Nonprofits Count on Year-End Giving to Help Needy People Survive the Pandemic

Nonprofits Count on Year-End Giving to Help Needy People Survive the Pandemic

Portland, OR. Local families are in need of help after a year of unprecedented challenges. Pacific Northwest communities have supported causes like Black Lives Matter, record-breaking fundraising for political parties, and support for small businesses forced to close due to Covid-19. Nonprofits are hoping that they’ll receive much-needed year-end donations this holiday season. (Causes like Children’s Book Bank, pictured above, represent one of many local nonprofits that serve local families).

There are many meaningful actions that donors can take to help local communities in need of shelter, food, basic necessities, or toys for Christmas morning. On PortlandSocietyPage.com we have a page with a list of nonprofits, here’s a link to our partner’s page. Below is also a list of diverse nonprofits that may inspire those who can afford to offer time and resources to help these imperative causes thrive into the new year.

Volunteers at Blanchet House are encouraged to apply and follow strict Covid guidelines to ensure the safety of the community.

  • Blanchet House provides food, shelter, and aid to any in need with mutual respect and compassion. You can sign up to volunteer and learn more about donations on the non-profit’s website.  Blanchet House is also participating in Willamette Weekly’s Give Guide and are trying to raise 35,000 dollars by December 31st.
  • The Christmas Family Adoption Foundation makes it possible to support an entire family in need during the holiday season. The PNW families are nominated to receive Christmas gifts from a wishlist. You can contribute in multiple ways on the foundation’s website so if you are unable to adopt a family, you can still support this worthy cause.
  • Oregon Food Bank is another excellent way to make sure those in need have a warm meal this winter. The organization has extended it’s Giving Tuesday fundraiser, and are also participating in Willamette Weekly’s Give Guide. With 1,400 food pantries all over Oregon and SW Washington, and you can sign up to volunteer and help keep the business thriving on it’s website.
  • Children’s Book Bank is a wonderful organization to give to around the holidays. This non-profit knows how important books are in children’s lives and has donated over 650,000 books to children in the Portland area.  Book donations are being accepted along with monetary contributions, and you can volunteer with Children’s Book Bank virtually.
  • Store To Door makes sure that seniors and those with disabilities receive the groceries that they need through volunteer grocery shopping and delivery. This busy non-profit is always in need of volunteers and have many different ways that you can contribute. Store To Door has been improving the quality of lives of those in need since 1989.
  • Rose Haven works to ensure the safety of women, children, and marginalized genders that are experiencing homelessness, poverty, and other traumas. This organization provides a safe and stable community for these individuals, along with health resources and emotional support. Rose Haven’s volunteer positions focus on to-go meals, door-to-door services, and Covid-19 support currently, and there are many ways to donate to this worthy cause on the non-profit’s website.
  • Sunshine Division is another organization that will be in full swing ensuring that Pacific Northwest families get everything they need this winter. Food donations are always appreciated by this organization (with new Covid restrictions in place), and the non-profit hopes to continue to help families in the Portland area through monetary contributions this holiday season. Sunshine Division’s annual Winter Wonderland event runs from November 27th through January 2nd, and you can enjoy the drive-through light show from the safety of your car.

Sunshine Division organizes this Covid-safe family activity to support a great cause.

  • West Linn Food Pantry provides West Linn and Lake Oswego families with emergency food donations. They accept curbside food donations every Thursday between 1PM and 6PM at the non-profit’s West Linn location.
  • Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program gifts new clothing and toys to families for Christmas in the Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties. You can donate these items on the organization’s website, and find out more about the many ways this non-profit helps marginalized communities in the Portland Metro area.
  • Hands-On Greater Portland is an excellent resource for finding out how you can volunteer and get involved this holiday season. This non-profit works to connect volunteers with projects and will help you find the best way to utilize your resources to help our local communities thrive. The site keeps an updated project calendar as well, to keep you updated on when your help is needed.

Please support any of the very worthy causes or those on our partner’s page.

