Portland, OR. Stormy weather didn’t deter people from attending Oregon Harvest Dinner at the Oregon Food Bank’s NE Portland warehouse. A record breaking $670,000 was raised to support hunger relief programs in Oregon and Clark County, Washington. “By coming together we can feed the human spirit and end hunger,” said Susannah Morgan, CEO of Oregon Food Bank. “I was delighted to hear from so many people about their desire to make sure no one is hungry.”
Oregon Food Bank board member Syd Hannigan chaired the October 15th benefit which was emceed by Ken Boddie and Jenny Hansson of KOIN 6. Fred Meyer was presenting sponsor and other major sponsors included Whole Foods, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Hampton Affiliates, Northwest Farm Credit Services, and Safeway Albertsons.
The event also honored the 2016 Hunger Hero Award winners. Sponsored by Mike and Libby Crawford, awards were presented to just a few of the many individuals, business and groups for their commitment to eliminating hunger.
Blues legend Reggie Houston provided entertainment for guests at Oregon Harvest Dinner.
Oregon Food Bank supporters Judy and Brad Johnson attended Oregon Harvest Dinner.
Oregon Food Bank Board Chair Josh Hinerfeld (Interim COO, SeQuential) and board member Kerri Hoyt-Pack (VP, Global Brand, Direct-to-Consumer, Nike).
Libby & Mike Crawford, John Gehrs (Pacific Foods), Susannah Morgan, Peter Stoll, Molly Ott & Isiah Ott (Polehn Farms), Patti Whitney-Wise.
Board member Arnie Gardner (Nike) is retiring from the board and was honored for his 16 years of service to Oregon Food Bank.
The five Hunger Heroes awards given included:
Donor of the Year – Oregon Lawyers Against Hunger (OLAH): For their humble and relentless commitment to raise funds for Oregon Food Bank and support the mission.
Food Donor of the Year – Pacific Foods: For their significant and ongoing donations of healthy food to ensure everyone has access to good nutrition.
Jackie Fearing Volunteer Award – Peter Stoll: For his boundless energy, dedication and compassion in helping others who struggle with hunger.
Leadership Award – Polehn Farms: For taking action to ensure people living in the Columbia Gorge have enough to eat
Jerry Tippens Advocacy Award – Patti Whitney-Wise: For her tenacious efforts to fight the root causes of hunger by promoting food programs and working on policies to provide pathways out of poverty.
Next year’s Oregon Harvest Dinner has been set for October 21, 2017.
Portland, OR. The 2016 Christmas Ships Parade season is upon us. About 60 ships, including seven new displays, will be parading on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers for 15 nights, beginning on Friday Dec. 2nd. Organizers combine the fleets for six nights. The schedules are below.
Here’s a link to the Columbia Fleet Schedule and Willamette Fleet Schedule. Please check the Christmas Ship Facebook and Twitter pages to make sure the ships are on schedule in inclement weather..
Organizers send out position reports via Twitter on most parade nights. Look for either #ColumbiaFleet or #WillametteFleet at www.twitter.com/ChristmasShips.
From Christmas Ships:
From Christmas Ships:
All of us from the Christmas Ship group urge your support to keep the Parade afloat. Your donation helps to sustain the parade that sails on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers annually. Our lighted boats bring holiday spirit to thousands of viewers in the area and a showcase event for your customers and guests.
Our members pay all of their own expenses, from decorations to operating costs. It is a huge time commitment but we all enjoy the Parade season. Donated funds help to defray the cost of administering, maintaining and promoting our non-profit organization. Christmas Ships, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization, there are no paid staff, all donations are returned to the community through the continued existence of the Christmas Ship Parade.
This website is used extensively by our visitors to make reservations for restaurants to watch the Christmas Ship Parade and to plan home parties to view the fleet. Please consider sending your donation today.
We thank you in advance for your help in making this year’s Christmas Parade the best ever. We list our contributors on our Supporters page (unless you choose to remain anonymous).
