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The Mid-county Memo offers Memo Pad to highlight celebrations of milestones in readers' lives. Marking accomplishments that often do not receive the recognition they deserve. Everyday events you think should be shared with friends and neighbors along with opportunities to participate in the community. If you submit an item, include the following information: Full names of individuals mentioned, details of the milestone, those impacted by the event, and a contact name, phone number or email address. Include images if you have them. Identify individuals from left to right (for large group shots, simply identify by group name), and provide the name of the photographer for credit. Memo Pad submissions for the January issue are due Monday, Dec. 16. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com, or mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave, Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, call 503-287-8904. The fax number is 503-249-7672.
'Dire situation' at homeless family winter shelter
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| The Human Solutions Family Winter Shelter site is inside Parkrose Community United Church of Christ at 12505 N.E. Halsey St. Now open, they need your help. These little men and their mom and sought shelter in December 2011. Mid-county Memo photo/Tim E. Curran |
On one recent night alone, 64 people-including 32 children-sought nighttime shelter from the rain and cold inside Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, the winter homeless family site at 12505 N.E. Halsey St.
There are cots for them to sleep on, but cupboards are bare.
Homeless families seeking shelter have nothing to eat, according to Jean DeMaster, executive director of Human Solutions, the nonprofit social service agency that operates the Winter Shelter and a new Day Center that gives homeless families who stay overnight a place to go during the day.
“Donations from the community make it possible to provide nutritious food for homeless children and parents at night, and right now the situation is dire,” said DeMaster. The Day Center is also in need of food, DeMaster said.
Historically, community response to the need for food donations has been overwhelming, helping to sustain families in shelter during the coldest times of the year.
The shelters also accept gift cards to purchase food for families.
The intent is to provide a hot meal to homeless families when they arrive at the Winter Shelter at 7 p.m., and then have breakfast foods available for the families to take when they leave the shelter at 7 a.m.
In addition to hot meals, the shelter is in need of individually wrapped cereal bars and granola bars, individually packaged items such as applesauce, fruit cups, and crackers. Juice, milk, coffee, creamer and sugar are also badly needed.
The Day Center can always use the staples needed to make sandwiches, as well as fruit, vegetables, milk and fruit juice.
Blankets, pillows, warm clothing, toiletry items and educational books and toys for children are also needed.
Blankets may be gently used.
The families take pillows and blankets with them when they leave the shelter, and an additional supply is needed for new families.
For more information, or to donate food, contact Kristi King at 503-730-4754.
Principal leads the way
Alice Ott Middle School in the David Douglas School District is one of only nine National Association of Secondary School Principals breakthrough schools nationwide. A breakthrough school is one that serves large numbers of students living in poverty and demonstrates high achieving or dramatically improving student achievement.
Alice Ott did not become an Oregon Model School overnight. The school's 722 students in grades 6-8 come from diverse backgrounds, speak dozens of languages, 73 percent are eligible for free or reduced price meals, and face challenges not found in neighboring schools. Improved student achievement happened continuously over four years and was based on rebuilding the school's reading program to provide direct instruction as well as multiple levels of intervention and enrichment. A school-wide focus on literacy development across content areas complements the reading program. Staff members credit their systematic decision-making and a commitment by Principal James Johnston to stay the course to allow changes to solidify, as significant factors in achieving student gains.
Princess wrestler named teen of month
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| Kyeanna Henry, a Parkrose senior, is this month's Gateway Elks Teenager of the Month. COURTESY ON BROADWAY PHOTOGRAPHY |
Henry is equally comfortable wearing a tiara or headgear. She represented Parkrose on the Rose Festival Court last year and is a three-time state champion wrestler. Henry is senior class president; has served as a Future Business Leaders of America Club officer; is a member of the constitution and mock trial team; plays volleyball and softball; and carries a 3.74 GPA.
Her leisure activities include baking, reading and spending time with family.
Henry hopes to attend Boston University or Clark University-also in the Boston area. She plans to major in communications, international business or, perhaps, political science. Her career aspirations include opening her own business or working in public relations.
She is the daughter of Ken and Brenda Henry.
Gateway Elks Lodge honors a local teen each month during the school year. Learn more about the teenager of the month program and other Gateway Elks programs at gatewayelks.com or call 503-255-6535.
SnowCap plays Santa
Individuals, businesses, churches and service groups are working together with SnowCap to make sure that families facing hard times don't go without this holiday season.
In addition to year-round emergency food and clothing programs, SnowCap volunteers and supporters are collecting new toys to help around 1,500 children this year.
Parkrose resident Tanya Putman has been volunteering for this program for the past seven years. “It feels so good to see how relieved parents are to know that their kids won't do without.”
Putman says that moms and dads often give her a big hug and tell her that if it weren't for SnowCap, their children wouldn't have anything at all for Christmas.
The popular toy program quickly filled the 1,500 spots with the help of community partners. Now the challenge is to ensure that enough toys are donated.
Gloria, a single mother of two is grateful to be part of the program. “I am working two jobs right now and daycare, rent and keeping the lights on come first. I feel so happy and blessed to know my kids will have something.”
According to SnowCap Executive Director Judy Alley, basic human needs are still the number one focus for SnowCap. The agency serves around 8,000 people per month, but utility costs go up when the weather cools down and December is when those bills start to sharply increase.
Alley reports that most days she comes into the office and there is already a long line of hungry people waiting. “It breaks my heart to see so much need, but I know that they will leave with lots of good food to bring home for their families.”
Everything that SnowCap distributes is made possible by the community. “We get excited to get phone calls and emails from people who want to volunteer, requesting donation barrels and want to get involved,” says Alley. “Every donation makes a difference. If you want to help, we will give you the tools.”
Donations hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 17788 S.E. Pine St. For more information, call 503-674-8785 x17 or email alicia@snowcap.org.
Convert street parking to public seating
The Portland Bureau of Transportation is expanding its popular Street Seats program, and is seeking proposals through March 1, 2014 for a maximum of ten new locations citywide.
Now in its third year, Street Seats allows businesses or non-profit organizations to convert on-street parking into other public uses, such as café seating or a mini-park. Based on similar programs in San Francisco and New York City, the program enlivens the streetscape by creating spaces for Portlanders to enjoy seating and a meal or a drink outdoors, which in turn enhances street vitality and benefits local businesses.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation experimented with a pilot Street Seats project in 2012 and instituted an ongoing program in spring 2013.
Today, Portland has eight Street Seat installations, seven of which were organized by restaurants to offer outdoor café seating. One installation has been designed solely for open public seating and is located at the Center for Architecture at Northwest Flanders Street and 11th Avenue.
While encouraging additional restaurant and café proposals, the Transportation Bureau will prioritize design proposals that are open to full public use, such as the Northwest Flanders installation.
Proposals may be seasonal or year-round, and may be located in any part of the city, except the downtown core. Application packets as well as current Street Seat locations may be found at PortlandOregon.gov/Transportation/StreetSeats.
A pool of Street Seats photos from Portland and elsewhere may be found at flickr.com/groups/pdxstreetseats/.
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