The Biggest Day of the Year for the Oregon Food Bank

The Oregon Food Bank sent you something in the mail this week and they’re really hoping to get it back.  It’s a standard size plastic bag, probably looks a lot like the bag you’d get at a grocery store.

If you could, just put the bag on your porch Saturday and they’ll take it back.  Oh, and could you stick a few cans of food in it before stashing it on your stoop?  Thanks.  That’d be great.

Every year, the Postal Carriers pitch in and schlept (haul)  the goods in May.  In just one day, they brought in 1.65 million pounds of food last year.  This year, they want an even 1.75 million (the higher donations are particularly important this year because of higher demand).

Anything non perishable works, but they really like tuna, canned meats, mac and cheese and fruits / fruit juices.  Try to avoid glass jars when you can (they’re heavier and break).  For more info click here.

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The Lions Club

When 2008 began, life was going downhill fast for Terry.  Cataracts were slowly robbing her of her sight.  Because of her bad vision, she lost her job.  She and her husband lost their home.  Bad.

But then the Oregon Lion’s Club stepped in.  They have a program called Mission Cataract where people in need can get free cataract surgery.  Terry’s name made the list.  With her vision restored last spring, she got a part time job, got training and she and her husband are in their own apartment, back on their own two feet.

The Lion’s will be giving six people free surgeries today, all of whom are “head’s of household” (read: moms, dads or other adults with other people depending on them for support) and without any other means of fixing their eyes (no insurance, no Oregon Medical plan).  Hopefully, we’ll have six more amazing stories to share with you in a few months.

You can learn more about the program by going here.

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A Local ReStore location

For 25 years, Joe Connell built and renovated homes and he was always stunned by the amount of waste generated by construction sites.  Perfectly good materials and tools, chucked to the wayside at the end of the day because, frankly, there wasn’t anywhere else to send the stuff.

He clarifies to Good News PDX that he’s not trying to throw stones or point fingers.  He himself pitched plenty over the years.  But recently, he found a better outlet for all that extra stuff left over after a project was complete.

Like a Goodwill for power tools he says.

ReStore started 15 years ago in Texas.  Today, there are over 600 nationwide including about 15 in Oregon and Washington, one of which opened this weekend.  The concept is identical to any thrift store . . . people (mostly contractors with amterials left over from a job) donate the hardware, supplies and tools to the store.  Volunteers then sell the materials at a reduced rate to local do-it-yourselfers.  All the proceeds are then kicked to Habitat for Humanity.

And Connell, who now has a hand in running all the Portland / Vancouver locations, says they show no signs of stopping.  Matter of fact, he expects ReStore will be a household name in the next few years.

You can check out a nearby location here.

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Every year, about this time, Waterfront Park fills up with rides and vendors for Cinco de Mayo and the Rose Festival.  First Thursday Art Walks cram the Pearl District (in a good way).  And local farmers and artists break out their wares to be peddled at any number of Saturday Markets and Farmer’s Markets in the city (PSU, Beaverton, Burnside, Hillsboro, Vancouver . . . the list of locations goes on and on).

Everywhere, that is, except Wilsonville.  Our neighbor to the south have been san-street-fair for years.  But for the first time, neighbors will be able to pick up fresh cut flowers, unique snacks and superb produce in their backyard.  The Villebois housing development is launching a new Farmer’s Market this weekend . . . but with a twist.

In an effort to stick out and offer something new, Villebois is offering a SUNDAY market.  It’s mainly a community project but it’s open to all so if you are booked on Saturdays, feel free to hop on I-5 and stop by.  Details are here.

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