January’s SPOTLIGHT On…
This month's Spotlight On features Rob Singer L.Ac of Acupuncture For The People. Rob and his partners have created a new twist on one of the world’s most ancient forms of health care. As Rob describes, "Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most widely practiced systems of medicine on the planet. It is a simple, safe and holistic approach to healing and wellness. It addresses all aspects of health – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. It is an effective treatment for almost every health condition you can think of!" This was quite evident to Billy on his first visit. New clients fill out a form which suggests many of the possible ailments that can be treated. The list and range of possible treatments is amazing.
Acupuncture For The People is just that - a community centered healing practice whose goal is to make Chinese Medicine more accessible. Instead of private rooms, patients recline in comfortable chairs while relaxing in a welcoming, down-to-earth environment. Several clients are seen per hour so each person can pay less, making the medicine available to everybody regardless of income.
Even though Rob looks like a contemporary young guy, he has been practicing this ancient discipline for nearly 10 years. In 2006 he opened Acupuncture For The People. The community setting allows for treatment of many more people per hour than the, "one-on-one" approach. Rob says, "I first heard of Community Acupuncture in an article about Social Entrepreneurship and immediately took to the idea of practicing in a way that would not only provide a needed service, but would also benefit the community at large." One result of this methodology is that Rob and his staff have treated over 25,000 patients in the last five years. That number of treatments may be in the range of a whole career for, "one-on-one" practitioners.
Another appealing feature of this model is pricing. Fees are on a sliding scale $15-$35 dollars per treatment. The client decides. No income verification is required. This allows patients to get the treatment they need for the price they can afford. Rob says, "The best aspect of Community Acupuncture is that you’re not alone!" Acupuncture is an energy medicine and by treating people in a supportive group environment that energy is amplified, leading to a better outcome. Rob points out, "We love seeing friends, family, co-workers and classmates coming in for treatments together; we even treated a whole bridal party once."
Rob also pointed out that "Now is a great time for New Year's resolutions. We can help make your goals a realty, if you are trying to quit smoking, caffeine, alcohol or other patterns, we recommend coming in for daily detox ear treatments until the cravings and withdrawals subside. Only $10 per visit
(five treatments for $50!)
If you have ever been curious about acupuncture try Acupuncture For The People, you will not be disappointed. Rob and his crew will take great care of you!
Check out their web site www.AcupunctureForThePeople.org.
They are located at 2833 Willamette St Suite E, or can be reached at (541) 521-6285.
December's SPOTLIGHT On...
This month's Spotlight On shines on Food For Lane County. The non-profit food bank sums up their goals with a simple vision and mission statement. Their vision is to eliminate hunger in Lane County and their mission is to alleviate hunger by creating access to food. Incorporated in 1984 when it operated out of a Springfield residence, Food for Lane County has grown to a huge operation to match the demands of the hungry in Lane County. As stated in their web site, foodforlanecounty.org, they accomplish this through a wide range of endeavors. These include soliciting, collecting, rescuing, growing, preparing and packaging food for distribution through a network of more than 100 social service agencies and programs. In addition they work through public awareness, through education and community advocacy; and through programs designed to improve the ability of low-income individuals to maintain an adequate supply of wholesome, nutritious food, not just empty calorie plates. Some of the programs include emergency food boxes, shelters, meal sites, rehabilitation facilities, nutrition education, gleaning and community gardens.
It is unfortunate demand for their services has grown at the rate it has. Food for Lane County currently operates out of a 36,000 square foot facility with a small fleet of trucks. In 2010-2011 they distributed 7.76 million pounds of food that equals about 148,000 pounds per week. The demand continues to grow. If you or someone you knows needs help it is available through Food for Lane County. Remember their slogan, "It's okay to ask for help."
There are any number of ways that you can assist this great agency. Community volunteers spent 66,000 hours of time contributing to the food banks various programs. There are numerous fund raising/food drive events throughout the year that support Food for Lane county, some of these include the popular Chef's Night Out, scan a coupon at many participating business' and the Letter Carriers Food drive. Food for Lane County receives most of their food as donations, so if you have extra food from the garden, or if you work in food service and see leftover food going to waste, inquire with your supervisor, and talk to Food for Lane County. they will know what to do with it. Food for Lane County also can take money donations. While nearly 99% of the food distributed is donated, rescued, or grown, Food for Lane County does purchase some items when the food bank becomes low.
You can contact them by going to www.foodforlanecounty.org or call 541-343-2822.
November’s SPOTLIGHT On…
This month’s "Spotlight On" features the great news of the re-opening of the Tamarack Wellness Center community pool. This unique non-profit facility had to close last summer due to some budget and funding issues. According to the President of the board, Leslie Scott, “the re-opening could not have couldn’t have happened without the great energy and participation of the staff and volunteers. They worked tirelessly over the summer to raise funds. ” Leslie wanted to specifically thank them, along with some major supporters from the local medical community.“The contributions from Slocum, OMG’s Neuro Pain Management, and the generous $20,000 grant from Pacific Source were pivotal factors in the success of the community’s volunteer work.” The results of these combined efforts were the re-hiring of the majority of the staff and the pool‘s official re-opening on October 3rd. Hooray!
While many are unaware of this special facility, others consider it a therapeutic lifesaver. At the heart of the Tamarack pool’s mission is accessibility and sustainability. The shallow-depth pool has a ramp that comes to the deck level. This makes easy access for people in wheelchairs or using walkers. The pool temperature is maintained at 92 degrees with one of the largest solar ray heating system in the Pacific Northwest. The warm water has many benefits including increased joint mobility, muscle flexibility, improvement in endurance, increased muscle strength and tone, improvement in circulation and respiration, and a decrease in pain. These benefits make the pool popular with those living with problems like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or Cerebral Palsy. The crystal clear pool is kept that way with a number of earth friendly and green practices. Salt water, ultra violet filters, and CO2 are used to maintain water cleanliness. The results are super clear water that does not irritate the skin or eyes; it is biologically friendly, does not smell like chlorine, and offers the benefits of added buoyancy from salt water that are medically significant for many of Tamarack's clients.
Tamarack offers a place for exercise and therapy for many with disabilities who would otherwise not have the opportunity. The staff and volunteers are dedicated to community building as a bridge to community wellness. They offer a wide range of classes, therapies, and specialty open swims including the Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program, baby swim, family swim, water yoga,
Ai Chi (which focuses on relieving chronic pain through slow movement in the water, deep breathing, stretching, and meditation techniques) and various open lap swim and therapy hours. In addition to all of that, the pool is available for rental for special events.
Located in Eugene at 3575 Donald St., pool hours vary and should be checked on line at www.tamarackwellness.org , or by phone at 541-686-9290.
Thanks & Congratulations to the Tamarack Wellness Center
for providing this great community resource!