A news release from Multnomah County with a call for donations follows. If you can help in any way …

Come January 3, the holidays will be behind us. But the most basic human needs — for food and warm clothing — will remain.

Portland Plan meeting at David Douglas today

A media advisory (new name for  press release) from Bureau of Planning & Sustainability Eden Dabbs about the Portland Plan’s Phase Two workshop at David Douglas High School follows:

“WHAT: Portland residents are invited to participate in the Portland Plan Phase Two Community Workshops all over town!

“Featuring door prizes, refreshments and live music, the East Portland Plan workshop will be Saturday, May 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at David Douglas High School. Childcare will be provided.

Because Multnomah County is required to furnish court facilities to adjudicate violations that occur east of 122nd Avenue, the proposed East County Courts Project is important to east Portland. The e-mail follows:

“The East County Courts Project will hold an informational meeting about the proposed East County Justice Center Tuesday, March 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Parklane Christian Refomed Church, 16001 S.E. Main St.

“The purpose of the meeting is to update community members and get their comments on the status of the East County Courts. The agenda includes: Brief overview on recent history of the project by the Project Manager Comments at beginning and end from Commissioners McKeel and Shiprack.

We recently received a note from  from Brenda Brady, Interim Director of College Advancement at Mt. Hood Community College in east Multnomah County.  It follows:

With Oregon’s unemployment rate the second highest in the country, Mt. Hood Community College has increased its efforts to assist the unemployed with a wide variety of retraining opportunities, job search strategies and skill development.

The MHCC Career Planning and Counseling Center offers workshops for unemployed individuals to learn about new “green” careers, search strategies, how to write a resume and techniques to cope with stress. The MHCC Small Business Development Center offers a new free seminar, “Navigating Your Business Through an Economic Downturn,” designed for small businesses suffering from the recession.

Began in May, volunteers for Loaves & Fishes Centers have delivered emergency food and water rations to homebound seniors in east Portland as part of the plan to deliver the same for all metro area homebound seniors to use in the event of a natural disaster.

Seniors who regularly receive Meals-On-Wheels were provided with two gallon-size water jugs, an emergency meal bar (a 2,400-calorie bar), an emergency planning pamphlet and a personal information card to record important contact and medication information. Volunteers delivered the supplies and helped seniors understand the importance of personal preparation.

SnowCap Community Charities held its fourth annual fundraising dinner and auction Feb. 11 at the Airport Sheraton Hotel  in east Portland.

Over 300 people attended and over $44,000 was raised, according to SnowCap advisory board of directors member Charlie Ross.
Congratulations were given to Carlene Weldon, chair of the auction, for SnowCap’s most successful fundraising effort to date.
Some history would be appropriate.

In the mid 60s the basic life needs of many in the mid and eastern portions of Multnomah County were not being met by any agency or organization. Approximately 25 area churches stepped in to fill the void felt by so many residents, creating what was formerly known as SnowCAP. SnowCAP, an acronym for Suburban Neighborhoods Operation Witness Community Action Program, was born on Jan. 16, 1967.