Newsletter Winter 2013
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT At our food warehouse, volunteers Ralph Wells and Mike Kennedy are again looking for the box cutter. Losing the box cutter seems to be the only point of confusion in this team’s work habits. Kennedy, a retired math teacher and Wells, recently retired from the Oregonian and a former food pantry manager, run our food warehouse like a well-oiled machine. Every Friday, the pair prepare food boxes for delivery Tuesdays. On Monday, they prepare for Fridays. When deliveryman Stuart Barthold arrives, the boxes of non-perishables are ready to go to our pantry. There, they are topped off with fresh produce before reaching recipients. Barthold wastes no time waiting to do his part. Kennedy observes, “Volunteering is time well spent and we’re always busy. There’s always a creative element in that you can find ways to do it better and smoother. We work well together!” Their teamwork allows them to process piles of donations from our food drives, which can quickly accumulate on the dock. They comment, “It’s unbelievable; people are so supportive. It keeps us busy for weeks. And there are so many people in need.”
Season of Sharing Wishbook, p. 2
2012 Christmas Party, p. 2 Flu Shot Clinics, p. 2 Gardens Update, p.2 Invite Us to Make a Presentation, p. 3 Holiday Theater Party, p. 3
The pair Ralph Wells and Mike did not know each other before Kennedy prepare our food boxes at least a day before seeking meaningful volunteer they’re needed. work last spring. They met at their Lift Urban Portland volunteer training, and fell naturally into a partnership whipping the warehouse into shape. Wells says, “We treat our volunteer hours like a real job. We show up and know exactly what has to be done. Otherwise, it would be chaotic, because food just keeps arriving.” He adds, “We are part of a string of volunteers helping people, and making the system more efficient serves Wells chats with Dan recipients. When other Hupala from Friendly volunteers can count on House about our Food for Kids Backpacks things being ready, it makes program. Lift Urban Portland a better place to volunteer. What we do makes a difference down the line, and that’s satisfying.”
Online Fundraiser, p. 3 New Board of Directors, p. 4 Our New Video, p. 4 NINA Food Drive, p. 5 Financial Planning Tea, p. 6 IRA Rollover, p. 6
An Interfaith Community of Volunteers
Save the Date Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast Thursday, April 25th, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Morrison Room 147 NW 19th Ave. RSVP to info@lifturbanportland.org 503-221-1224 ext 103 page 1
Season of Sharing Wishbook This year, Lift Urban Portland was fortunate to be included in the Oregonian’s Season of Sharing Wishbook, a holiday guide to supporting local non-profits. Reporter Nancy Haught profiled Ron Rood, both a recipient and volunteer at Lift Urban Portland. He was also featured in our Garden Party video, which helped raise substantial funding for our programs. Although Ron is visually and hearing impaired, he is a busy, fit citizen. He rows on a Dragon Boat team of others with diminished sight (named “Blind Ambition”) and even teaches woodcarving. He helps daily at our Senior Hot Lunch site and at Harvest Share, always with a smile. Thanks to Nancy Haught for her caring, meticulous work on our story. The Wishbook raised $12,500 for our programs.
Volunteer Ron Rood cheerfully serves our Harvest Share recipients every second Wednesday.
Doing Something Jewish for Christmas, Again Our annual Christmas dinner at Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) warmed hearts and stomachs on cold, drizzly December 25. With live music by The Bloozers, the community enjoyed turkey with all the trimmings, served by attentive Lift Urban Portland volunteers. This standout community effort included donations from partners Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, St. Mary’s Cathedral, CBI, First Immanuel Lutheran Church, National Council of Jewish Women and Terwilliger Plaza. Many community donors made it possible for each diner to receive a gift bag of personal amenities, plus a choice of warm accessories. We served 480 sit-down dinners and delivered 150 more to homebound neighbors. Volunteers were led by Lift Urban Portland board member Susan Milstein.
A volunteer curls ribbon to decorate Christmas party gift bags.
Flu Shot Clinics Protect 160 This fall, Lift Urban Portland partnered with Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center and Multnomah County to offer seven free flu vaccine clinics downtown and in Northwest Portland. 160 uninsured, lowincome and homeless neighbors received flu shots from volunteer nurses. We will repeat this service next year, hoping to prevent costly hospital stays for at-risk neighbors. Volunteer nurses were led by our board member, Desi Shubin.
Spring in Our (Irrigated) Gardens
Our garden starts will thrive this year with a new drip irrigation system.
Thanks to funding from West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District ($2000) and Metro ($3000), we will install drip irrigation in our food gardens in March. Additional funding ($3000) from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America provides operational support. Please call Kelly to help; a range of tasks are available to volunteers.