Christmas Ships, Inc. is a tax exempt organization. EIN #93-1157902
For those that don’t want to donate online (via Paypal), checks can be mailed to:
| Christmas Ships, Inc PO Box 55331 Portland, OR 97238-55331 |
Portland, OR. Guide Dogs for the Blind celebrated its Oregon Fall Luncheon on November 4th at The Nines Hotel in downtown Portland. Attendees enjoyed a wine reception where they mingled with GDB puppies and guide dogs, followed by a lunch that featured a moving and educational program. Mark Wright and Claire Widmark-Wright met their new guide dog puppy Kona. As is customary at GDB events, a presentation of young puppies to their new volunteer puppy raisers closed out the event to the delight of the guests.
Honoree Howard Hedinger with keynote speaker Kathryn Marksen-Simonson and her guide dog, Nabisco.
Guide Dogs for the Blind President and CEO Christine Benninger with GDB Board Member Von Summers.
There was a demo of GDB’s positive reinforcement methods for guide dog training, and alumna Kathryn Marxen Simonson, with her guide dog, Nabisco, provided the keynote address. In addition, GDB honored long-time supporter, Howard Hedinger, for his many years of dedication to our mission.
From Guide Dogs for the Blind:
Since 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) has been creating partnerships between people, dogs, and communities. With exceptional client services and a robust network of instructors, puppy raisers, donors, and volunteers, we prepare highly qualified guide dogs to serve and empower individuals who are blind or have low vision from throughout the United States and Canada.
All of the services for our clients are provided free of charge, including personalized training and extensive post-graduation support, plus financial assistance for veterinary care, if needed. Our work is made possible by the generous support of our donors and volunteers; we receive no government funding.
Portland, OR. More than 500 people attended Central City Concern‘s (CCC) Compassion in Action annual luncheon at the Portland Art Museum on November 15th. Mayor-elect Ted Wheeler opened the program, which featured inspiring stories of CCC staff and clients as well as words from Ed Blackburn, CCC’s executive director. The event raised about $200,000. (Photo Credit, Andrea Lonas)
More than 500 people attended the sold out event.
Ed Blackburn received a standing ovation after detailing CCC’s commitment to move forward.
Here’s a video about Central City Concern.
From Central City Concern:
Central City Concern (CCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency serving single adults and families in the Portland metro area who are impacted by homelessness, poverty and addictions. Founded in 1979, the agency has developed a comprehensive continuum of affordable housing options integrated with direct social services including healthcare, recovery and employment. CCC currently has a staff of 600+, an annual operating budget of $47 million and serves more than 13,000 individuals annually.
Portland, OR. Volunteers at the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division packed 1,600 boxes of food to help needy people celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Over the course of 94 years, this program has allowed thousands upon thousands of families and individuals in the Portland-metro area to have a holiday meal and a sense of stability during difficult times in their lives.
The Sunshine Division shared one story exemplifying how one small act of kindness can illuminate a period of darkness and change the course of someone’s life.
Here is William’s story:
“Last year I received a holiday food box from you guys. I had just gotten off the streets and placed into my new apartment. Life seemed good from anyone looking in from out, but I was very depressed. Not only had I lost my grandmother that summer but I decided to change my life which included the friends I had.
I had no one to spend the holidays with.
I remember my housing specialist from Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare helping me sign up for the food box but I totally forgot about it. I started feeling more depressed and I actually started to want to end my life. Sad but very true. I was telling myself something has to give.
I got a knock on my door, and it was volunteers with my food box… I’ll never forget the feeling.
I had lost everything. No family or friends for the holidays and the Sunshine Division became my family. I may not have been able to enjoy it with you all but just knowing so many people cared. I truly needed the food but more then that I needed to know someone cared.
Thats my story you can edit it or use it, but please try to share it because what you all do, it’s important. You truly bring joy into peoples lives.” – William
There is another opportunity to help. Here’s information about the efforts for Christmas:
With the help of hundreds of volunteers, the Sunshine Division will pack and deliver 3,500 Holiday Food Boxes this December. RSVPs are required to participate in pack nights and delivery day.
2016 Pack Nights:
Monday, December 12, 6p – 8p
Wednesday, December 14, 6p – 8p
2016 Delivery Day:
Saturday, December 17th, 9a – 1pm
Scheduling for holiday volunteerism begins in October. Email mailto:[email protected] to provide support at SE precinct, East precinct, North precinct and Sunshine Division.
