Celebrating 40 Years!

OUR HISTORY

In 1980, when we opened our doors, we were a small team of people in a little office in downtown Corvallis. Full of passion and committed to our promise, we began to build programs and create partnerships, all with the shared goal of improving people’s lives.

40 years later in 2020, we are an agency of nearly 200 staff, hundreds of local volunteers and partners, with programs and locations spanning 4 counties and serving over 75,000 community members annually.

We're creating impact that lasts a lifetime

Today, we are the largest social services provider in the region. We work tirelessly to support our communities in Linn, Benton, Lincoln and Polk counties. We create connections that go beyond the duration of our programs—our impact lasts a lifetime.

1980

CSC First Established

1985

First Food Share warehouse opened

1986

First two computers installed

1987

Albany office opened

1989

Newport office opened

1995

Internet access!

2000

Career Tech Charter High School opened in Lincoln City

2000

Head Start Toledo opened

2002

Head Start Lincoln City opened

2003

Built domestic violence women’s shelter in Newport

2007

Opened Corvallis Youth House and Garden

2008

Opened Tern House (6 transitional housing units) in Newport

2009

Head Start Newport opened

2010

First annual Barrel to Keg Relay Race

2011

Distributed $10.7 million into the community for recession-relief services

2011

Opened Pelican Place (12 transitional housing units) in Newport

2017

Head Start began full-day classes

2018

Launched Rent Well (tenant education and guarantee program)

2020

40 years of serving the community!

2020

Awarded region’s first HUD Permanent Supportive Housing grant

2020

Awarded over $1 million in immediate COVID-19 emergency relief funds

2020

Currently providing COVID-19 emergency services for food, housing and utility assistance

Our community, our neighbors, our friends

Over the decades, we have created strong partnerships with the 17 other Community Action Agencies across Oregon, and nearly 300 local agencies and businesses that we collaborate and work closely with on a regular basis. Because we know this work cannot be done alone, and we rely on our supportive, strong and generous community to help us on our mission to end poverty.

While technology and data were not at the level that we see today for all of the years we have been in service, and it is hard to count every person we touch, we have estimated that CSC has served over half a million community members in our 40 years. That would be the same as filling every seat Reser Stadium over 10 times!

Helping People. Changing Lives.

We believe in making our communities stronger one person, one family at a time. CSC is helping people, and changing lives.

We're Making an Impact

With over 40 years of service, CSC is proud of the IMPACT we have made on the lives and wellbeing of over half a million community members.