Volunteer driver finds “kindness and love” in her time with NWPM

Andrea List has been a volunteer driver for Northwest Portland Ministries since last summer.

Although Andrea was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, her family moved to Portland in 1968 when her father, Walter List, graduated from dental school. Andrea and her sister Cara grew up in the Pacific Northwest with a love and enjoyment of nature. Backpacking, running, biking, horse camps, racquetball in the summer, and snow skiing in the winter help Andrea keep active. Other hobbies include gardening and landscaping.

Andrea has had many pets, including goats, tropical fish, a dog named Bashka (meaning “bear”), a rabbit named Helen, and currently a cat named Lucy.

Andrea’s mother, Barbara, has Lou Gehrig's Disease, and has taught Andrea compassion for the needs of others. Andrea says she has found much to admire in the programs and services of NWPM.

Andrea proudly volunteers twice a week for NWPM, driving two gentlemen to Trinity Episcopal Church, where the volunteer staff provides fun and stimulating activities for Alzheimer’s patients and peace of mind for their families.

Andrea says, “Volunteering for Northwest Portland Ministries has taught me such kindness and love, with the services we provide and the numerous activities involving caring people who help throughout the year.”

Get a $10 gift card

The demand for transportation has skyrocketed recently!
NWPM cannot fill all requests for rides because we don’t have enough great volunteers like Andrea. For every qualified driver you recruit during February and March we’ll reward you with a $10 Fred Meyer gift card.

Free! Upcooming Presentations

Rethinking transportation

Ride Connection introduces alternative transportation options where you live. What transportation mix makes sense for you, your loved ones, or the people in your life who need
help? Which mix would be safe and reliable? Come and find out!

Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Time: 10:45 a.m.
Location: Elm Court Loaves & Fishes,
1032 SW Main Street
-or-

Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Marshall Union Manor, 2020
NW Northrup Street

Contact: Dave Truman 503-221-1224 x100

The Best Ride workshop

T his training session for volunteer drivers answers the question: “How does this thing work?” Learn how to work with the various types of mobility devices passengers use.

Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Location: First Immanuel Lutheran
Church, 816 NW Irving Street
RSVP: Dave Truman 503-221-1224 x100

Become a ride ambassador!

Volunteer with NWPM and TriMet as a travel companion for those using the Portland Streetcar, the MAX lines, or buses that serve Northwest Portland.
Contact: Dave Truman 503-221-1224 x100

Introducing the 2009 NWPM Board

President: Janet Gallagher, Ascension Parish
Vice President: Gina Cole, Legacy Health System
Treasurer: Chapman Dix, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Secretary: Ed Tyler, St. Mary’s Cathedral
Member at Large: Bonny Groshong, First Immanuel Lutheran Church
Carole Barkley, Congregation Beth Israel
Lynne Bartenstein, Congregation Beth Israel
Nikki Director, Congregation Beth Israel
Preston Holt, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Tom Maddox, Food Front
Marvin Mitchell, First Presbyterian Church
Father Steve Norcross, Ascension Parish
Pastor Melinda Wagner, First Immanuel Lutheran Church

Portland Civic Theatre Guild creates joy for seniors

During its 2008-2009 50th Anniversary Celebration Year, the Guild is providing NWPM with five tickets to each of its theatrical readings preceded by an elegant coffee and tea service in the Old Church. NWPM will provide transportation. “It is with sheer joy that I write this note to you. The Angel Street reading was totally captivating” expressed Marilyn Feldman who was one of the recipients of the tickets. Future tickets will be available for residents of Gallagher Plaza in February, Medallion in March, Marshall Union Manor in April, and Schnitzer Tower in May. If you are a resident and are interested in attending, contact Suzanne at 503-221-1224 Monday and Wednesday between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Christmas 2008

For the 24th year, Northwest Portland Ministries hosted a Christmas dinner for the community. The logistics of this year’s event were challenging, thanks to a major snowstorm that shut down most of the city. However, canceling the dinner was never an option, because so many people were counting on it.

Thanks to the ingenuity and generosity of many volunteers, the dinner went on as planned. We served 497 meals that day, including 83 that were delivered to the homes of people who were unable to get to Temple Beth Israel, the site of the dinner.

