SHARE Vancouver at work

Pop quiz.  What happens to all of the kids who receive free or reduced cost lunch and/or breakfast when school closes up shop for the summer?  The need doesn’t go away.  In fact, it may increase if mom or dad has to stay home from work or pay for a sitter.

Enter SHARE.  This Vancouver group offers help to the homeless year-round.  And when summer vacation hits, they provide free breakfasts, lunches and activities for those kids at local schools. 

While that, in and of itself, is cool.  What if we told you that they are expanding this summer despite a down economy?  Cooler, eh?

It’s true.  Donors stepped up and kicked in enough cash to add a new school and over a hundred new kids to their roster. 

If you want to help or get involved with SHARE click here.

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Adam Sprow - Four Years Old

This little guy is Adam.  He’s four years old, loves to swim, play on the playground at school (really anywhere there’s one of those play structures actually) and motor around on his brand new trike.

He also can’t talk, struggles with walking and will have to deal with a developmental delay his entire life.  Adam has Angelman’s Syndrome (it’s often mistaken for Autism).  Essentially, there’s a missing link in his genetic chain that delays his development.  It’s actually a very common disorder according to his mom, Elke, who was kind enough to speak with GNPDX.

It also turns out, there is a lot of research underway in the battle against AS.  Adam is in line to participate in a number of studies …. some that could directly help him and a few others that could help other children with the disorder.

Here’s the problem, the studies are in different parts of the country.  While  Adam and his entire family desperatelywant to take advantage of these opportunities (both to help their son and the sons and daughters of countless other families) travel isn’t really an option.  See, four years of monstrous medical bills and the down economy have been murder on the families’ bank account.

So, they are rolling up their sleeves and hosting a garage sale, hoping to raise enough money for airfare and a place to sleep near the hospitals.

The cool part?  This isn’t just some minor sale.  Donations are pouring in from school and church friends to the event.  BUT, the family can always use more help.

Please, if you have electronics, dishes, toys, anything that is cluttering up your house and you think would fetch a couple bucks PLEASE get in touch with Elke Sprow right away and make a donation to help Adam.

And, if you are moving or are just looking for an affordable find, mark your calendar for June 27th and check out the sale itself.  Adam needs our help.

Info:  Saturday June 27th, 8A-3P

21108 NW Wapinitia Lane, Portland

Elke Sprow:  503-895-3279 / 971-226-4656

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Portland Police

Bringing drug addicts into local classrooms.  It’s a good thing (apologies to Martha Stewart).

Really, though, it is.  Some local cops got together and decided to ask local addicts for help.  They took video cameras to the streets and interviewed users about what drugs do to your life.  It’s gritty, it’s real (and yes it’s appropriate for 8th graders).

The tapes then go to local classes with a school resource officer.  Kids get a chance to see, right from the source, what trying meth or pot can do to your life.  Then, they have a frank discussion about drugs and ask questions.

Cops like Ofc. Steve Morinville who works in the David Douglas District say the program’s getting great feedback across the board (from kids, parents and faculty).

The brueau agrees.  The team behind the program were recognized at an awards ceremony for their efforts.

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It’s the classic “teach a man to fish and you’ll feed him for a lifetime” story.  At the Irvington Covenant CDC, they offer job training for people who need a little boost turning things around (people with low income, those with one run-in with the law).  Patricia Daniels with the group says they’ve seen a dramatic decrease in trade-training as more high schools focus on prepping kids for college, so they’re filling the need.

They offer a pre-apprentice program, but they also know that green industries are gaining ground.  Daniels tells GNPDX they wanted to offer training in the new, growing industry, but needed some help with funding.

Enter the United Way.  The local charity passed on a major grant (exact amount was not available but we know it’s in the 5-6 figure range) which will cover the new classes.

Daniels says it’s a major blessing.  Not only will these classes help get people back to work, but it will put them in jobs that pay well and can provide a way out from barely making ends meet.

