Every year FACC asks Western Lane County organizations that will have special events during the holiday season to come and share their information at our November meeting so that a list can be compiled and distributed to the community at large. Examples include food baskets, holiday parties, toy distributions and other events that can help residents, especially children and their families enjoy the holiday season.

The November 6^th meeting starts at 10:45am in the Bromley Room of the Siuslaw Public Library District, 1460 9th Street in Florence. Attendance is also available via Zoom. We will send you a ZOOM link next week and the link will also be posted on the FACC website: http://www.florenceareacc.org. FACC is upgrading its computer capabilities and soon will be able to provide you with a link you can use for all meetings.

At FACC's October meeting, featured speaker Nancy Berge from Arc Lane County described a treasure trove of information and resources for families and individuals who experience disabilities. Arc’s Family Connections program brings Nancy to Florence twice a month. A multilingual resource, Familias en Conexión, offers a network of parents who are Spanish-speaking and who are also raising a child with a disability. You may have met Nancy at Florence’s National Night Out where she offered what looks like a play area, but is in fact an amazing resource for family and individual community inclusion that provides an enclosed space with beanbag chairs, headphones, weighted blankets, fidgets and toys where someone who is dysregulated, child or adult, may calm or a breastfeeding mother may find privacy. For more information about Arc Lane County, Families Connected, email Nancy Berge at nancy.berge@arclane.org or phone 541-606-7175. They are located at 4181 E Street, Springfield, OR 97478. Website: https://arclane.org/youthservices/families-connected/   Instagram: Arc_Families_Connected

The past few years have involved much change and many new opportunities for expanded social service and community organizations. FACC meetings are a good opportunity to meet some of the new faces and groups working to make life in Western Lane better. Wednesday the 6th of November, when FACC meets next, is also a day when Lane County Public Health's mobile unit will be in the Siuslaw Public Library's parking lot (the first and third Wednesdays of the month).

FACC meetings are always free and open to the public. Light refreshments are served. FACC is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization that has been working to help Western Lane communities and people for over 25 years. Its mission is to improve the quality of life in Western Lane County through partnerships, networking, volunteerism, community involvement, education and awareness. For more information, see http://www.florenceareacc.org, or contact the FACC at florenceareacc@gmail.com. FACC’s mailing address is PO Box 1161, Florence, OR 97439.

We hope to see you on November 6th.