Beds For Freezing Nights

 Our mission is to provide a safe, warm place to sleep for those who wish to come inside during the coldest nights of the Year. Our purpose is to ensure shelter is available for those who need and want it. We are in operation from November 15 through March 31. 

During the 2022-23 season, Beds for Freezing Nights will operate as a Community Sharing Program committee to help the warming center program have the resources it needs. 

During the winter of 2008-2009, Major Thomas Egan, a homeless veteran, froze to death in Eugene. The event energized the Eugene/Springfield community to found the Egan Warming Center, a program that provides shelter to homeless people during the coldest months of the year.

There had been talk of creating a similar program in Cottage Grove, and some individuals had even done a great deal of preliminary work to try to make this happen, but the founding of the Eugene warming center gave the final impetus to creating a Cottage Grove winter warming center.

A broad coalition of community social service agencies, church leaders, government officials, and public-minded individuals came together in October of 2009 to begin the process of establishing such a project, which was christened Beds for Freezing Nights.

Ruth Linoz (Board President and Treasurer)

Profession: Executive Director, South Lane Wheels

James Markus (Board Secretary, Communications)

Profession: Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church

Michelle Thurston (Board Member, Volunteer Recruitment, Volunteers & Training)

Profession: Community Services Advocate

Steve Nisewander (Board Member & Logistics)

Profession: Retired

Don Strahan (Board Member)

Profession: Retired

Alison Dunlap Center (Board Member, First Presbyterian Liaison)

Profession: Freelance Editorial Assistant

Mike Fleck (Weather Watcher)

Profession: Executive Director, Community Sharing Program

Bruce Kelsh (Logistics Assistant)

Profession: Retired

Johanna Zee (Volunteer Scheduler)

Profession: Retired