Foundation Helps “Store to Door” Support Portland Seniors and Adults with Disabilities

Foundation Helps “Store to Door” Support Portland Seniors and Adults with Disabilities

Portland, OR. Foundation is a boutique on Northwest 23rd Avenue that donates its profits, after expenses, to one local charity each quarter. This quarter’s beneficiary is Store to Door and the nonprofit hosted an event to kick off the partnership. Erin Riddle, Marcia Blasen, Elizabeth Lott, and Eumi Wymbs were on hand for the event. (Brendan Ffitch, photo credit)

Store to Door is a Portland non-profit that supports independent living for Portland area seniors and adults with disabilities by providing an affordable, personal, volunteer-based grocery shopping and delivery service. In 2018, Store to Door shopped and delivered more than 11,569 grocery orders to more than 682 clients across the Portland metro area.

“All of our nonprofit partners are very important to us,” said Holly Levow, co-founder and CEO of Foundation. “We couldn’t be more excited to help educate the community about their missions and to empower customers to give directly to these important organizations through something they would be doing anyway – shopping for clothes and accessories they love and feel great in.”

Foundation is located at 919 NW 23rd Avenue, Portland.

Foundation opened in August. The boutique gives 100 percent of profits, after expenses, to a featured non-profit partner. Store to Door will receive 100 percent of Foundation profits made from March 7th through June 5th.

“Store to Door is thrilled to be selected as an Impact Partner!” said Kiersten Ware, Store to Door Executive Director. “Foundation’s commitment to creating a more equitable world and their priority around women’s empowerment and health is very much aligned with our mission. 78% of Store to Door’s clients are women and 86% are low-income. Studies have shown that women over 75 are twice as likely to live in poverty than men. And the poverty rate among seniors of color in Multnomah County is 19% – almost twice the rate for the overall senior population. Store to Door is proud to partner with Foundation in its commitment to address these inequities so that all seniors can be nourished, included, and can live in dignity in the setting of their own choice.”

“When creating Foundation, we knew it was important to not only give with purpose but purchase with purpose,” said Chelsea Armstrong, co-founder of Foundation. To learn more about Foundation’s, upcoming events and its quarterly non-profit partners visit: www.foundationpdx.com.

From Foundation:

Foundation is a Portland-based boutique with a BIG mission: to champion a wide variety of social movements through a combination of fashion, philanthropy and community dialogue. Each quarter the women of Foundation research and carefully select a non-profit organization whose mission they strongly believe in. Foundation kicks off each partnership with an Impact event, an evening of fashion, philanthropy, food and drinks, that it hopes brings awareness to each organization’s mission. The community is invited to learn about Foundation’s non-profit partners, celebrate their great work and contribute to the cause by shopping the season’s best styles. Foundation donates 100 percent of profits and features ethical and socially conscious brands in its store.

From Store to Door:

Since 1989, Store to Door has supported independent living for Portland area seniors and people with disabilities by providing an affordable, personal, volunteer-based grocery shopping and delivery service. When the program began, five volunteers shopped for twenty-five local seniors. Now, 29 years later, Store to Door serves more than 680 clients more than 11,500 deliveries each year. As a volunteer-based organization, Store to Door relies on more than 1500 volunteers annually, who committed more than 17,000 hours of volunteer time last year.

Can You Volunteer for a Nonprofit? We’re Bringing The Standard’s 2015 Volunteer Expo to You!

Can You Volunteer for a Nonprofit? We’re Bringing The Standard’s 2015 Volunteer Expo to You!

Portland, September 10th, 2015. If you couldn’t join the thousands who flocked to Pioneer Courthouse Square for The Standard’s Annual Volunteer Expo, you’re in luck. We’ve got all the information and website links to explore over 125 local nonprofits that could use your time.

A full list of links of nonprofits is at the bottom of our story.

R. Richard Crockett, (left) is the Program Operations Director & Volunteer Coordinator

R. Richard Crockett, (left) is the Program Operations Director & Volunteer Coordinator at Chess for Success.

Classroom Law Project is a non-profit organization of individuals, educators, lawyers, and civic leaders building strong communities by teaching students to become active citizens.