An Interfaith Community of Volunteers
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Invite Us to Your Organization If your business or organization wants to learn more about community engagement, invite us to visit. We have a range of visual materials and can make an efficient, inspiring presentation about enhancing your community profile by working with us. We’d love to meet your congregation, civic group, community organization, business or club. Call our office to make arrangements or write to info@LiftUrbanPortland.org.
Sponsors Send Volunteers to Our Holiday Theater Party In December, Congressional Representative Suzanne Bonamici, husband Michael Simon, and Katherine and John Zelko sponsored our winter fundraiser. It was a private performance of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol at the nearby Artists Repertory Theatre. Bonamici and her husband, Judge Michael Simon, are members of Congregation Beth Israel (CBI), and Bonamici is a past member of the Northwest Children’s Theater. Coincidentally, Simon is the nephew of playwright Neil Simon. The Zelkos own Z’IVO Wines and provide quality reds and whites for our special events.
Volunteers David Loftus and Marvin Mitchell served refreshments at our theater party.
The sponsorships provided tickets to 30 Lift Urban Portland volunteers. Our food collection, gardens and distribution, as well as support to subsidized housing, are primarily staffed by industrious volunteers.
Online Fundraiser Concludes Our online fundraising campaign, Lend a Hand to Lift Urban Portland, raised $665 for our programs. Carole Barkley won a Columbia Sportswear backpack like the one at right for raising the most money. Steve Scully won a backpack for engaging the most donors. Thanks to everyone who participated and to our sponsors: Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, Salt & Straw, Food Front Cooperative Grocery and Pizza Schmizza.
Leading online fundraisers won backpacks like this one from Columbia Sportswear.
Two members of Zion Lutheran Church show the tuna and canned meat their food drive collected for our programs.
An Interfaith Community of Volunteers
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Our New Board of Directors Thank you to everyone who attended our annual meeting January 10. We appreciated the information presented by Nancy Weed of Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon about SNAP, the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps). Welcome, new board members! And thank you to outgoing members Pastor Melinda Wagner, Blaine Bartholomew and Ed Tyler. Left to right: Fred Jeibmann, Kristine Jurgenson, Tom Corcoran, Caryn May, President Desi Shubin, Treasurer Dave Richardson, Lynne Bartenstein, Bruce Strade, Vice President Susan Milstein, Secretary Nikki Director, Jon Wild. Not pictured: Marvin Mitchell.
Our New Video and Brochure The final projects funded by our community outreach grants include our brochure and agency video. The video was created by our neighbor, Magaurn Video Media. Their dedication extended to filming even on Christmas Day, sending cameraman Reijean Heringlake to capture our annual Christmas dinner at Congregation Beth Israel. You’ll find a link to the video on our website and Facebook page. New brochures are also available in our office. Speaking of Facebook, we regularly post to it our needs for donations and volunteer time, so use it as a quick reference point. Or, just post a comment, photo or video of our programs.
Magaurn Video Media cameraman Reijean Heringlake changes lenses behind a heap of gift bags at our annual community Christmas dinner.
Northwest Industrial Neighborhood Association Food Drive Again Replenishes Our Warehouse Thanks to the Northwest Industrial Neighborhood Association (NINA) for repeating their annual food drive benefitting our food programs. NINA rounded up 2196 pounds of nutritious food for us, plus $372 cash. Joe Macnab of Star Industrial Supply picks up food donations from the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative.
