Reaching out to families in need

Did you know that INC in Love INC doesn’t stand for Incorporated? Love “In the Name of Christ” (INC) is a faith-based nonprofit organization started in 2009 that offers free assistance for qualifying families in North Marion County. Coordinating with local churches and resources, Love INC will provide assistance for accessing services and supply clothing and hygiene products for immediate needs. Volunteers provide case management for ongoing situations; they evaluate each client’s needs and proceed accordingly. Love INC helps people of all faiths with open hearts, including non-believers as well.

Many crucial services and partnerships are orchestrated through Love INC. Dental van service is coordinated with Medical Team International that provides the van, United Methodist Church provides electricity, Rotary backs it with their support and Love INC schedules all client appointments and calls to remind them of the appointments. “It’s a nice partnership in that area,” comments Rosetta Wangerin, Executive Director of Love INC and longtime Woodburn resident. Furthermore, clients in the Hubbard, Gervais, and Woodburn communities, by way of contract, are eligible to receive utility assistance for water shut-off notices once per year up to a limited amount.

Car seats that “grow with the child” are funded through a grant and given away to families; parents can safely bring their infant home from hospital and continue to use the seat even as the child grows. One Friday in July at the Woodburn Fire Station, “We’re going to show people how to properly install a car seat and how to put a child in a car seat,” Rosetta relates.

Love INC stocks infant wear from birth to 2T, with larger sizes coordinated through Foursquare Church; Family Building Blocks serves as a resource for diapers. Love INC has some baby furniture and other barely used items such as bouncy chairs. Household items are also available thanks to a partnership with United Methodist Church who stores these items.

Together, Rosetta and Treasurer Nancy Talbot tag-team for many of these services. Nancy also points out that the November 2 Annual Gala Dinner and Auction is their largest fundraiser for the year and they are currently accepting donations and sponsorships for this event. To donate goods throughout the year, call (971)983-5683 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tue./Wed. or 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Relying almost entirely on volunteer staff, Love INC is presently seeking individuals who are bilingual in Spanish and English and willing to take on case management. The organization also provides suicide prevention and awareness training and have a current staff of four trained facilitators. In 2023 Love INC helped about 1,200 families representing over 4,000 individuals and would like to see even more church involvement within the community.

Love INC is located at 970 N. Cascade Dr., Suite 100, in Woodburn. Call 971-983-LOVE (5683) or email info@loveincnmc.org. For more information visit their website loveincnmc.org.