The DAC Is Collecting School Supplies for Relief Nursery Through Mid-September
This summer and into fall, the DAC is hosting a school supplies drive for Relief Nursery, and we’re asking our community to help fill the shelves for Eugene-Springfield families who need it most.
Who Relief Nursery Serves
Relief Nursery has spent decades working with some of the most vulnerable families with young children in our community. Their programs, from therapeutic early childhood classrooms to home visiting, parenting education, substance use recovery support, and mental health counseling, are all built around one goal: keeping kids safe and helping families build the stability they need to thrive. Every one of those services is completely free to the families who rely on them, made possible through community donations, grants, and partnerships just like this one.
Relief Nursery serves families out of two locations, in Eugene at 1720 W. 25th Avenue and in Springfield at 850 S. 42nd Street.
What They Need Right Now
Relief Nursery’s classrooms and family support programs go through everyday supplies fast, and right now they’re especially low on the basics that make early childhood learning and play possible. Their current wish list includes:
- Bubbles, canvases, and sidewalk chalk
- Kid’s aprons and kid’s bike helmets
- Circle rugs and contact paper
- Costumes and dress-up clothes
- Cotton swabs and diaper wipes
- Dot paint, dry erase markers, and googly eyes
- Kinetic sand and natural wooden toys
- Large construction paper and Magna Tiles
- Paint brushes, pom-poms, and popsicle sticks
- Pots and pans, plus tool and doctor play kits
- Sand toys, shaving cream, and shells for sensory play
- Toddler diapers (sizes 4-6) and toddler raincoats and boots
- Tweezers and tongs for fine motor play
- Washable, nontoxic tempera paint
If you’ve got littles of your own at home, chances are you already have a few of these sitting in a closet or a cart at the store.
Three Easy Ways to Help
You don’t need to make a special trip to make a difference. Shop Relief Nursery’s Amazon wish list and your order ships directly to their team, no wrapping or drop-off required. Prefer to give cash instead? Donate online directly to Relief Nursery, and if you give before the end of August, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar as part of their $50,000 community matching challenge, doubling your impact for local families. Or, if you’d rather shop in person, pick up a few items on your next Fred Meyer or Target run and bring them by the DAC anytime between now and mid-September.
However you choose to give, it’s a small, low-effort way to make a real difference for kids and families right here in Eugene-Springfield. We’re proud to be part of a community that shows up for its neighbors, and we hope you’ll join us.
The information shared on the Downtown Athletic Club’s blog is intended for educational and inspirational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
The Downtown Athletic Club (DAC) has been Eugene’s locally owned, family-operated health club for over 40 years. Under one roof you’ll find a full Gymnasium, Cardio + Strength Floor, Group Exercise classes, a Lap Pool, warm-water therapy pool, Downtown Pilates Studio, The ZONE training program, Newberry Preschool, KidStop Daycare, and Zest Kitchen + Bar on our third floor. Locally owned means we get to build a club around the community we’ve built, and continue to build.
Ready to experience it for yourself? Enjoy a complimentary guest pass and come see why so many Eugene families call the DAC home. We’re located at 999 Willamette St, Eugene, OR 97401. Give us a call at 541-484-4011 anytime.