An Interfaith Community of Volunteers
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Lift Urban Portland Donors (October 1 – December 31, 2012) Cash Gifts
Gordon Akeson Emma J. Allen Anonymous Rickland Asai, DMD Ascension Episcopal Parish Michael and Trey Ault Peter B. Baker Barbara Ballweber Janis Barker Carole Barkley and David Loftus Lynne Bartenstein Stuart and Jacqueline Barthold Mary C. Becker Trudy Benjamin William and Nancy Bennetts Jenni and Aaron Besen Marcia Blasen and John Brusasco Paula Blasen Susan S. Bodin Suzanne Bonamici and Michael Simon Warren W. Braley, Jr. Sharon and Steve Brenner John and Sandra Bright Becky Brown Janet Burch-Pesses Dolores Calicchio Richard and Jane Clippinger Allison Coffin Lanny and Barbara Collins Congregation Beth Israel John and Joyce Cornyn Roy and Sharon Coulter Priscilla and Nick Cowell Barbara and Robert Crooke Elizabeth Crookham Arthur and Winnifred Danner Mary C. Davis Reena and Stuart Davis David and S Decker Jerry Delamater Delanie Delimont Nikki and Stuart Director Stuart and Nikki Director Family Fund at the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation Chapman and Kay Dix Sherrie Dixson and John Sargent Clifford Droke Elephant’s Delicatessen Heather Elliott Janice Elven Pat and Dale Fiedler First Immanuel Lutheran Church Comm. Nick Fish Lynn C. Forsyth Mark Foster Sam Friedenberg and Sandy Tetzloff Janet Gallagher Galvinizers Company Arlene Garrison Donn and Jan Gassaway General Tool & Supply Co. Albert Gentner
Eloise Gibson Shirley Gittlesohn and Ernest Bonyhadi Rita Gocken Rosanne Grant Gerry and Margo Greeve Bonny Groshong Wendy Gutmann Dianna Hanken-Hu Janet Hansen-Tracy Jane Hefty Kenneth and Jane Hergenhan John Herman Hewlett-Packard HH Click LLC Ray Hickey Foundation Rev. Jack Hilyard John and Earlene Holmstrom Ann and Jim Holtz The Holzman Foundation Kevin & Keren Hoover Bruce and Pamela Howard John and Jeanne Howard Lesley Isenstein and Steve Laveson Ellin and Fletcher Johnson Lori Johnson Weston and Sarah Johnson Kathy Keating Ted Kingery David and Jennifer Director Knudsen The Rt Rev. Robert Ladehoff Alexander Lamb Craig and Linda Langley Lesley Jones Larson Lydia and Derek Lipman William Lisowski Joyce and Stanley Loeb Mitzi Loftus Alice H. MacDonald Nancy and Jack MacDonald Ruth Marquis Louise and Richard Marsh Caryn May Jim and Marjorie McAllister Brad and Janet Mersereau James and Lora Meyer Ian and Kelly Miller Jim and Andrea Miller Susan and Barney Milstein David and Anne Munro Brendan Murphy Daniel Murphy The Neidig Family Charitable Foundation Jill and Ed Neuwelt David and Marjorie Newman Fr. Steve and Sandy Norcross Northwest Industrial Neighborhood Association Michael O’Connell Michael and Gloria Borg Olds Mildred Olson Operation Night Watch Linda Ostomel Donnalee Palin
An Interfaith Community of Volunteers
John Palumbo The Parish of St. Mark Gary and Sylvia Pearlman Deborah Pollack and Barry Pelzner Marilyn and Richard Portwood Dee Poujade Abby Quinn Arlene and Ravid Raphael Dan Reisberg and Friderike Heuer Walter and Koko Reyes Michael and Susan Rich Dave and Cheryl Richardson Gerson Robboy Heidi and Joe Rose Robert and Joan Rosenbaum Rosemary Rosenfeld Stan and Madelle Rosenfeld Family Foundation Karen and Norman Sade St. Mary’s Cathedral Robert & Marilyn Schuberg Tiffany and Matthew Schuster Marlyss Schwengels Stephen Scully Seams to Fit SELCO Community Credit Union Lynda Shapiro Terry Shaw Desi Shubin Mary S Sicilia and Robin Haglund Star Industrial Supply, Inc. David and Diana Stegner Don and Carol Sterkel William and Cornelia Stevens Bruce Strade Bonnie and Doug Stroud David and Linda Ross Swanson Colleen Thomas Mark Thomas Jenni Thompson Peter and Suzanne Spitler Thompson Jean and John Thorpe Thrivent Financial - NE Portland Chapter Lynn Tobias Barry Tonkin Betty Trudeau Ed and Joyce Tyler Kay Van Patten Carolyn Vanderslice Bob and Ginger Wagner Pastor Melinda Wagner Pam and Carl Walker Terri Warren The Warren Foundation Wells Fargo Bank West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District Joseph E. Weston Public Foundation at the Oregon Community Foundation Janise White Jon Wild
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Kay and Ken Wolfe Stephen Yermal Katherine and John Zelko Beverly Zell
In-Kind Gifts
Bridgeview Dental John and Sandra Bright Cathedral Grade School Congregation Beth Israel Columbia Sportswear Dave’s Killer Bread Dr. Mike Davis Dr. Richard Dietrich Darr Durham Ellington Handbags For Counsel, Inc. Franz Bakery Havurah Shalom Heron Haus Bed & Breakfast Inn Kay and James Irwin Jennifer Johansen Craig and Linda Langley Carey and Dan MacNaughton Meals on Wheels Rich Meyer New Seasons Market Donnalee Palin Salt & Straw Tiffany and Matthew Schuster SELCO Community Credit Union Lynda Shapiro St. Mary’s Cathedral Sunstar Americas Walter and Gloria Sweek Target Kay Van Patten Willamette Dental Group Zion Lutheran Church Katherine and John Zelko Zombie Squad, Chapter 011
