Portland, OR. Recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as one of the “Largest Holiday Light Shows West of the Mississippi,” the 29th annual Safeway Winter Wonderland features colorful light displays around every corner.
Saturday nights are busy and the display sold out on December 18th. Primetime hours can involve a 50+ minute wait.
Since 1993, over two million visitors have journeyed through Winter Wonderland as a festive tradition to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season with families, friends, and social organizations.
Spectators enjoy the drive-through light show from the comfort of their own vehicles, viewing over 250 colorful light set pieces and many fully animated scenes along the way.
All proceeds from the event benefit Sunshine Division‘s year-round hunger relief efforts that provide thousands of free, nutritious meals to Portland families in need. The Sunshine Division offers free food and clothing assistance for qualifying Portlanders at an on-site food pantry and clothing rooms and through food box programs and a no-cost food bank.
Sunshine Division administrators explain, “We offer food assistance six days a week at our N Thompson location, five days a week at our SE Stark location, as well as 24/7 through our partnership with the Portland Police Bureau who store food boxes at each police precinct that can be dispatched to people in need at any time. In addition to food relief, we also offer new and gently used clothing.”
sunshine division
Here’s a promotional video about the light display:
From Safeway Winter Wonderland:
SHOW HOURS:
Monday – Thursday, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Friday – Sunday, 4:30 pm – 11:00 pm
**Special Hours** Dec 20th – 26th: 4:30 PM – 11:00 PM
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.
Sunshine Division organizes this Covid-safe family activity to support a great cause.
Please support any of the very worthy causes or those on our partner’s page.
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.
