Sheltering Silverton

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

We are reaching out for community support for our two high school graduates. As you can imagine, finishing high school while living in a homeless shelter without family support is a challenging experience. We want to celebrate our hard working grads with a party.

UPDATE: THIS NEED HAS BEEN FULFILLED!

We are blown away by the generosity of this town. Our grads will enjoy a very special party and generous gifts from the community. We can't thank you all enough!

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We are wondering if the community can help us outfit the party with Silverton Foxes graduation decorations. If you would like to contribute, you can drop off decor at 830B McClaine Street. Our party will be next Friday, June 5th. We have a tight budget so we are trying to source items for free if possible. We can return them if desired.

We are seeking the following items:

-String lights
-Balloons
-Graduation banner
-Any grad decor you might have lying around

Contact [email protected] or stop by. Thank you so much!!!!

05/05/2026

DONATION REQUEST:

We are seeking donations of some sports equipment for our shelter. As the sun comes out, some of our shelter guests would benefit from more recreational activities. If you are able to donate used sporting equipment, we'd be so grateful. We are especially interested in a badminton/volleyball set, a football, and pickle ball gear.

04/27/2026

We have a newly housed friend in need of a full size mattress and box springs. Can anyone help? ❤️

04/01/2026

Thank you to Beth Lau of WeldSpace for fixing up a client's vehicle! Your kindness is so appreciated!

03/19/2026

Our team has been hard at work this month, moving folks into permanent housing, Adult Foster Care, and Assisted Living. We have seen remarkable recovery stories unfold and we have seen lives changing for the better.

03/16/2026

03/16/2026

Once a month our shelter staff, guests, and volunteers will head out into the community to clean up our streets and roadways. This group of mostly shelter guests was happy to soak up some late winter sun and clean up the entrance to Silverton. Thank you, friends!

03/16/2026

Rita--

She has always been on the move. When she was a child, Rita’s family moved from Nebraska to Portland. Eventually Rita and other family found their way to Silverton.

To really see Silverton, one needs to take a walk with Rita and Bobby, her constant furry companion. This walk is not for the faint of heart. Known at the Shelter for having the best legs in town, Rita walks miles at a brisk clip through the streets of Silverton every day. Sometimes twice a day if the Shelter becomes too much noise for her.

On a cold winter’s day, wind blowing our voices away, Rita bundles up Bobby in his fuzzy blanket and nestles him into the stroller. She has tried more stylish dog sweaters but those make him grumpy.

Our path takes us along the highway with cars blowing by, rarely slowing down. Rita has a keen eye and a long memory. At the light we discuss the new building planned for the corner of C and McClaine Streets and wonder where everyone will park.

Rita’s sharp eyes point out places where homeless folks find shelter in the outdoors just off the street. I've driven by this spot hundreds of times and never noticed. How comfortable and safe can it be under those bramble vines? Rita notes that since the Shelter opened, she doesn’t see folks there so often.

Further down the street Rita points out the best houses for holiday decorations. She loves all the holidays and is often the first to bring the holiday spirit into the Shelter. At Halloween and Christmas she is out and about in full costume because she likes to make people smile.

We meander through the park and neighborhoods of South Water then turn back through town. Rita knows many of the shop owners and worries about one in particular, a friend of hers who had a serious medical issue and hasn't been seen for awhile.

Better than any CCTV, Rita knows which cars belong to which building, who is putting in new landscaping, and which side alleys offer the best hidden second hand treasures. Known for her generous spirit and concern for others, she makes note of what people need and keeps her eyes open on her walks for items that will make their day better.

At the end of her daily walks with energy to spare, Rita jumps in to help with Shelter chores. While she isn’t sure what the future holds for her, she has a simple dream: a quiet, dog friendly place with privacy and walkability.

03/02/2026

We have a treasure in our local Silver Falls Library District. Not only do they provide a warm, safe space for people to gather, learn, and work, they are turning into a valuable resiliency hub for our community in emergencies or disasters. We have seen the need for community based disaster response efforts in Silverton firsthand and are grateful for our Library's vision and leadership in this regard! Well done!

There is some sprucing up afoot at the Silver Falls Public Library. Crews have finished work on a $52,450 paving project on the parking lot just north of the library and nearly $600,000 worth of solar panels are coming to […]