Heart of Oregon Corps youth serve community at FireFree

On a crisp spring morning, energetic crews of two dozen youth assemble in the early light at the Knott Landfill on Southeast 27th Street in Bend.

As local residents drive up to the site, Heart of Oregon Corps youth crews help residents back trailers and quickly unload branches, pine needles and brush from vehicles into massive debris piles at Knott for recycling.

Every year, Heart of Oregon Corps employs multiple crews to work during FireFree every day throughout the week and two weekends.

The event, which spans May 6-14th, encourages area residents to maintain defensible space around their homes to reduce wildfire risk.

Founded in 2000, Heart of Oregon Corps helps young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds earn their way to success.

“I love helping people prepare for the upcoming wildfire season,” said Ben Monia, an AmeriCorps member at Heart of Oregon Corps, who has participated in the event for the last two years.

“Working outdoors and in the community with HOC is real fun for me. I really feel like I’m helping keep our neighborhoods safe,” said Moria.

For 17 years, Heart to Oregon Corps has provided alternative options for youth through job skills training and alternative education programs. Through events like FireFree, HOC helps young people transform their own lives and prepare to enter the workforce through service to the community.

Visit the FireFree website at www.firefree.org for more information about how you can prepare your property for wildfire season.