About Us

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="12bfd5a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Sidney Center</B></FONT><B>    </B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="112d2b03.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="114b7ad0.jpg" border=0 width="183" height="173" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sidney Center"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U><B>Mission/Vision/Values</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>About Us</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Parent Support"><U><B>Family Support</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Quilts for Carols Angels"><U><B>Dream Quilt Project</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Services"><U><B>Community Services</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B>Contact Us/Feedback</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Financial Information"><U><B>Donation/Financial Information</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volunteer Opportunities"><U><B>Volunteer Opportunities</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Special Events"><U><B>Special Events</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>About Us</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>What is The Sidney Center?</B></div> <bR> <div> Supporting families when miracles become memories.  Through group meetings, personal contact, email, telephone and mail we bring physical, emotional and spiritual support to bereaved parents, siblings, friends and others.  Our office is located at 1075 Washington Street #112, Eugene, OR 97401. Other hours are available by appointment.</div> <bR> <div> Over 12,000 families are affected by miscarriage, stillbirth and infant death in Oregon each year, often without an answer as to why.  As you walk through your grief and feel that you may need more than what this site or the internet can offer, please contact us at <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>(541) 284-2712,</B></FONT> or <A HREF="mailto:support@sidneycenter.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:support@sidneycenter.org"><U>click here to e-mail us</U></A><A HREF="mailto:support@sidneycenter.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:support@sidneycenter.org"><U>.</U></A></div> <bR> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >History of The Sidney Center</FONT></div> <bR> <div> National SHARE began in the fall of 1977, at St. John's Hospital, Springfield, Illinois. SHARE's existence came about through the insistent urging of one bereaved parent and the work of several hospital staffers. Within four months, the first support group met. Since that time, SHARE has become international, with over 130 chapters. </div> <div> Now located on the campus of St. Joseph Health Center, St. Charles, Missouri, the National SHARE Office serves as a resource center for bereaved parents, group leaders, caregivers and other interested persons. </div> <bR> <div> The local chapter of SHARE was started in late February of 2001.   A monthly mutual help support group met the first Thursday of every month at 2530 Crescent Avenue in Norkenzie Christian Church. The meeting was from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. upstairs in room 21 through December 2006.</div> <bR> <div> In November of 2004 SHARE opened a local office at 1075 Washington Street #112, Eugene, OR 97401 to have a central location to provide parents and caregivers information and support, and to be able to reach out to the community with education about the grief caused by the untimely death of a child. The name was changed to The Sidney Center in June of 2006 to better reflect the services provided in Sidney Alves memory.  Our office is open Monday - Thursday from 9 AM - 2 PM and can be reached by phone at (541) 284-2712 or e-mail at deena@sidneycenter.org.  Other hours are available by appointment.</div> <bR> <div> Support groups are ongling.  To register for a support group call 541-284-2712 or e-mail deena@sidneycenter.org. Click <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Parent Support"><U>here</U></A> for more information about the support groups.</div> <bR> <div> Lane County Statistics<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Many people, including your physician, may tell you that there are lots of people who have miscarriages. This is a true fact, but just hearing that you are one of many does not help sort through the pain and grief you may be experiencing. </div> <bR> <div> *Just recently announced* Lane County has one of the highest Infant Mortality rates in the country at almost 10 baby's dying for every 1000 born. </div> <bR> <div> 2001 Lane County Statistics from Oregon Department of Human Services:</div> <bR> <div> • 24 fetal and neonatal deaths from 20 weeks gestation to <28 days old </div> <bR> <div> • 3585 documented births </div> <bR> <div> • 5800 total calculated pregnancies </div> <bR> <div> Factoring in what experts agree as a higher probable number of 20-30%, the amount of losses exceeds 1000 annually in Lane County.</div> <bR> <div> Prior to 20 weeks gestation, physicians are not required to report the loss. However, it is generally accepted that a very conservative estimate of 25% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. This number does not account for those that are undocumented or confirmed by a physician so this rate is likely to be much higher.</div> <bR> <div> <B>A Need for Support?</B></div> <div> Upon learning the actual number of pregnancy and infant losses in our community, it was impossible to watch as bereaved parents, siblings, grandparents and others grieve alone. If you would like to support the Sidney Center's funding drive to expand our reach to those in need, please <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Financial Information"><U>click here</U></A>.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>