As a fundraiser for the 2010 Christmas In July program we are planning a gourmet spaghetti dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant on Riverfront Way Tuesday, December 1st from 4 to 7pm. The cost is $5.00 per person. See the display and buy tickets at the at the Umpqua Bank on Hwy 101, Oregon First Federal Credit Union next to Price & Pride or at the Waterfront on Waterfront Way. Tickets will also be sold at the the door of the restaurant. This is no usual Spaghetti Dinner. Apart from enjoying the chef's special spaghetti recipe there will be many opportunities to take home one or more of the valued items to be raffled off. Everyone coming to the dinner will be given a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of the many prizes.  More raffle tickets will be available at the door. This will be our 5th year of Christmas in July. Each year we help the frail, elderly and other needy homeowners with home repairs. Come join us for dinner and support this worthy cause.

 
 
Saturday, July 11th was another amazing example of why we are so blessed to live in this community. I want to say a huge thank-you to everyone that made our 4th annual Christmas in July effort such a tremendous success. The willingness of so many people to give of their time and money to help others is truly what makes our community so special. This year we had right around 100 volunteers help make needed repairs to 21 homes and counting. Due to the generosity of many people, including one significant anonymous donor, we are able to continue helping our neighbors even in our off-season. I would like to thank Nick and Gretchen from ACE hardware for their generous $500.00 donation again this year. I want to thank the Laskey-Clifton Corp., the Association of Reedsport Educators, the Reedsport Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Oregon and Southwest Washington Church of God Social Concerns Commission, the American Legion local chapter, Fred Wahl Marine, our local Rotarians and the Reedsport Church of God for all your generous financial contributions. I would also like to thank Safeway, Price-n-Pride and Bedrocks for your contributions towards feeding our volunteers and the Presbyterian church for hosting us for breakfast and St. John's Catholic church for hosting us for lunch. A special thanks goes to Jamie Swafford, Sherry at the coffee break and Lori at the Umpqua Post and K-Dune radio for being so willing to publicize our event and planning meetings and to Bill Knerr for doing an incredible job year after year keeping the web-site up and running. I would also like to thank Umpqua Building and supply, Greg Olson, and Southern Oregon Sanitation for your support of this worthy project. A very special thanks goes to all the wonderful folks that spent hours behind the scenes helping plan and make this project so successful. People such as Stan Bates, Georganne Lechner, Frank Paula, Charlie Gardner, Jennifer Tymchuk, Janet Patin, Ann Launstein, Pastor Gehrke, Donna Kenagy, Jerry Christiansen, Bernie Sabblut, and especially Sharon Thompson who without your help this year I would have been in trouble. I really hope I haven't missed anyone so deserving of thanks as everyone else I've mentioned but knowing me I probably have and I apologize. You know how much we all appreciate the efforts everyone gives to this very worthwhile community project. Thank-you for another great year of "people helping people" and we'll see you again next year.  
Pastor Allen Chaney Co-chair, Christmas in July 2009
 
 

Upwards of 100 volunteers assembled for breakfast Saturday morning July 11th 2009 at the United Presbyterian Church on Longwood Drive.  Their purpose?  To meet their Team Captains and fellow volunteers, and then to disperse to designated job sites throughout Reedsport, where they worked on a total of 20 houses which the Christmas in July Committee had inspected and approved for repair. All the repair locations were fully staffed with volunteers by the end of breakfast.  After several hours of industry all gathered at the Catholic Church for a well earned lunch.


That so many were willing to give of their time and their talents in helping those less fortunate, as outlined in the Mission Statement, emphasizes the caring qualities of the people of the Reedsport area. Photos taken at many of the work sites during the Saturday will be posted on this website shortly. 


The leadership of Chair Allen Chaney and Vice Chair Sharon Thompson were key elements in the success of the program. Members of the committee who met faithfully at the Tuesday planning sessions were also vital in carrying out the essential work behind the scenes. A meeting is scheduled for Tuesday July 21st at 6:30 pm at the Church of God for suggestions that may help in later programs along with an overview of the Saturday performance.


Financial help to pay for the materials needed came entirely from local sources. Much of the food that was served at the Presbyterian Church breakfast and the St. John's Catholic Church lunch was also donated by local businesses. Letters of appreciation will be sent to all organizations involved and a list of supporters will be posted later on this website. Heartfelt thanks from the committee is extended to all involved in this program.

