The Early Childhood Hub of Lane County, PacificSource, and Family Resource Centers Across the County Offering Funds to Purchase Tires, Gas, Bike Helmets, Car Seats, and More
EUGENE, Ore – Beginning February 18, families across Lane County can access free flexible transportation funds at their local Family Resource Center. This new initiative is coordinated by the Early Childhood Hub of Lane County, supported by the United Way of Lane County, and funded by PacificSource.
Through a grant from PacificSource Community Solutions, who provided funding through their SHARE Initiative to address community needs, the Early Childhood Hub of Lane County will distribute $200,000 to nine Family Resource Centers, which are housed within the following school districts: Creswell, Cottage Grove, Crow-Applegate-Lorane, Eugene 4J, Fern Ridge, Mapleton, McKenzie/Blue River, Oakridge, and Pleasant Hill. Beginning now, and extending through the 2025-2026 school year, Lane County families can contact their local Family Resource Center and fill out a short intake form to receive funds for non-medical transportation needs.
“We are so proud to partner with PacificSource and our network of Family Resource Centers in Lane County to provide these much-needed funds to local families,” said Kris Coomes, Co-Director of the Early Childhood Hub of Lane County. “These dollars can be used by families to purchase what they most need to get around safely, whether that’s car repairs, a bike helmet, a bus pass, or even a car seat. Plus, by partnering with Family Resource Centers, many of which are located in our county’s rural communities, we can ensure that we meet families where they are and where need for immediate support is the greatest.”
“At PacificSource, we understand that insurance is more than just healthcare – it’s about supporting people where they are and addressing the everyday challenges that impact their well-being,” said Erin Fair Taylor, Vice President of Medicaid Programs at PacificSource. “Our donation to the Early Learning Resource Center of Lane County reflects our commitment to addressing barriers to health by supporting non-medical transportation needs. Initiatives like this help ensure families in both rural and urban communities can focus on essential priorities without the added burden of difficult financial trade-offs.”
Families interested in receiving transportation funds should contact their local Family Resource Center for more information: http://www.earlychildhoodlane.org/family-resource-centers.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
