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Casa de Belen, a Roseburg, Oregon transitional living program for Homeless Teens and Homeless Families with Teens was an indirect victim of the mass shooting at Umpqua Community College. The nonprofit youth homeless shelter was scheduled to hold their annual major fundraiser, The Great Umpqua Palate Challenge, on October 3rd at the UCC Danny Lang Event Center -- just two days after the terrible tragedy that occurred on the campus. This event is a partnership between Casa de Belen and Umpqua Community College, featuring UCC’s Southern Oregon Wine Institute and Culinary Program. Since the campus was closed, the event will either have to be postponed to a later date or cancelled, and at this point, no decision has been made either way.
Casa de Belen had young residents on campus during the incident. Luckily, they are all physically safe. Mathew, the young man “spared” by the shooter, is a Casa de Belen alumni and continues to be an important part of the Casa de Belen family. While this fundraiser is important to Casa de Belen’s operations and budget, Casa de Belen stands with the community and feels that the priority for everyone at this time is to heal and support the direct victims of the tragedy.
Casa de Belen is waiting for UCC to determine if, and when, the event could possibly be rescheduled, but fully understands that at this point their event may not even be on UCC’s radar at this time. It may be likely that the event may not be able to be rescheduled for a variety of reasons. Coordinating all the entities involved with the event will be a tremendous challenge – the facility itself, 11 wineries, UCC Culinary Program participants, sponsors, the entertainment, 50 volunteers, 200 guests, etc. This is also an indoor/outdoor event, so trying to make that work with the fall and winter weather approaching presents an additional challenge.
Casa de Belen was hoping to raise $30,000 at the event, which translates into the organization providing 1500 days and nights of loving, safe and supportive housing to homeless youth in the community. In addition to the possible loss of donations, the organization is also going to lose a bit of money on costs they have already accrued – printing, flowers, licensing, advertising, etc.
Casa de Belen is a grassroots organization that serves approximately 110 individuals per year, providing 15,000 days/nights of supportive housing. They also provide about 20,000 meals per year, 500 mental health appointments, as well as 250 medical appointments to their residents at no cost to the community. They give our vulnerable youth a place to change their lives, achieve their dreams, and become self-sufficient contributing members of the community, all for about $20 per day. They receive no county, city, state or federal funding at this time.
The repercussions of that tragic event, reach far and wide. Casa de Belen and the invaluable work they do in our community is being compromised because of the irrational actions of one person. Our community’s at risk-teens are indirect victims of the mass shooting.
Most of the residents Casa de Belen serves come from horrific backgrounds and are at significant risk due to addiction, mental health issues, and hopelessness. At Casa, these teens are given a safe, drug-free, gun-free, place to live where they have access to mental health services and are part of a community of peers and adults who deeply care about them.
What better way to honor the memory of those who died at UCC than to help an organization dedicated to serving disenfranchised youth, giving them a safe place to change their lives and become positive contributing members of our community.
For more information about Casa de Belen or the Great Umpqua Palate Challenge, go to www.casadebelen.org. Any information about future plans for the event can be found there.
Casa de Belen had young residents on campus during the incident. Luckily, they are all physically safe. Mathew, the young man “spared” by the shooter, is a Casa de Belen alumni and continues to be an important part of the Casa de Belen family. While this fundraiser is important to Casa de Belen’s operations and budget, Casa de Belen stands with the community and feels that the priority for everyone at this time is to heal and support the direct victims of the tragedy.
Casa de Belen is waiting for UCC to determine if, and when, the event could possibly be rescheduled, but fully understands that at this point their event may not even be on UCC’s radar at this time. It may be likely that the event may not be able to be rescheduled for a variety of reasons. Coordinating all the entities involved with the event will be a tremendous challenge – the facility itself, 11 wineries, UCC Culinary Program participants, sponsors, the entertainment, 50 volunteers, 200 guests, etc. This is also an indoor/outdoor event, so trying to make that work with the fall and winter weather approaching presents an additional challenge.
Casa de Belen was hoping to raise $30,000 at the event, which translates into the organization providing 1500 days and nights of loving, safe and supportive housing to homeless youth in the community. In addition to the possible loss of donations, the organization is also going to lose a bit of money on costs they have already accrued – printing, flowers, licensing, advertising, etc.
Casa de Belen is a grassroots organization that serves approximately 110 individuals per year, providing 15,000 days/nights of supportive housing. They also provide about 20,000 meals per year, 500 mental health appointments, as well as 250 medical appointments to their residents at no cost to the community. They give our vulnerable youth a place to change their lives, achieve their dreams, and become self-sufficient contributing members of the community, all for about $20 per day. They receive no county, city, state or federal funding at this time.
The repercussions of that tragic event, reach far and wide. Casa de Belen and the invaluable work they do in our community is being compromised because of the irrational actions of one person. Our community’s at risk-teens are indirect victims of the mass shooting.
Most of the residents Casa de Belen serves come from horrific backgrounds and are at significant risk due to addiction, mental health issues, and hopelessness. At Casa, these teens are given a safe, drug-free, gun-free, place to live where they have access to mental health services and are part of a community of peers and adults who deeply care about them.
What better way to honor the memory of those who died at UCC than to help an organization dedicated to serving disenfranchised youth, giving them a safe place to change their lives and become positive contributing members of our community.
For more information about Casa de Belen or the Great Umpqua Palate Challenge, go to www.casadebelen.org. Any information about future plans for the event can be found there.