Become an Ambassador!

Help Seniors Connect with Food Resources!

Northwest Portland Ministries (NWPM) presents:

Seniors and SNAP: A Resource Training for Volunteers

When: Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010, 1:00 p.m. -to- 2:30 p.m.
Where: Portland city Center Sanctuary, 1640 NW Irving St., Portland, OR 97209

NWPM kicks off our Senior Hunger Outreach Campaign with a SNAP outreach training by Nancy Weed of Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon/Oregon Hunger Task Force.

"SNAP" - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

To RSVP, call Kelly Caldwell, NWPM Volunteer Program Manager, at 503-221-1224, ext. 105 -or- email her at Kelly@nwpm.org. Contact us just to get on the list for future training if you are very interested but can not attend this session.

For more info on the training, click on and read the bottom of the flier below.

We Need Volunteers - sign up now!

Our 2010 Fall Auction & Dinner on October 23 is now less than a month away!

We need friendly and computer savvy volunteers to work a shift between 3:30 p.m. and 9:30p.m the day of the event. As a volunteer, you will welcome and check-in guests as they arrive. At the end of the event, you'll perform auction and donation payment transactions and thank guests for their generosity as they depart.

• Our Office Manager, Codi, will train you for this important volunteer function on Tuesday, October 19 from 5:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

• To volunteer, or get more information, please call Codi at 503-221-1224, ext. 103 or email him at codi@nwpm.org.

• Skills needed: computer savvy, fluent English speaking, organized, service oriented.

The event on October 23 will be held at the Multnomah Athletic Club‎ (the MAC).

Do you know about Federal Tax Deductions for Volunteers?

Northwest Portland Ministries greatly appreciates the time and energy volunteers like you devote to our neighbors in need. We also know that you sometimes incur out-of-pocket costs and we wanted you to know that Uncle Sam treats some of these costs as charitable contributions that you can deduct on your income tax return!

The memo in the documents below, from our partner Hands on Portland, provides information about the tax aspects of volunteering, donations, and costs incurred while volunteering. If you have further questions, require documentation for your tax records or wish to receive this form as a PDF, please contact Northwest Portland Ministries Office Manager Codi Kodama at 503-221-1224 x 103 or email info@nwpm.org.

PS. Good record keeping is key to being able to deduct mileage expenses too! Find an ehow.com contributor's tips on keeping track of those miles here.

Click on the images below for the info.

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES as of 3/5/10

Deliver Lunch to Irving Street Loaves & Fishes on Wednesdays
Pick up coolers from the main Loaves & Fishes Kitchen and deliver to the Irving Street Senior Lunch Program at 10:45 a.m., in time for lunch. Needed: A good sized vehicle that can fit several coolers, ability to lift full coolers, or willingness to ask other volunteers to help with that. (Recommended: A tarp or towel to keep your vehicle clean).
Contact Schedule: Pam Porter at pamela.porter503@gmail.com or call 503.327.1253.

Volunteer at the Food Pantry on Fridays 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Feed the Hungry! Greet clients and sign them in, assist with filling food requests, stock shelves, maintain neat shelves and racks, light clean-up duties. Address: 1808 NW Irving, First Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Shop the Dock at the Oregon Food Bank Tuesday Mornings
Shopping the dock involves going to the Oregon Food Bank (7900 N.E. 33rd Drive) and seeing what types of fruits, veggies, dairy, bread etc. are available. The items need to be brought to the NWPM Food Pantry at 1808 NW Irving.

Volunteer Driver: Take an elder to the doctor
Use one of the NWPM vehicles or drive your own car to get folks to medical appointments and other key locations.
When: Flexible, based on availability & need
Requirements: Age 23 or older, Ride Connection Application turned in to NWPM, Background check, three training components to be completed within six months.

Deliver Emergency Food Boxes
If you have a vehicle and 30 minutes, you could deliver a food box to a specific hungry person, or get a box of surplus food delivered to our Community Share program to residents at low-income buildings in downtown & NW. Help feed people and keep food from going to waste! Vehicle, Bike trailer or little red wagon needed.
When: Flexible, ideal times are on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, with options sometimes available on Mondays and Thursdays too.

Lend a Helping Hand (individualized support)
Our volunteers are called on to answer requests from our neighbors in Northwest Portland who need assistance with moving, shopping, cleaning, or friendly visits. If you are looking for a meaningful way to make a difference in someone's life, Helping Hands is a great way to get involved. Note: Williams Plaza resident with a learning disability needs at tutor for his PCC English Class.