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At age 14, Brook Davis tried her first sip of booze.  The attraction was immediate and eventually led to a relationship with drugs.  Her addiction’s kept her from going to High School, let alone getting a degree.

By age 21, Brook had sobered up from drugs and alcohol, but she transferred her focus to other addictions with which she would wrestle for 20 years.  

“I was really broken inside” explains Davis in an exclusive interview with GNPDX.  At the encouragement of loved ones, she visited the Portland Rescue Mission and immediately found a safe place to heal.

After two years of hard work, Davis finally considered herself recovered and managed to restart her education.  Now working on a double major in Social Work and education, Davis is offering her story as support for others in need.

What started as an occasional volunteer gig has turned into a regular job for Davis.  She’s now on staff at the Mission, helping moms and children transition out of tough situations and regularly turns to her own struggles as an example.  It’s a position she relishes, saying that her faith helped get her through her darkest points … the least she can do is offer the same gift to others.

For more info on the Rescue Mission click here.

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Happy Valley, OR

The City of Happy Valley has a rather unique approach to the housing crunch.  Instead of waiting for a stimulus plan or for the market to simply rebound, they’re holding an Open City.  Well, they call it the City of Dreams event according to Steve Campbell with Happy Valley.  He tells GNPDX it’s kind of like an Open House but on a super sized scale.

While 150+ homes open their doors to prospective buyers this weekend in a massive tour-de-house, there’ll be an expo at city hall of all the municipal services (e.g., libraries, schools, police, fire department).  In short, potential new residents can check out more than their new digs, they can really connect to the community from the get go.

Campbell says they’ve never seen an event like this before and expect it will draw some great attention to the area (especially with temps in the 80’s to draw out the crowds).  For more info, click here.

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The Food Bank hopes Gardeners keep them in mind

What’s the number one rule when it comes to donating stuff to a food drive?  NON PERISHABLE.  Right?  Not this time.  The Oregon Food Bank is opening the door for perishable donations . . . the only catch is you have to grow the stuff yourself. 

It’s actually a really cool idea.  Through the Plant a Row program, gardeners simply dedicate one row of their garden to the Food Bank (it can be all one row of zucchini, a mix of rutabaga and carrots, whatever you like), then in the fall, you harvest and bring it to one of their distribution agencies. 

To sign up go here.

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Oregon National Guard

Let’s be honest, being a kid is tough.  Being a child with a mom or dad who has been deployed overseas can be downright unbearable.  What can make things even worse is not knowing anyone who understands what it feels like.

A Salem family is hoping to fix that.

In the wake of the massive deployment of National Guard soldiers last weekend, Laura Conley and her husband State Sergeant Major Brunk Conley created the Homefront Heroes in Oregon program. 

Dozens of military families will gather at North Salem High on Saturday where the kids can just hang out.  Activities are booked for every age group and Conley says the kids are usually surprised to see friends that go to their own school show up.

Incidentally, the program came from the Conley’s own experience with their five kids when Sergeant Major Conley was deployed.  Conley says she wants to make sure no family has to go through the struggles her kids did.

For more info, click here.

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They’ve spent the last month hauling boxes, resettling furniture, meeting new neighbors and adjusting to a new lifestyle.  For the new residents of the Springs at Tanasbourne, it’s easy to see how certain traditions could get lost in the shuffle.

But staff were not about to let something as important as Mother’s Day go by without at least a LITTLE something special.

Team members at the new Beaverton retirement community partnered with a couple local businesses (a flower shop and a spa) and assembled a menu of gift packages.  Then, they sent off letters to the families of all the new residents so all they had to do was call in an order.  Dozens of flowers and gift certificates were waiting outside doors Sunday morning.

One of the Springs’ concierge’s confides in GNPDX that more than a few families admitted that the holiday completely slipped their minds until they got the reminder letter in the mail.  Proof that the slogan “Everything’s better at the Springs” really holds water.

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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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