Tribute Gifts
In honor of Max Borg Michael and Gloria Borg Olds In honor of Rena Borg Michael and Gloria Borg Olds In honor of Richard and April Borg Michael and Gloria Borg Olds In honor of Rochelle Borg and Kyla Herblum Michael and Gloria Borg Olds In honor of Cancer Care Unit at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Marlyss Schwengels In honor of Janet Gallagher and other Lift Urban Portland volunteers Ascension Episcopal Parish In honor of Preston Holt John and Joyce Cornyn Priscilla and Nick Cowell
Donn and Jan Gassaway Rev. Jack Hilyard The Rt Rev. Robert Ladehoff Joyce and Stanley Loeb David and Anne Munro Mary S Sicilia and Robin Haglund In honor of Richard Killen Nikki Director In honor of Barbara Lang Nikki Director In honor of Ruth and John Maxwell Michael and Gloria Borg Olds In honor of Janet Mersereau Brad Mersereau In honor of Benjamin Olds and Nadine Gartner Michael and Gloria Borg Olds In honor of Josh, Melanie, and Pearl Olds Michael and Gloria Borg Olds In honor of Linda Ostomel Nikki Director In honor of Bruce, Karen, and Isabella Rusnak Michael and Gloria Borg Olds In honor of Carolyn Rusnak Michael and Gloria Borg Olds In honor of David, Rhonda, SJ, and Rachel Rusnak Michael and Gloria Borg Olds In honor of Steven, Debbie, Matthew and Elena Rusnak Michael and Gloria Borg Olds In honor of Rose Rustin Nikki Director In honor of Jack Schwartz The Warren Foundation In memory of Eldon Olson Mildred Olson In memory of Doris Rich Michael and Susan Rich
Arlene Garrison Craig and Linda Langley Alice H. MacDonald Fr. Steve and Sandy Norcross Operation Nightwatch Seams to Fit Star Industrial Carolyn Vanderslice You can set up a monthly donation with your credit or debit card. Or, we can do it for you. For more information, call Darr at 503.221.1224, x103. Note: Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the listings. If you see an error, please contact us at 503.221.1224, x103.
Board of Directors Desi Shubin, President, Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Susan Milstein, Vice President, Congregation Beth Israel Nikki Director, Secretary, National Council of Jewish Women, Portland Section Dave Richardson, Treasurer, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Fred Jeibmann, Member at Large Lynne Bartenstein, Congregation Beth Israel Tom Corcoran, St. Mary’s Cathedral Kristine Jurgenson, First Immanuel Lutheran Church Caryn May, National Council of Jewish Women, Portland Section Marvin Mitchell, First Presbyterian Church Bruce Strade, Zion Lutheran Church Jon Wild, Home Forward
Monthly Donors Thanks Every Day!
These donors each make a monthly gift to Lift Urban Portland. We appreciate being able to count on their regular, steadfast support. It really adds up! Barbara Ballweber Carole Barkley Lynne Bartenstein Trudy Benjamin Delanie Delimont Elephant’s Deli Janet Gallagher
An Interfaith Community of Volunteers
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2012 Photo Album Our holiday theater party was a treat.
Our food boxes come to the Bud Clark Commons.
Pumpkin pie social at Gallagher Plaza. Northwest Tower enjoys a luau.
Plentiful pears at Harvest Share
Flu shots help keep the doctor away for the uninsured. Preston and Tian share a laugh. Christmas dinner volunteers await diners.
An Interfaith Community of Volunteers
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Legal and Financial Planning and Why It Matters Join us for afternoon tea and an informative presentation by Amy Davidson, J.D., attorney with the Law Offices of Nay & Friedenberg. Including: • Financial and healthcare decisions • Necessary documents • How to provide for family members, friends, and pets you leave behind • How your legacy can support your values Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Trinity Episcopal Cathedral/Morrison Room NW 19th Avenue (at Northwest 19th and Everett) 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. RSVP: 503-221-1224, ext.103 There is no charge for this event.
IRA Rollover Option If you’re age 70 ½ or older, you can make a direct tax-free rollover of up to $100,000 from an IRA to a qualified charitable organization like Lift Urban Portland. Check with your financial advisor for details. An Interfaith Community of Volunteers
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