Create Your Own Volunteer Opportunity!
NWPM staff is available in a limited capacity to support “out of the box” volunteer work. If you see a need or have an idea, we’d like to hear from you to discuss what might be possible.

Rides home from the Pantry on Tuesdays...

Rides are now available to Northwest Portland Ministries' Food Pantry at 1808 NW Irving St. (First Immanuel Lutheran Church - map). It is open Tuesdays & Fridays from 11:00am to 1:00pm. NWPM provides transportation services by donation. If you need help getting home from the Northwest Portland Ministries (NWPM) Emergency Food Pantry with your groceries, we have volunteers available on Tuesdays to drive you. Please call the office one day in advance to let us know that you’d like a ride home, and we’ll have a volunteer ready for you! Other rides require three days notice & are for those age 60 and older.Please call NWPM, Inc. at 503-221-1224. Our office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Print and share the flyer - click here. To learn more about NWPM's transportation program, go here.

Volunteer Opportunity of the Week:

Are you a good packer?!We are looking for 1-2 friendly helpers to give support to an elderly gentleman who is moving on December 15th and is in need of volunteers to help prepare his stuff. This can be scheduled for any day on or before Dec. 14th. If you have a few hours to spare in the coming week to help fill some boxes and assist in organization, please let us know ASAP!

For more information or to volunteer, contact Kelly@nwpm.org or call 503 221-1224.

Got a pick-up truck?

Help low income neighbors get some furniture! Many times someone gets into housing but has absolutely nothing, no bed, no chairs etc. The case managers we work with can help folks get items from places like the Community Warehouse, but often there is no way to transport these items to the recipient. This project can be scheduled at your convenience, please let us know if have a van or truck & could be available for this type of service.

Call 503 221-1224.

Math Tutors Needed for PIVOT

PIVOT student volunteers were a huge asset to NWPM in 2009. They assisted with large mailings that helped us raise funds, and they worked on various projects in our office. At our 4th Annual Fall Auction, eight young women volunteered at the check-in desk.

Now, we'd like to see if we can help them with some great tutors!

PIVOT is a program in NW Portland for young women ages 16-24 that are working to get their GED and/or High School Diploma. PIVOT students are required to take the TABE - the Test for Adult Basic Education. The curriculum covers whole number operations, decimals, fractions, percents, integers, basic algebra, basic geometry, data interpretation, probability, and basic statistics. Assignments are individually based on how a student performed on their most recent TABE. Other reference materials are used beyond TABE, especially GED materials.

PIVOT students most commonly need assistance with: long division, adding/subtracting fractions with unlike denominators, percents, and data interpretation, algebra, and word problems. They also need encouragement to learn the multiplication tables and not using calculators.

Background checks are required for all volunteers in accordance with state laws along with other necessary paperwork. Please contact Cindy Sorum if you are interested in tutoring with the PIVOT program at 503-274-7343 x 212. Thanks you!

Annual Auction a Huge Success!

Our 4th Annual Auction was a huge success, raising $30,000, thanks to generous donations, community support and countless volunteer hours. For a glimpse of the evening, click here.

Once again we are looking for dedicated volunteers to help NWPM serve our neighbors in need, read below. Please forward this to your web of friends, family, co-workers and neighbors.

Volunteer Opportunities

Loaves & Fishes Delivery Driver needed for Mondays at 10:45 a.m.
We need someone to pick-up coolers from the downtown Elm Court Loaves & Fishes Kitchen at 1023 SW Main and bring them to the Irving Street Loaves & Fishes. If you have a good sized vehicle that can fit several coolers and have the ability to lift full coolers or willingness to ask other volunteers for assistance you could help feed 40 seniors every Monday! Aside from food pick up you could also stay and help with lunch if you want to.

Wrap presents at the Holiday Village in NW Portland on Sat. 12/12.
Holiday Village is organized by the Nob Hill Business Association. This event will include music, refreshments, gift wrapping, Santa & much more. It is from 11am -5pm the first four Saturdays in December. Location: 635 NW 23rd (between Hoyt & Irving).

NWPM has been invited to have volunteers staff the gift wrapping station on Dec. 12th. A different non-profit is invited to participate each Saturday.

This is a fundraiser and community event for Northwest Portland Ministries and we need 3-4 people each shift to wrap gifts and have fun. All materials provided.

The time has been divided into two shifts and we are in need of 3 folks between 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you are good at wrapping and available please arrive 15 minutes before your shift. Call Kelly at 503-221-1224 ext. 105 or e-mail kelly@nwpm.org to sign-up.

