Resources

May 27th, 2023: Episode 73

I'm sharing a personal post in case it helps anyone. Adding to the pinned post for ease of access. Long read, info re resources, etc...

(Jan. 2023 in Nakala's words:) Keith Matthews has saved four lives, that we know of, through the skills of active listening. He wasn't aware of it at the time. Months later, the people shared the tremendous impact he had on their lives. He was the single factor in keeping these people (and others related to the situation) alive, which is extraordinary. Each experience was compelling. We're grateful that he was able to assist these people. Spreading kindness, active listening, showing respect, etc are all tools that we can fine tune to benefit ourselves and others exponentially.

Let's talk about the ripple effect. I just discovered that my father almost married a woman in Australia, prior to meeting my mother. Her family owned 40,000 acres, they hunted kangaroos, etc. Because of his dementia, he wakes to a new world every day, and can't recall if he ate five minutes ago. Yet, he remembers this woman's name from over 6 decades ago. If he had married her, my children and I wouldn't be here. This same ripple is in effect with every encounter we have in life. When you provided the homeless cat shelter from the elements with a converted cooler, or you rescued the cat and offered him/ her warmth and love, when you showed respect to the person who is dirty from surviving on the streets, when you welcomed conversation with the person who was nearing mental breakdown, when you went against societal norms and held the door for men, when you offered help and encouragement to the mother whose child was having a meltdown in public, when you assisted anyone..or accepted assistance from them...All of these seemingly small acts of love benefit all of us, and have a ripple effect, affecting far more people than we'll ever know. We all need assistance in life. Yet, it's challenging to request help. Please, please know that there's zero shame in needing help nor in requesting it. This is actually a sign of great strength. There is no need to hide your tail between your legs. If you're currently in the position to offer help to strangers or loved ones, please do. This isn't necessarily a gift of time or funds, but of loving energy. Even a smile or kind word can dramatically affect a person's life. Holding the door for another person, striking up a casual conversation, etc are other ways to show kindness. We go out of our way to compliment people on their smiles, their attitudes, or incredible service. We jokingly say that we're going to complain, when they know otherwise. Countless people only speak up when service is poor; saying nothing and going on with their day when the experience was wonderful. How many of us hard workers have never been recognized for going above and beyond at work? Perhaps a kind word or review from a client would instigate appreciation and better treatment from a manager to an employee. The police officers, firefighters, hospital workers, mental health workers, teachers (and countless others) have seen horrible things too often. Thanking them or offering a shoulder may restore their faith in humanity. If you are in the market for help, please know that there may be resources that you're not aware of. Several years ago, I created a group which contains a plethora of local resources. Central Oregon Resources on Facebook still has pertinent info in the files, but I haven't been actively updating it, due to time constraints. Feel free to visit. Locally, we have a 24/7 Crisis Center, known as the Deschutes County Stabilization Center. I'll post contact info in the comments. 911 can also be utilized for mental health emergencies.

Nationally, my resources aren't as varied. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health services, there are free and sliding scale options. If the situation is dire, there are text and phone lifelines. 988 is the new suicide and crisis lifeline. 741741 is the number to text for chat assistance. I'll add these to the comments. Potentially, there may be utility, rental, mortgage or foreclosure prevention assistance. There are programs to enable low income people and families access to gyms, sports and clubs.

Non emergent, local resources I'll share now. This list is not in any way comprehensive. Please feel free to add any resources that you know of, or to correct any of mine if the info needs updating. (Please know that I haven't verified these recently, and that our pandemic may affect these programs. Reach out to them to inquire.) COCC offers free small business coaching, free massages to pregnant women, and minimal cost gym access to students. The library and legal aid offer free lawyer visits. The library also has free tickets to the HD museum and Sunriver Observatory. The HD museum offers discounted tickets to low income people. (So do the zoo, OMSI and many other places here and in various states. You can find this info on websites. Many also offer veteran and active military discounts.) Bend Parks and Rec offers scholarships to low income individuals and families. Our libraries have free online courses that range from grant writing to sign language to navigating divorce, known as Gale courses. Every Kid Sports, formerly Kids in the Game, offers grants for children to engage in physical activities such as karate, gymnastics, etc. Habitat for Humanity helps low income people fulfill the dream of home ownership. Veterans may qualify for service dogs. Central Oregon Veteran's Ranch & Central Oregon Veteran's Outreach offer many services. The Family Access Network through the BLPSD can assist with utility payments, clothing for children, replacing appliances, and more. This is dependent upon funding. Churches and food banks can help with food, utilities and hotel or gas vouchers, depending on funding. Neighbor Impact offers rental, mortgage and utility assistance, as well as programs for new business owners and new home owners. 211 can help you find resources.

There are so many more but I have to start the day. Sending love to all!