Even though some of the 130 scheduled volunteers were also unable to come in, others who lived nearby or had chains on their cars filled in. This was a truly interfaith and community-supported event, with food, funding, equipment, decorations, and volunteers from Beth Israel, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, First Immanuel Lutheran Church, Havurah Shalom, Ascension Episcopal Parish, Food Front, and others who just wanted to help. Our guests enjoyed not only a delicious turkey dinner, but lively music, gifts bags of practical items, scarves and hats knitted by Beth Israel’s “Knit a Mitzvah” group, and a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the midst of a cold and icy week.

New Office Manager

Hello everyone my name is Codi Kodama, I’m the new Office Manager at Northwest Portland Ministries. I was born in Hawaii and raised in Ashland, Oregon. When I’m not in the office I enjoy walking and hiking on nature trails or in parks, reading, creating music in my home studio, and learning about and eating healthy foods. Portland has been my home since late 2006 and I am excited about this opportunity to work for such a great organization that serves the needs of families and individuals in our local community.

The Community Share Program

The Northwest Portland Ministries Food Pantry is an emergency food distribution site affiliated with the Oregon Food Bank. It serves income-eligible residents of Northwest Portland. Making sure our food pantry is well stocked for maximum customer choice is our first priority, but often we have surplus perishables that we want to get distributed.

In order to ensure perishable food gets eaten instead of wasted, we have a Community Share program. Breads, pastries, fruits, vegetables, and other items are provided each to individuals, low-income residences, and a variety of community-based programs through several methods. Anyone is welcome to stop by the pantry once a week during regular hours to see if there is Community Share food available (This doesn’t count against eligibility for monthly shopping.) Boxes of Community Share food may also be picked up or delivered by arrangement. There are no income or geographic limitations placed on Community Share recipients.

PLEASE NOTE: The food available in the Community Share Program is highly perishable, and should be inspected carefully and consumed within 24 hours. As always, “when it doubt, throw it out!”

Thanks for the food drive!

The following organizations held food drives on behalf of NWPM during the month of December 2008:
Legacy Good Samaritan
Fruit & Flower Child Care Center
Havurah Shalom
St. Mary’s Cathedral
Northwest Soup and Subs
Office of Disease Prevention & Epidemiology, Ore-
gon Department of Human Services
General Tool & Supply Co.
Albina Community Bank

Welcome and thanks to our newest congregational partners, the Zen Center of Portland for helping us out at our 2nd Wednesday Harvest Share!

“Together we can . . . !”

Volunteers are an essential part of the NWPM Food Pantry, Community Share program and the Food For Kids Backpack program. Volunteers help out every weekday except Wednesdays and at weekend work parties. Cleaning, sorting food drive items, and repacking items are frequent work party activities. Volunteers can also help to pick up food-drive donations and glean perishables. We are particularly in need of people who can make pickups and deliveries, and/or who are able to regularly lift 40 pound boxes.

Volunteers at the last work party

Monthly work parties at the NWPM Warehouse

Warehouse work parties are scheduled for:
Monday, February 16, 2009 1:00-4:00 p.m. (President’s Day)
Saturday, March 14, 2009 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Location: 2145 NW Overton Street—a cream colored building with a green awning.
Contact: Kelly@nwpm.org or 503-221-1224 ext.
105. www.nwpmcommunity.blogspot.com
If you’d like to work at the warehouse but can’t make it to a work party, let us know and we can find a way to schedule something that you can do.

Save the date!

Volunteer Appreciation Brunch Thursday, April 23, 2009

Point of sale donor

During the month of February, Food Front will provide customers the opportunity to donate directly to the “Food for Kids Backpack Program” at check out time. Food Front is located at 2375 NW Thurman Street, Portland, OR 97210.

Dining for dollars

Northwest Portland Ministries is partnering with Serratto Restaurant to bring you fabulous dining while benefiting “Food for Kids Backpack Program.” Serratto is a lively and elegant neighborhood restaurant serving authentic and innovative dishes from Italy, France, and the greater Mediterranean region. Bring friends, family and coworkers.
When: Monday, February 23, 2009 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Where: Serrato Restaurant, 2112 NW Kearney Street, Portland, OR 97210 Participate: 10% of the days income will benefit the “Food for Kids Backpack Program.”