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KRISTIN THIEL
FOR THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
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| Waiting for the chauffeured limousine to take them to the prom are seated, from left, junior BreeAnna Day, sophomore Shelby Zehrung and senior Jessica Gray. Also anxiously waiting are junior Austin Crumbley and senior Jaikob Gray. |
| MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN |
In October 2006, Crossroads Church of Christ asked one of its most active members, Linda Schlechter, to identify some community projects it could help with over the following 40 days. Inspired by an article in the Mid-county Memo (“Homeless — not helpless,” November 2006, www.midcountymemo.com/nov06_homeless.html), Schlechter suggested supporting the Parkrose School District’s Gateway Project.
The Gateway Project serves the 250 elementary, middle and high school students in the district who are homeless. Through individual donations and grants from companies and organizations, the project provides for the students above and beyond the state and federal requirements of access to transportation to and from school and free or reduced lunches.
Schlechter gave each family or small group at Crossroads at least one large box, each of which she had labeled with its own purpose, such as “new shirts,” “new coats,” “new socks” and “feminine hygiene products.” Some families and groups had coworkers help fill boxes; others, their neighbors. Schlechter received $1,000 in new items from a Jewish couple living on the west side of Portland who knew nothing of Crossroads. They had simply heard about the drive and given, out of the blue and as complete strangers.
“It came full circle — community giving so we can give back to community,” Schlechter said.
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| Nervous prom beauties are, from left, juniors Ashley Wigen, Kieya Amick and Brittany Pitzer. |
| MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN |
When Schlechter approached Gateway Project representatives to offer more help, she learned that one need is funding to send high school students to prom.
“In the past, allocation of funding was organized based upon needs and priorities, and prom festivities were not an option,” Faith Maxwell said. She identifies homeless students at the middle school level and works with their families, school staff and outside agencies to meet the students’ needs.
Though prom is understandably low on the priority list, it and activities like it do fit into the Gateway Project’s mission. Travis Richardson, who assists Gateway Project Coordinator Bob Grovenburg at the high school level, explained, “Our mission is to remove barriers so that homeless students have the opportunity to experience school like any other student. Almost all the high school students I know look forward to prom. Most of our students would not be able to attend prom because of their lack of financial resources, so sending these students to prom allows them to be a part of the student body.”
Hearing about that need, “sparked something,” Crossroads Senior Minister Tom Burgess said. Two of the church’s main interests are in helping community members who are without homes and in supporting youths.
Schlechter said she didn’t even have to think about being involved — she immediately signed on to organize a drive to fund the 21 Gateway Project students who were both eligible to attend prom and who wanted to.
“These young adults are going through so much — many of them working, all going to school, many living on their own,” Schlechter said. “These kids deserve to be rewarded for their hard work. When all the rest of the world’s excited about prom, these kids should be also.”
Schlechter’s goal has been realized — the Gateway Project students are definitely excited.
Maxwell said the students first reacted to the news of the drive with “lots of disbelief followed by big smiles...the idea of having to pay for attire, tickets, pictures, dinner and transportation was not only overwhelming, but seemingly impossible in their world.”
Austin Crumbley, a Parkrose High School junior, said that he was “sad and frustrated” knowing that he would not be able to afford to go to his first prom. All that changed in an instant. “When I got the news that I was able to go because of the Gateway Project,” Crumbley said, “an enormous amount of joy and happiness raced through my heart.”
Schlecter spoke casually about the work she did, saying she “made presentations to a few businesses, and in a month it all came together” in cash and in-kind donations totaling more than $5,225. When pressed, she assured that the process was really that easy. “I didn’t have to sell it — it sold itself.”
Richardson said, “When the idea was initially proposed, I envisioned something more like three or four students being sponsored. The community support was overwhelming.”
A cash donation from Keller Williams Real Estate purchased for each girl a $120 gift card for a dress and shoes, and donations from Keller Williams and Rose City Cemetery and Funeral Home paid for the boys’ tuxedos. Jon Ollerenshaw, the general manager at Rose City Cemetery and Funeral Home, said his business is always trying to “help the community along the way.” Sometimes he finds opportunities through formal requests, as when he attended a talk by a Gateway Project student at Crossroads Church or when Schlechter approached him for support for the prom. But Ollerenshaw is also supportive of neighbors, such as a homeless man who lives near the cemetery, on a day-to-day basis.
Jason King at Keller Williams Real Estate said, “The Gateway Project is a special program that we felt very strongly about supporting. Helping young adults who are not as fortunate to have the family support many of us have holds a special place in our hearts. This prom event will surely leave great memories for these students who have overcome so many obstacles...the east Portland Keller Williams office will continue to support this effort from this point on.”
Flowers on Sunnyside provided boutonnières and corsages. After the girls got their hair, makeup and nails done, volunteers from Crossroads Church drove them to join the boys at the church, which provided space for them to change into their dresses and tuxes. A Cruiser limo, equipped with plasma TV, karaoke machine, hostess and refreshments, drove the students to Harborside Restaurant on the Willamette River, which provided free dinners. Memories of the event will last forever with free photos from Dorian Studios.
“It’s first class all the way,” Schlecter said before the event. “I’m just so excited...it should be a magical evening for these kids.”
Schlechter would like to organize a fund-raising drive for next year’s prom and hopes this story will inspire those in other districts to do the same.
“Prom is considered a typical high school experience, and it would be great if it were affordable and accessible for all students,” Maxwell explained. “It would be ideal if support could be secured for future proms, especially since it gives kids something to be a part of and look forward to — while at the same time showing the investment of the community.”
As for her goals for next year’s drive in the Parkrose School District, Schlechter said she’d like to be able to rent a limo big enough to transport prom goers who aren’t involved in the Gateway Project. Though dates are welcome at dinner if they pay for their own meal, this year’s limo will only be able to fit students involved in the project.
Maxwell added, “We’re ready for next year — let’s get started sooner! Parkrose High School and the Gateway Project are very grateful for all the energy, hard work and time that has been devoted...The students are going to have a blast because of the [sponsoring businesses, individuals and groups], and hopefully this can happen again in the future.”
Those interested in donating for next year’s prom should contact Schlechter at 503-504-3901 or Judy Caruso, in Resource Development at the Parkrose School District office, at 503-408-2110. Grovenburg is available to speak to groups about the Gateway Project, and he can be reached at 503-408-2696.
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