You can snap an unforgettable keepsake AND benefit Cat Adoption Team with Santa Claws

Just because it has four paws and fur or four legs and a tail, doesn’t mean that your animal is just a pet.  For a lot of us, the dog, cat or iguana is a family member.  Practically a child.  To be completely honest, in the GNPDX house, mom and dad aren’t exchanging gifts but our puppy will be getting tons of loot. 

Be it as a gag or because you think the result would be far too adorable to pass up, countless pet owners would love to have fido or mittens snap a shot with Santa.  Try taking the boa constrictor or great dane into a mall for that precious photo.  Not likely to go over well with management.

But the Cat Adoption Team and Pet Smart have an answer.

Forget Santa Claus.  Come visit Santa CLAWS.  Specially trained volunteer elfs help pet owners corral their critter and pose them with THE St Nick.  And for every photo you buy, the Cat Adoption Team gets 5 bucks.  Not a bad deal.

For more info, go here.

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Cash Oregon helps THOUSANDS of people save MILLIONS on tax returns

I wanted to start this post off with some humorous holiday lyrics incorporating tax terminology but I got as far as Frosty the Taxman and hit a wall.  The truth is, this time of year, we’re thinking turkeys, stockings and gifts.  Not taxes, I-9’s and refunds.  Right?

But one local nonprofit IS thinking taxes.  And they hope YOU will too.  CASH Oregon offers free tax prep help for people with low to moderate incomes.

Doing your taxes yourself runs the risk that you will miss a key credit.  Paying someone to do your return can cost a couple hundred bucks you don’t have.  As a result, people can miss THOUSANDS of dollars in tax credits every year.  CASH Oregon volunteers do tax returns for free.  You want results?  How about 16 million bucks in federal returns last year on about 14,500 total returns.  This year, they expect to do even more returns.

Where YOU come in, is they need help with the paperwork.  In fact, they need about 500 people in total to handle the project.  You don’t need any background in the tax world, all training is provided.  But you DO need to go through their training which takes some time.  To learn more about the service (either as a volunteer or a client) go here.

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The Union Gospel Mission unveiled a brand new kitchen this week

It’s always good to see charities maximizing their resources.  But, its also really nice to see groups that do a TON of good get to unwrap something brand-spanking new.

The Union Gospel Mission needed a big bow and tons of wrapping paper to cover this gift.

*Insert Monty Hall Voice Here* A BRAND NEW KITCHEN!!!

Yes folks, after years of making do with a mish mash of donated appliances and a space that never quite fit correctly, the Union Gospel Mission is now the proud owner of a brand new kitchen.  Top of the line, industrial appliances, a new roof and remodeled dining area will make things infinitely easier to serve some 300 meals a day.

But don’t expect the team to ease into their new digs.  The first Thanksgiving turkeys are already being cooked.  And they won’t stop until Thursday (yea, birds are in the fire there round the clock).

Volunteers and donations made the project possible in less than six months.

Union Gospel Mission.

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Some people have e-mailed in today and wanted to know why there was no Good News Update on KXL this morning.  For those who tuned in, you know the station hosted it’s annual Radiothon for the Portland Rescue Mission (running tally thus far, nearly ten thousand bucks!) which needed the extra air time to talk about the cause.  We’ll be back on Monday with a great segment.

In the mean time, I wanted to tell you about a story I covered this morning for the General News Side which totally qualifies as Good News.

That big empty lot downtown by Union Station, is just eighteen months away from being a state-of-the-art hub for Portland’s Homeless.  It literally will serve every step of the process to get people off the streets.  Beds for homeless men.  Showers, storage and telephones for people who just need a place to crash for a few hours.  Low income studio apartments.  Even, and this is probably my favorite piece, voicemail boxes for people to use in their job search. 

It’s temporary and long term solutions.  We dig it.

**Incidentally, the views and opinions expressed here are those of Good News PDX and do not necessarily represent the thoughts or feelings of KXL and Alpha Broadcasting**

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Putting your own personal politics on prisons and the people who populate them (whoa … alliteration) aside, when mom or dad is behind bars, it can make life incredibly difficult for kids.

There’s a group that wants to change that.  The Children’s Justice Alliance offers services to families and caregivers who watch out for kids when mom or dad are in the criminal justice system.  And this time of year, they collect gifts, clothes and household items for these kids. 

There are a lot of ways you can help.  Start by checking out this ad on Craigslist if you want to make a donation.

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You can fight a drafty house and conserve on your energy bills by taking one of the free classes at Community Energy Project.  For more info, check out their website.

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If you want to be more handy around the house you’ll want to check out the upcoming Fix It Fair at Roosevelt HS.  Check out more info here.

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They are the hardest children to place in foster care.  Kids with mental illness and difficulties that require round-the-clock care.  But rather than turning their backs on this group MOST in need of a loving family, there are groups doing their part.

Like the Foster Family Care Network.  On KXL this morning we told you about Mirae Grant who is not only a recruiter, but regularly takes in children (and adopted a seven-year-old girl of her own).  The change is immediate and immense for each child.

For more info on what it takes to be a foster parent, check out their website.

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Healing Winds Therapeutic Riding Center changes lives everyday

A child cannot speak.  Her internal core isn’t strong enough to support that basic function.

A few months later, she’s a regular chatter box.

An adult cannot walk.  A few months later, he’s ambling about (with the help of a cane).

It happens everyday at a stable in Brush Prairie Washington.  The Healing Winds stables help people with disabilities through horseback riding.  The activity is an incredible core workout and, with the help of trained professionals, it’s a proven rehab technique.

The Healing Winds people have been at this for twenty years with countless success stories.  But they need more volunteers to keep it going.  For more info, check out their website.

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