Classroom Law Project is a non-profit organization of individuals, educators, lawyers, and civic leaders building strong communities by teaching students to become active citizens.

The Standard’s Volunteer Expo has repeat participants year after year, here’s a look at some nonprofits which continue to recruit volunteers:

Jenny Bedell-Stiles and Andy Meeks from Friends of Trees

Jenny Bedell-Stiles and Andy Meeks from Friends of Trees

PHAME Academy's Katie Farewell talks with Casey Rhodes and Clark Hays.

talks with Casey Rhodes and Clark Hays.

Jenny chu from Literary Arts

Jenny Chu from Literary Arts

New Avenues For Youth were a hit because they dished out the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream!

New Avenues For Youth volunteers are a hit every year because they dish out the free Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream!

Rachel Rundles from Oregon Historical Society

Rachel Randles from Oregon Historical Society

The Volunteers of America recruited some new volunteers!

The Volunteers of America recruited some new volunteers!

Special Olympics Oregon was recruiting volunteers.

Special Olympics Oregon has room for coaches and event volunteers.

Newspace Center for Photography

Newspace Center for Photography promoted its multidimensional photography resource center and community hub for students, working artists, professional photographers, educators, and photo-enthusiasts of all types.

Latino Network's Edgar Ortega

Latino Network’s Edgar Ortega

Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro Area had a colorful display.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro Area had a colorful display.

Donations to Work for Art’s Community Fund and Arts Education Fund support more than 80 vital arts and culture organizations every year—encompassing dance, visual arts, music, literary arts, media arts, theater, cultural arts, and arts education

The Work for Art’s Community Fund and Arts Education Fund support more than 80 arts and culture organizations every year—encompassing dance, visual arts, music, literary arts, media arts, theater, cultural arts, and arts education.

IMPACT NW drew interested prospective volunteers who learned that each year over 60,000 low-income children, youth, families, seniors, and adults with disabilities participate in Impact NW’s comprehensive anti-poverty programs.

IMPACT NW drew prospective volunteers who learned that each year over 60,000 low-income children, youth, families, seniors, and adults with disabilities participate in Impact NW’s comprehensive anti-poverty programs.

The YMCA was handing out information about programs.

The YMCA was handing out information about programs.

People who stopped by The Q Center booth were met with a friendly smile.

People who stopped by The Q Center booth were met with a friendly smile.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oregon Chapter staffers promoted their many volunteer options.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oregon Chapter staffers promoted their many volunteer options.

Reps from the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon explained their work on behalf of local cats and kittens.

Reps from the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon explained their work on behalf of local cats and kittens.

American Red Cross volunteer recruiters had the trademark red vests!

American Red Cross volunteer recruiters had the trademark red vests!

The mission of the Make-A-Wish Oreogn Foundation® is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

The mission of the Make-A-Wish Oreogn Foundation® is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Northwest Pilot Project began in 1969 as an all volunteer agency to provide basic supports for seniors at risk of losing their ability to live independently.

Northwest Pilot Project began in 1969 as an all volunteer agency to provide basic supports for seniors at risk of losing their ability to live independently.

Miracle Theatre Group is The Northwest's premiere Latino arts and culture organization.

Miracle Theatre Group is The Northwest’s premiere Latino arts and culture organization.

Camp Fire offers opportunities for volunteers who like to work with kids.

Camp Fire offers opportunities for volunteers who like to work with kids.

Kathy Pienovi from Bridge Meadows

Bridge Meadows is a multi-generation housing community serving Oregon’s vulnerable populations; foster youth, adoptive parents and elders (55+).

Here’s a list of links to charities at the The Standard’s Volunteer Expo. Please consider donating your time, and tell them PortlandSocietyPage.com sent you!

Arts, Culture & Humanities

Human Services

Education

Environment, Animals

Health

Public/Society Benefit