Oregon Spinal Cord Injury Connection remains committed to supporting our community through the long haul of COVID-19. Since the fight against the virus will likely continue into 2021, we are creating new ways to keep everyone safe, healthy, and connected.

In May and June OSCI received $20,000 from Craig H Neilsen Foundation and $5000 from United Spinal Association to support the SCI community in Oregon and SW Washington.

We responded to the financial strain in our community by giving $100 each to 100 members. We used the remaining funds to hire a Community Health Worker. This person helps those affected by service disruptions find the support and resources they need. The charts and word cloud below show how we distributed the funds. They also highlight the most urgent needs we identified in our community.

We continue to distribute KN95 masks donated by United Spinal Association, as well as gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfectant donated by Providence Health and Services. If you need any of these supplies you can find our request form online. We have limited supplies, but will fulfill request as they come in. We also appreciate any donation you can offer to help offset the shipping costs.

Starting in late July, we will launch a 6–12 month campaign with the Oregon Health Authority, QUAD, Inc, and Oregon Paralyzed Veterans of America to promote safe, healthy living during COVID. We’re looking for people interested in supporting the health of Oregonians living with paralysis. We especially encourage those who identify as Black, Latinx, Tribal, non-English speakers, or rural residents to contact us. We plan to hire SCI peers to help with community outreach.