Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Pass it On

**Home Forward will be opening its Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) wait list beginning at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 13th through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 17th. Applications will be accepted at www.homeforward.org. What is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) rent assistance program? The program helps people earning low-incomes afford rental homes and apartments at normal market rates.  For more details, click here

**Check out Albina Head Start/Early Head Start’s new Facebook page here.

**UNICA will be hosting the 3rd Annual Voces de la Comunidad conference Oct. 18th and 19th. Reduced group rates are available for organizations sending multiple staff. It is a bilingual conference (but participants don’t have to be, as interpretation options will be available for monolingual English or monolingual Spanish speakers). This year, in addition to workshops and cultural events, speakers include State Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, Multnomah County Commissioner Judy Shiprack and State Representative Joe Gallegos. More information is available here.

**The 2016 PCL Progress Report is out. Click here to view online. 

**The Portland Children’s Levy has a whole new look to its website! Click here to visit and let us know what you think by emailing marygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov

**Follow PCL on Twitter here

**Playworks can help providers working with children integrate safe, healthy and inclusive student play into existing school activities through a series of thorough and interactive workshops that highlight constructive tools and methods. The trainings are designed for before-, after- and out-of-school program staff.  Go here for more info. 

**The YWCA offers high-quality and engaging social change trainings. All of the info can be found here.

  ** Meals 4 Kids, a PCL-funded program through Meals on Wheels People that delivers meals to children and their caregivers throughout Portland, is looking for volunteer drivers. Interested? Contact lynette.vicens@mealsonwheelspeople.org

PCL wants to hear from you re volunteers for your programs 

Now that the revamped PCL website is up and running, we would like to add a homepage volunteer link so interested readers wanting to put their time, talent and experience to good use can volunteer if they choose.

If you would like to be listed as an org on the PCL website that accepts volunteers, please email marygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov with: 

1.    A link: either to your website where volunteer information can be found, or the email and/or phone number of the name of the person responsible for volunteers.

2.    A short blurb about what you are looking for from volunteers.

3.    If you would like to include any specific wording about outreach to older and/or retired potential volunteers.

We will be back in touch as this project evolves later this fall. Thanks in advance, and thanks to those grantees who have already responded re this.

Programs Making a Difference: Metropolitan Family Service hunger relief

Across all MFS food pantries, some of its most valuable volunteers are also members of the community who first attended the pantry as clients. One of the organization’s exceptional volunteers is Javier. Javier first attended an MFS food pantry as a client after hearing about the resource from his daughter’s teacher. Before leaving that first day, Javier offered to volunteer during the next distribution. From there, Javier has continuously taken on additional responsibilities outside of the traditional volunteer roles. Javier now volunteers at three MFS-run food pantries for both the delivery and distribution. Through his experience, he has an in-depth understanding of different facets of the pantry and now serves as a lead volunteer where he offers additional training for new volunteers, supports volunteers throughout the distribution and provides orientation to new pantry clients.

Javier has expressed deep gratitude for being a part of the pantry team.  He is currently unable to work and his involvement with the food pantries creates a deeper sense of fulfillment and joy in his life. Javier has also taken advantage of additional personal development opportunities. He has attended multiple Oregon Food Bank sponsored gardening classes and now helps to manage two community school gardens.  Most recently, Javier joined OFB Volunteer Interpreters Unit where he is further able to serve the Latino community that attend food pantries. Javier’s story exemplifies the personal growth and development opportunities that MFS strives to make available through its food pantries.

In the News 

**Head Start turns 50 and Portland is a national model. Read it here. 

**Exciting news as Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro break ground on a new club in Rockwood. All the info can be found here.

**Friends of the Children wins federal grant to support three-state expansion. The story can be found here.

**A recent article depicts the plight of stressed nonprofit employees. It can be found here.

Early Childhood Update

Latino Network is currently accepting new families in its early childhood programs at 12 locations (see below) throughout North, Northeast and Southeast Portland, East Multnomah County and Tigard/Tualatin. For more info contact: 

Sadie Feibel Holmes

Director of Early Childhood Programs

o: 503.283.6881

m: 503.929.5600

sadie@latnet.org

Juntos Aprendemos (3-5 year olds)

Cesar Chavez K-8
Rigler Elementary
Harvey Scott K-8
Lent K-8
Shaver Elementary
Ventura Park Elementary
Mill Park Elementary
Metzger Elementary
Bridgeport Elementary
Glenfair Elementary (full)

Creciendo Juntos / CEW Project (0-3 year olds)

James John Elementary
Earl Boyles Elementary
Glenfair Elementary

PCDS/Parents as Teachers (0-5 year olds)

Woodland Elementary
Latino Network Rockwood 

Check it out

Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest hosted its first annual “Rappel for Her” event on Aug. 19th and 20th. Overall, the event exceeded the organization’s fundraising goal by raising $80,000 to support its programs.

During those two days, VIPs and others who raised $1,000 or more, rappelled down the side of the 16-story 200 Market St. building to raise awareness for strong, smart, and bold girls in the Pacific Northwest.

Interested in participating in “Rappel for Her” next year? Email Emily at emily@girlsincpnw.org to get on the list!