Eugene (KMTR) - One third of the clients who use the services at Eugene's Relief Nursery, are from Springfield, but soon Springfield families in need won't have to travel as far. The Relief Nursery in Eugene is typically full, and the waiting list is growing. The nursery provides therapy for families, mental health counseling, and it helps protect young children from abuse and neglect. Families in Springfield often spend up to an hour on public transportation to reach the Relief Nursery in Eugene. Many times the center is at full capacity, and can't help.
"We do end up turning people away,” said Amy Ripley, Relief Nursery. “We end up having to prioritize. And it’s hard for families to hear about all the great services over there, but it's a barrier for them to get there."
When the new building at S 42nd street is up and running, it will ease the capacity in Eugene, while making it accessible to Springfield families.
"It's really about cradle to college,” says Nancy Golden, Superintendent of Springfield Schools. “That is what I think of my job, supporting students from the moment they are born to the moment they go to college.”
They say neighbors shouldn't feel threatened by the nursery, or the clients who visit. She says the families simply want help. The project is funded through private donations and grants from the City of Springfield. They've raised 1.4 million so far. They need 4.4 million, which includes three years of operations cost. The hope is to break ground by next spring, but they need 2.9 million to start construction.