 
 

Final call for Christmas In July Work Day at the United Presbyterian Church 2360 Longwood Drive Reedsport, Saturday July 11th 7:30 a.m. At the committee meeting on July 7th volunteers were designated to fill the required work needs. Of the some 28 repair requests received several were too large to be considered, due mainly to lack of finances needed for the repairs. All volunteers for this special Reedsport yearly event are invited to join in a good breakfast prepared by Presbyterian Church members, before starting work.  This is an opportunity for meeting good people gathered together with the aim of helping those who need a helping hand. Please bring the tools you wish to use for the occasion. Lunch will be served at noon by the St. John's Catholic Church members 12 St. John's Way. Members of our Police Department have adopted a program for refurbishing the Animal Shelter and will also be welcomed at the breakfast. Volunteers who have not yet filled out forms can still participate by completing the form at the meeting. The Christmas In July committee wishes to thank all involved in this program. Please work safely and enjoy the day.

 
 


Pastor Allen Chaney chaired the June 30 Christmas In July committee meeting at the Church of God on Birch Avenue. All requests for assistance with repairs were reviewed. It is likely that some expensive repairs such as roofs may not be carried out due to budget restrictions. There are still several Captain slots open and it is hoped that they will be filled by the next meeting on July 7th. Volunteers are still needed and it is not too late to fill out and submit the forms by the July 7 meeting. The work day will begin with breakfast at the United Presbyterian Church at 2360 Longwood Drive Reedsport 7:30am July 11th. At noon a lunch will be served for all workers at St. John's Catholic Church 12 St. John's Way.

 
 

The June 23 committee meeting at the Church of God on Birch Avenue was headed by chairman Allen Cheney. We now have 28 homes under consideration as projects for needed repair. These were reviewed  to estimate  cost of work to be done and number of volunteers needed. It was apparent  that unless more volunteers come forward it will be difficult to do all the repairs needed. All present agreeed to do all possible to recruit volunteers. House captains to oversee repairs on each home are especially needed. A grant has been applied for from National Geographic to make homes more energy efficient. If successful this will be incorporated in the current program for next year. The following website welcomes comment in support of the application:    GREEN EFFECT
Christmas In July Committee

 
 

The Christmas In July Committee met on June 16 at the Church of God on Birch Street to discuss the present needs and position of the program at the present time.  Sharon Thompson,  Vice Chair conducted the meeting .  The process of matching volunteers with repair work is continuing. We have over 20 homes to repair, but need more volunteers, and concern was expressed on this point. All present were encouraged to contact all volunteers possible to sign up. Without completed forms being turned in well before the 11th there is no way to plan the program successfully. Thanks were voiced to the Coffee Break and the Register Guard for their coverage. Thanks also go to the Webmaster of the online site for past and current news of the activities. Arrangements are being for publicity to be posted on the High School Readerboard. K-dune Radio at AM 1030 has kindly agreed that committee members may broadcast our needs on the radio. Future meetings will be held at the Church of God on Birch Avenue every Tuesday until and including July 7th. Meeting times will be at 6:30pm.
Thanks  all participants....
Christmas In July Committee

 
 

At the June 2 meeting vice chair Sharon expressed concern that the slow pace of referrals being turned in would lead to a last minute rush for the work to be done. Several committee members agreed to contact likely sources to expedite this area of the program and the local newspapers will also be contacted. A grant for installing double pane windows in homes where needed is continuing. The need for volunteers continues to be a priority and help from all sectors of the community is appreciated. Generous financial support from several areas was announced and the program is expected to greatly assist those as outlined in our mission statement as in previous years. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday June 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Church of God 2191 Birch Avenue. All are welcome to attend.

 
 

At the May 19 committee meeting chair Allen Chaney gave out several new referral applications for review. A revised list of financial contributors and benefactors to the program is being compiled and will be posted on the website shortly. Please note that contributions to the program can be made at the local Umpqua Bank to the Christmas In July account. Thanks went to Sharon Thompson for her generosity in accepting the post of vice chair for the 2009 program, this was appreciated by all present as this will greatly assist Allen in his busy schedule. An offer was made by K-Dune radio for volunteers to give details of the program on am1030. Arrangements are being made for this. The next meeting will be at the Church of God on 2191 Birch Avenue at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday June 2. All with interest in the program are invited to attend.

 
 

The next planning meeting will be held at the Church Of God on Birch Street
 Tuesday May 19 at 6:30 p.m. The Christmas In July Committee will be meeting to bring all present up to date on the current news of the program. All are welcome to attend. At the April meeting it was requested that volunteers fill out the volunteer forms as soon as possible, they can be downloaded here   or picked up from the Family Resource Center on St John's Way. They can be turned in at the Resource Center or the Church of God. The same applies to the referral forms. Applications for home repairs need to be turned in as soon as possible to meet the cutoff date that will be announced soon. 
Christmas In July Committee