Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are being sought to help prepare and serve lunch three times a week at the Florence Senior and Activity Center. Melisa Andrion says they serve lunch Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week.
“I always need volunteers for kitchen or dining room and also for Meals on Wheels Delivery.”
Both programs, the in-house dining known as Cafe 60, and Meals on Wheels, are very important in helping promote socialization and nutrition for older adults in Lane County. Volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels use their own vehicles, but she says they can be reimbursed for their mileage. The Lane Council of Governments operates the Senior and Disabled Services in Lane County. Andrion encourages potential volunteers to give her a call at L-COG, 541-682-1366.
State to Hire Park Rangers and Assistants
Oregon State Parks is hiring over 200 seasonal Rangers and Ranger Assistants for the 2025 season. Positions last four to nine months, with most staff working April through September. Hiring begins this month and continues through June, with new positions posted online regularly. Seasonal staff help maintain parks, assist visitors, and ensure clean, safe spaces. Pay starts at $19.78 per hour for assistants and $23.21 for rangers, with benefits including medical, vision, dental, and paid leave. Openings are available across the state, including Washburn just north of Florence.
Tossing the Mattress
Illegal mattress dumping is becoming a growing environmental and public health issue in cities and rural areas. Recently, Public Works crews retrieved a discarded mattress and other trash near a future street extension off Spruce Street north of Munsel Lake Road, despite no-dumping signs in place. Oregon’s new statewide mattress recycling program, launched January 1, 2025, provides convenient drop-off locations, including St. Vincent de Paul and the Glenwood Transfer Station in Lane County. Funded by a $22.50 fee at purchase, the program aims to reduce illegal dumping and create recycling jobs.
Siuslaw to Collect Used Electronics
Siuslaw schools are collecting unwanted, unused, or broken electronics now through April 8th in partnership with Lane County Waste Management and NextStep Recycling. The school that collects the most e-waste will win a sustainability grant of up to $500. Accepted items include TVs, computers, printers, cellphones, game consoles, and more—excluding plastic non-electronic items. Donations are repaired or recycled for community use. Drop-offs are accepted at NextStep Recycling in Eugene, and businesses can request a free pickup. More details at wastewiselane.org/ERC.
