“I am very grateful to our community who provide so many donations, and our volunteers who make it possible to provide this needed service,” says David Ross, Lois Davidson Better Living Center director.
Ross recently reported that, from July 2015 through June 2016, the center, located at 85134 Hwy. 101 S. about a mile south of Florence,served 3,569 families that included 8,783 individuals. Free items distributed to patrons included 23,757 articles of clothing, 1,002 pairs of shoes, 855 articles of bedding, 4,704 household items and 9,104 miscellaneous items.
The center received 1,181 contributions from the public, usually in large boxes or bags. Volunteers contributed 2,513 hours in laundering, cleaning and sorting the contributed items and in face-to-face consultation with patrons. The center was open 51 days during the period.
The center, which is operated by the Florence Church, is open each Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to receive and distribute new and gently used clothing, bedding, towels, kitchenware, personal items and small household items. The center was established in the 1980s through the bequest of church member Lois Davidson with the intent of “serving the poor and needy of Florence and the surrounding area,” stipulating that all items be given free to those who need them.
Contributions made to the center are tax-deductible. The center’s phone number is 541-997-2137.
The Florence Church, 4445 Hwy. 101, also sponsors the annual Community Heath Fair — including exhibits, seminars and 5K walk/run — at the Florence Events Center each April.
The church also supports Shoreline Christian School (formerly Sonshine Christian School), which is open to all students in first through eighth grade. The school is accepting enrollment for the 2016–2017 school year. For more information, call the school at 541-997-5909.
The church invites the public to attend services on Saturday mornings. Adult and children’s Bible study classes are at 9:30 a.m., the worship service begins at 10:45 a.m., and a vegetarian lunch follows at 12:15 p.m. The church’s phone number is 541-997-3951.
