eugene, has the capacity for 10 to 12 families, and they are currently all filled.
“We have a waiting list to prevent overcrowding,” Ricca said.
He stressed that the shelter is for families only, added that during the weekend there are fewer people using the shelter because many of them stay at friends’ houses.
“If you’re single, you can’t get in,” he said.
Families usually stay at the shelter about a month.
First Place receives donations from a variety of places — such as Buffalo Exchange and Bed, Bath, and Beyond — in the form of clothes, blankets, comforters, soap, teddy bears and several other much-needed items. Ricca said if a child is having a birthday, First Place will wrap something up and give it to him or her.
Volunteers help make the shelter work. Many are interns from Lane Community College, but some of the people who use the shelter also volunteer there.
“People use the facilities,” Ricca said. “In exchange they do things like answer phones and check the mail.”
Thanksgiving can be a difficult time of year for some. In response to this need, Ricca said the community is sponsoring a free community Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Whiteaker School, located at 21 North Grand St. in Eugene.
“What I love most about this place is seeing the kids’ faces,” Ricca said. “This is their last resort and we can give them hope.”
For more information or to volunteer, contact First Place Family Center at 342-7728.