EUGENE, OR (November 12, 2009) – Valley Covenant Church is one of three area churches that will host up to 50 homeless people this winter whenever the temperature drops below 28 degrees.
The church is part of the Egan Warming Center initiative, a coalition of service providers, religious congregations, nonprofits, social activist groups, and the local government. The center is named for Major Thomas Egan, a homeless veteran who froze to death on the streets of Eugene during snowstorms last December.
The church is part of the Egan Warming Center initiative, a coalition of service providers, religious congregations, nonprofits, social activist groups, and the local government. The center is named for Major Thomas Egan, a homeless veteran who froze to death on the streets of Eugene during snowstorms last December.
Many churches around Eugene involved in the warming center donated their entire morning collections for the center’s use during recent Sunday services. Organizers hope to raise at least another $10,000 this week.
“I woke up one night and the thought in my head was, our church is sitting there, empty, with the heat on, and no one is using it,” said Jim Kooiman, who is spearheading Valley Covenant’s participation.
First Christian Church and a local United Methodist Church also are serving as warming centers.