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Metropolitan Family Service Provides Holiday Cheer for Those in Need

Metropolitan Family Service Holiday Cheer event

Portland, December 3rd. It was a festive scene inside the main hall at Madeline Parish in NE Portland, where nearly 50 volunteers sorted and wrapped gifts to fill 235 gift bags. Volunteers gathered for the Metropolitian Famly Service Holiday Cheer; it’s an event to create gift bags for seniors and people with disabilities. Volunteers will deliver the gift bags to isolated older adults and people with disabilities through the end of the year.

Metropolitan Family Service staff volunteered their time at this year’s Holiday Cheer event. From left, Abby Becic Wood, Deborah Shimkus and Monica Wirtz.

Metropolitan Family Service is also planning a Holiday Toy Store for local families in need. Organizers are looking for gifts of new toys, games, children’s books and movies to help kids of all ages have a happy holiday season. The organization is asking for donations by December 19th. The Toy Store accepts new, unwrapped toys at the Metropolitan Family Service office, located at 1808 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon 97214. Organizers are especially looking for gifts that teens would appreciate. During the week of December 19-23, parents from low income families are able to select a gift for each of their children. For more information about the Holiday Toy Store, please contact Jarrine Shaw at 503.232.0007, ext. 107.

Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator Deborah Shimkus greeted volunteers at the Metropolitan Family Service Holiday Cheer event and Linda Kepford (right) MFS Volunteer and Holiday Cheer’s supreme shopper organized this year’s volunteer effort along with Marcy Hughes (left) program coordinator.

For over 60 years, Metropolitan Family Service has played a vital role in the lives of children, families, and older adults. It provides services at 88 sites, including 57 schools. Metropolitan Family Service makes connections that strengthen the lives of 33,000 individuals and families each year. Metropolitan Family Service’s 1,800 skilled and caring volunteers contribute 129,000 hours in the tri-county area, a value to the community of $2.2 million.

Metropolitan Family Service’s Holiday Cheer is supported by Bank of America Employee Matching Contribution Program, Josh Reynolds, Linda Kepford, Lisa Blasen, Marcia Blasen, Starbucks Coffee, Cindy Yablok, Diane Burnworth, the Employees of Kraft-Nabisco, Bonnie Kiltow, Nancy Turner, and National Charity League – Portland Chapter.

Holiday Toy Store is supported by Adidas, Hawthorne Wellness, IBM, Mercy Corps International and Metro Parent Magazine. For more information on this event, contact Pat Kaczmarek, Marketing & Communications Manager, at 503.232.0007, ext. 170 or patk@metfamily.org, or visit www.metfamily.org.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.