Bahá’ís collect umbrellas for Lane County families

Local Bahá’ís were thanked for their umbrella donations.

by Marcia Veach, Springfield

A simple request, a quick response

In October 2025, Bahá’ís in the Eugene-Springfield area were asked to help collect umbrellas for Catholic Community Services (CCS) of Lane County, Oregon. The request was a new effort by the organization, to meet an everyday need for local families.

The call for umbrellas was shared with local Bahá’ís just days before the annual celebration of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith. During that single evening of birthday celebrations, dozens of umbrellas were donated. A few more were added in the following days before the full collection was delivered to CCS, ahead of the fall rains in early November.

Supporting Neighbors Through Community Giving

Catholic Community Services operates community donation boxes throughout Lane County to support individuals and families experiencing hardship. These boxes are placed in accessible locations, including many churches, service organizations, and businesses. This makes it easy for residents to contribute essential items such as food, clothing, and toiletries.

Donations collected through the boxes are distributed directly to individuals and families facing hardship. This effort helps strengthen the sense of community and compassion within Lane County.

Service as a Shared Responsibility

Bahá’ís prioritize service to society and are encouraged to engage in social endeavors by collaborating with like-minded individuals and organizations:

“While eschewing partisan political activity, Bahá’ís are to vigorously engage in constructive public discourse and in a wide range of social endeavours aimed at the betterment of the world and the progress of their respective nations. They undertake such activities with humility, discernment and respect for prevailing laws and social conditions, in a spirit of learning and in collaboration with like-minded groups and individuals, fully confident in the power inherent in the principle of unity in diversity and in the efficacy of mutual aid and cooperation.” –Universal House of Justice, January 2010