Got a pick-up truck? Help Low income people get some furniture!
Many times someone gets into housing but has absolutely nothing, no bed, no chairs etc. Case managers we work with can help folks get items from places like the Community Warehouse, but often there is no way to transport these items to the recipient. This project can be scheduled at your convenience, please let us know if you have a van or truck and could be available for this type of service. Call Kelly at 503-221-1224 ext. 105 or e-mail kelly@nwpm.org to sign-up.

Friendly Helpers Needed for Local Residents
NWPM receives ongoing requests for Friendly Helpers to assist with various tasks. Help is needed with light cleaning, laundry, organizing, as well as social visits and simply providing companionship to an isolated neighbor in our community. To get involved call 503-221-1224 ext. 105 or e-mail kelly@nwpm.org

If you have a couple of hours to volunteer to make a difference, please contact:

Kelly Caldwell,
Northwest Portland Ministries
Volunteer Manager
Kelly@nwpm.org
2701 NW Vaughn, Suite 102
Pdx OR 97210
Main Phone: 503-221-1224
Fax: 503-505-5028

NWPM Volunteer Opportunities & current news are available at any time on our blog: http://nwpmcommunity.blogspot.com/

And We're Live!

We've had the "Save the Date" image at the top of the blog for a while now that links to information about our 4th Annual Fall Auction and Dinner on October 24th.
Well if you click there now, you can view the catalog of auction items online plus find out more great information about this exciting event!
Who's hosting? What are the items to bid on? What do the bids start at?
It's all there for you to see right now at wwww.nwpmauction.blogspot.com. So take a look, then be sure to RSVP, donate, or become a sponsor or volunteer to help make this year's event a great success! Click here!

Volunteer Drivers Wanted!

Northwest Portland Ministries gets over 1000 requests for rides each month!

We are very much in need of volunteer drivers to get folks to medical appointments and other key locations. Drivers can use one of the NWPM vehicles or drive their own car. (If you use your own vehicle you are eligible for a reimbursement or tax write-off of 50 cents per mile.)

There is a special approval process to ensure liability issues are properly addressed:
1) Complete a Ride Connection Driver Application & return it to NWPM
2) Once approved, (you must have 5 years of good driving history, be at least 23, and pass a background check) make an appointment for a brief orientation, and then you are ready to go.

For a complete details and to express interest, please contact David@nwpm.org or 503-221-1224.

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Be a Volunteer Driver: A day or few hours a week. Learn more here.
Be a Friendly Receptionist for NWPM Transportation:
Loaves & Fishes Senior Lunch Program on Weekdays:
Emergency Food Box Volunteers: Feed the Hungry!
Make a Community Share Delivery!
Transit Adventure Volunteers Wanted!:
Looking for a Volunteer Human Resources Consultant:
Friendly Visitor/Helping Hand:
New Project:

Be a Friendly Receptionist for NWPM Transportation: Help answer the phone and take ride requests at the NWPM office when seniors are calling in to request rides. Mornings are especially busy times.

Loaves & Fishes Senior Lunch Program on Weekdays: Come help set-up and serve lunch and then we clean up the space (so it can be used for other purposes in the afternoons). Help on Wednesdays is especially needed..

Emergency Food Box Volunteers: Feed the Hungry! Choose a shift on: Tuesdays or Fridays from 10:45 am-1:00 pm,2nd Weds. 9:00-11:30 am for fresh produce distribution.
Various tasks & activities are also available at other times.Please inquire!

Make a Community Share Delivery! Keep food from being wasted & get it to folks who need it. Drop off surplus perishable food at a low-income building in the area. The ideal times are on Tuesday & Friday afternoons, with options sometimes available on Mon. & Thurs. too.

Transit Adventure Volunteers Wanted!: Work with NWPM & Ridewise to help organize affordable and fun senior fieldtrips via public transportation. (Training from Ridewise required). The most recent example of this is a trip to the zoo on Sept. 16th. See previous posting).

Looking for a Volunteer Human Resources Consultant: Skilled & creative writer & editor needed to help create job descriptions and update other volunteer management tools & documents.

Friendly Visitor/Helping Hand: One-on-one matches with seniors in need. Examples include light housekeeping, packing help, file/paperwork help, or just a social visit.

New Project: Interior Decorators and Apartment Organizers are invited to help low income neighbors make the most of their space. This can be done in a number of ways from making a display to offering one-on-one support.

Contact:
Kelly Caldwell
Volunteer Manager, Northwest Portland Ministries
Kelly@nwpm.org <=== click here!
(503) 221-1224 ext.105
Use your back button to return to the Community Connections blog.

