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FEATURE ARTICLES | |
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Bid to help the poor
Oregon has some of the highest hunger and unemployment rates in the nation. The Mid-county area has been hit particularly hard. The Snow-CAP service organization is serving 33% more people than last year, and half of them are children.
To help meet this growing need, Snow-CAP invites you to participate in the Snow-CAP Valentine Dinner Auction on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Persimmon Country Club, 500 S.E. Butler Rd. (off Hogan). Proceeds from this event will support Snow-CAP’s work with local, low-income families. Programs that will benefit include Food 2 You, which delivers food to low income seniors, a community garden that allows families to grow their own vegetables and a family literacy program.
The Dinner Auction includes something for everyone, from river rafting to massage, coffee, golf, Spirit Mountain Casio and much, much more. You can also win a “Sweetheart package” to make Valentine’s Day a day your sweetheart will remember. There will be a silent auction and an oral one.
For more information about the Snow-CAP Dinner Auction or on how to buy tickets, please call Snow-CAP at 503-408-2110.
Enjoy an evening of music from David’s Harp
David’s Harp, a community based socialization program for adults with severe and persistent mental illness, is celebrating their 25th anniversary on Friday, Feb. 14. In honor of that legacy, they have organized a fund-raising concert for Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. Musical guests will include jazz pianist Michael Allen Harrison and contemporary folk musicians James West and Josh Butler.
Budget reductions, service cuts and declining resources have been all too familiar to the mental health system. “It has been our great challenge to assist members with peer support development in a community of extremely limited resources. The sense of community at David’s Harp has helped to keep our members out of the hospital, off the streets and out of jail, subsequently offering a more satisfying, successful life,” said Mary Kautzer, Program Director of David’s Harp.
The program has two vans that provide free transportation to community activities. They also provide weekly hot meals and lunches, group support/educational discussions and other life enrichment classes. Members freely socialize over coffee and connect with one another in a supportive, encouraging environment. Members care about and motivate each other, which is essential support in the journey of recovery.
David’s Harp is funded through a variety of different community resources, but government cuts have sharply reduced the available funds. This program needs your help now more than ever. Attend this night of celebration and music, and help support an important community service.
For more information, please call David’s Harp at 503-253-8883.
Tired of the cold seeping in your house?
You can learn how to keep the cold air out of your home this year with the help of the Community Energy Project. A weatherization workshop will help you learn how to stop those heat-sucking drafts and save energy through material installation, behavioral changes and simple maintenance around the home. Both homeowners and renters are welcome. Qualified participants receive a free kit of materials worth $150. This workshop will be held at the East Portland Community Center, 740 S.E. 106th Ave. on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon.
For more information or to register, please call 503-284-6827.
PDC Gateway housing plans to be unveiled Feb. 19
The Portland Development Commission will unveil the first draft of its Gateway Housing Strategy at a meeting of the Opportunity Gateway Program Advisory Committee. The public is invited to the 6 p.m. meeting Feb. 19 at Woodland Park Hospital, 10300 N.E. Hancock St. PDC staff will be available to explain and discuss the draft before the committee begins its consideration at 6:30 p.m.
Monthly Group Meetings
No green thumb? No problem
Have you always wanted to have plants and flowers around you, but were never sure how to get started? Now is your chance. The Indoor Gardening Club can help you learn how to nurture the plants in your indoor garden into vibrant health. This club, made up of both beginners and gardening experts can give you tips and advice suited for your plants, and even advise you which plants would be best suited to your needs. Even if you’ve never had a “green thumb,” the Indoor Gardening Club can help you decorate your home with plant life.
Each meeting includes a special program, often with field trips, guest speakers, and plant exchanges. Every meeting also includes a potluck dinner provided by all those who attend. The next meeting will be held at noon on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 15893 N.E. Holladay St. For more information, please call Charlotte Smith at 503-771-5762.
Stay involved
As more programs and city services lose funding, it becomes even more important for citizens to become involved. A strong, involved Neighborhood Association makes the difference to your neighborhood. Not only can they provide things such as neighborhood watch programs and local celebrations, but they can also bring problems in the neighborhood to the attention of city organizations and suggest solutions. Do your part to make your neighborhood a nice place to live - join your local Neighborhood Association. Local meetings are listed below. For general East Portland Neighborhood Office information, please call Becky Hughes at 503-823-4550.
•The Mill Park Neighborhood Association meets on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. For more information or meeting location, please call Rosemarie Opp at 503-256-4591.
•The Parkrose Neighborhood Association will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 11229 N.E. Prescott St.
•The Parkrose Heights Association of Neighbors will hold a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in Miller Hall at United Methodist Church, 11111th N.E. Knott St. For information, please call Carol Williams, 503-255-9596 or Grace Fitzgerald, 503-254-3767.
•The Wilkes Community Group will hold a general meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Teamsters Complex, Jo Edgar Hall, 1850 NE 162nd Ave. to discuss the development of “Wilkes Park”, to be located at N.E. 154th Avenue and Beech Street.
Patty Freeman, a Portland Parks and Recreation Representative introduced the scope of Phase I of the Wilkes Park Project at the November and January meetings. This two acre site was purchased by the City of Portland, but has sat vacant for four years. A fund was granted by the state and matched by the city so the community has money to start development of a portion of the park this spring. Currently there are no parks at all in the Wilkes neighborhood and very little park land or prospects are set aside even with the new bond having passed. Help this change by joining the discussion and design of the Wilkes Park. Meetings regarding the park will be held both on Tuesday, Feb. 11 and Tuesday, March 11.
For more information, please call Ross Monn at 503-261-1010.
Parkrose businesses work together
The Parkrose Business Association (PBA) is an organization that is dedicated to improving the Parkrose area and promoting local businesses. They keep their members informed of business and neighborhood news. Each meeting also includes a guest speaker on a topic of interest. The PBA also holds “Member Moments,” when a member business gets a chance to inform others in the association about their business and what they do.
The “Member Moment” in February will focus on Paul Butter, representing the Little Chapel of the Chimes. The meeting will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 in Steamer’s Restaurant, 8303 N.E. Sandy Blvd.
For more information about this organization, please call President Gordon Boorse at 503-493-2215 or e-mail proseba@aol.com.
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