Many thanks for helping hand.

Byline: Susan Palmer The Register-Guard

CORRECTION (ran 7/22/2006): The city of Eugene's homeless camping program does not allow people with campers to park on city streets, only in designated private and public areas. A story on Page D1 on Thursday about the anniversary of the Richard W. Lindholm Service Center was in error. Also, the center's annual budget is $120,000, which does not include money for the homeless camping program.

It wasn't exactly the Oscars - no glitterati and ostentation - but there were awards and speeches and applause for stellar performances on Wednesday at the Richard W. Lindholm Service Center.

It's the 10th anniversary of the day center for homeless men and women tucked in a former bank building on Highway 99. Staff members, clients and volunteers gathered to mark a decade of success in helping some of the community's most vulnerable.

Billy McKnight was honored for his culinary creativity in the kitchen. McKnight, 75, who says he's homeless by choice, is a retired cook and both a client and volunteer at the center.

Star Martell was honored for her perseverance in getting a job and apartment after falling on hard times last year.

Volunteer Susan Jones got kudos for helping with recent remodeling efforts.

And the center's supporters were recognized for providing everything from food to books to medical care.

The Lindholm center provides a place for people to shower and do laundry. They can find a free meal there, use the telephone, stash backpacks and obtain free personal hygiene items. They can use the center as a mailing address when applying for jobs and even look for work on a computer that provides Internet access.

"Without this place, some of these people, I don't know how they would make it," McKnight said.

The Lindholm center started out 10 years ago as the Service Station, the result of a phone call from then-City Councilor Jim Torrey who called St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director Terry McDonald. McDonald managed to lease a vacant gas station on Highway 99, created a budget and plan practically overnight and had the place up and running that year.

Designed to help about 25 people a day, within months it was drawing 80.

In 2001, with a donation from the family of former University of Oregon economics professor Richard Lindholm, St. Vincent de Paul purchased the more spacious bank building across the street.

Now it regularly helps 110 to 130 people a day with an annual budget of close to $170,000, the bulk of it provided by the city of Eugene. The money also supports the city's car camping program, which allows people with campers to park them on designated streets.

The center has had a recent face-lift, including the addition of a welcoming tropical landscape mural inside and a small tranquil garden with a bench nestled in the shade outside.

The help she received there made a difference for Star Martell, who had never been homeless before a spate of hard times last fall. She's now working for an inventory services company and has a place to live.

"It was shocking to me," she said. "If you don't have kids, there aren't a lot of resources. ... The thing about this place is you're able to get a foot in the door. It was good to be able to access some of the tools they have. It's a good program for people who are homeless."

RICHARD W. LINDHOLM SERVICE CENTER Where: 450 Highway 99N Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Information: Call 484-8688