(Medford, Oregon) June 16, 2026 – A variety of transportation-related resources intended to help some library patrons get from point A to point B is coming to Jackson County Library Services, thanks to a $15,000 Oregon Community Foundation grant.
The Reed and Carolee Walker Fund’s Strategic Grant, awarded to the Jackson County Library Foundation last month, will pay for bicycle and cart maintenance education and repair kits, and Rogue Valley Transit District bus tokens, passes, and tickets.
JCLS Community Resource specialists will work with patrons to address individual transportation needs. Additional services offered by the department include applications for affordable and temporary housing, Oregon Health Plan and healthcare marketplace assistance, substance use treatment information, and assistance in filing for unemployment and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP.
“Mobility and transportation, that’s one of the biggest barriers that we’re seeing for a lot of the folks that our team works with,” says JCLS Community Resource Manager Thaddeus Crawford. “For a lot of folks, just being able to get around – getting four blocks – is a challenge. We really want to be able to facilitate them to get out and about and move around so they can take care of their business.”
The bicycle and cart repair initiative is intended to help patrons keep their vehicles on the road and functioning.
JCLS community resource specialist Leigh Madsen had already been volunteering his time at a local bicycle shop. The grant offers an opportunity for the work to continue in a leveled-up capacity.
“We want to officially bring that into the fold and create our own repair kits…to teach folks how to maintain their vehicles,” Crawford says. “The biggest thing is tires. There are so many different sizes of tires. We’ll be purchasing a lot of plugs and patches, compressors so they can pump (their tires) up, and some tools so they can do basic repairs.”
“We want to teach folks how to maintain their own property so it’s a lot easier and will last longer,” he adds.
Rogue Valley Transit District fares paid for with the grant will include tokens that pay for one ride, specialized passes that pay for six rides, and tickets that can pay for longer commutes.
“That way patrons can get to where they’re going, whether it’s to food, medical, or work,” Crawford says. “And then they have a way to get back.”
Community Resource specialists are also looking at putting some of the funds toward additional food they can distribute. The department currently hands out snacks, mostly at the Ashland and Medford branches, but Crawford says he would like to build on that.
Crawford adds that he is grateful for the opportunity to upgrade Community Resources’ offerings.