Thursday Workparty May 21st: Volunteers Needed

What: Come help us organize at the food warehouse
When: Thursday, May 21, 2009, 10:30am - 1:00pm
Where: NWPM Warehouse at 2145 NW Overton, a green colored building with a green awning on NW Overton between NW 21st and NW 22nd.
To learn more about the warehouse work parties and why they're so important to our Emergency Food Pantry, Food for Kids Backpacks and Community Share programs, click here and here.
If you’d like to help at the warehouse but can’t make it to this event, please contact us and we'll find an alternate time or activity that fits your schedule.

Contact:
Kelly Caldwell
Volunteer Manager, Northwest Portland Ministries
Kelly@nwpm.org
(503) 221-1224 ext.105

Warehouse Work Party on Monday at Noon!

We just got a big delivery of food donations to sort & organize &
also have a variety of upcoming projects to prepare for, so we
are organizing a last minute NWPM Warehouse Workparty for those
who are interested & available! Let us know if you'd like to help!

When: Monday, April 13th Noon-1:30
Where: NWPM Warehouse, 2145 NW Overton

Thanks!

Northwest Portland Ministries invites you to a free theater performance:

A Sunday Afternoon of Song
with Jen & Jack

a medley of popular show tunes

Featuring: Jennifer Keltner ~ Vocals & Jack Bishop ~ Piano

On May 3rd at 1:30 PM
Doors open at 1:30 pm for light refreshments

Please be in your seats before the show starts promptly at 2 PM!

At Congregation Beth Israel
1972 NW Flanders

Blumauer Auditorium, Sherman Education Building

This event is a free cultural activity (all are welcome)

with a special focus on NWPM Volunteer Appreciation.

Questions? Contact NWPM at 503-221-1224 or info@nwpm.org

Be Good to the Earth; Be Good to your Neighbors!

"The City Repair Project is group of citizen activists creating public gathering places and helping others to creatively transform the places where they live.
City Repair’s projects:

• inspire people to both understand themselves as part of a larger community and fulfill their own creative potential, and
• activate people to be part of the communities around them, as well as part of the decision-making that shapes the future of their communities."
  

Northwest Portland Ministries has secured a booth at the annual City Repair Earth Day Celebration which takes place on Saturday, April 25th, 2009 from 10:00am - 7:00pm in Wallace Park. Our goal is to celebrate and participate in the "partnerships formed by bringing people together to create a mindful celebration in a neighborhood each year." Learn about last year's Earth day event.

We'd like to help show how people can volunteer right here in NW Portland and make a difference in the lives of others. Volunteer local; help the environment! Have you heard the phrase, "Charity begins at home?" Well so too (to paraphrase City Repair) does local ecological sustainability start at home.

This very day, we will be doing a Portable Pantry event at Alder House in downtown Portland. We can use help staffing the booth or delivering food, or helping out at our warehouse on Overton. We may also have some direct service opportunities doing Helping Hands type activities as well if there is interest (must sign up beforehand).

If you or someone you know is interested, please contact:

Kelly Caldwell,
Northwest Portland Ministries
Volunteer Manager
Kelly@nwpm.org
2701 NW Vaughn, Suite 102
Pdx OR 97210
Main Phone: 503-221-1224
Fax: 503-505-5028

Portable Pantry Premieres

On Monday, March 30th, volunteers and staff delivered and staged food from our warehouse in the reception area of Rosenbaum Plaza, an 80-unit apartment building in downtown Portland for low-income and disabled residents. Most of the residents we served are not able to get to the Pantry on their own, nor would they be able to transport any meaningful supply of food back to their homes. During this event, we helped a number of residents get the food up and into their apartments.
This video provides a little more context of our first Portable Pantry than the slide-show at the bottom of the blog. After volunteers set up the food, they assisted in checking-in residents and helped them with food selection.

Speaking of service, the City of Portland named this facility in 1976 in honor of Fred M. Rosenbaum for his dedication to service in his community. Click here to read more about Mr. Rosenbaum.

Volunteer Just Do It!

It was a busy day for NWPM volunteers on March 30th! While a handful were at Rosenbaum Plaza sharing food to grateful residents, others were busy loading a truck in NE Portland in order to help a disabled woman move to a new home.
When the food distribution at Rosenbaum was done, it became evident that additional manpower would be welcome to unload the woman's belongings at William Temple house in NW Portland. So - off we went ! With the extra help, including from a friendly William Temple house resident, we were done in no time.
Don't mind the old ABBA tune; it just seemed to work with this clip!

Weekend Warehouse Workparty in March!

What: Come help us organize at the food warehouse.
When: Saturday afternoon, March 14th, 2009, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: NWPM Warehouse at 2145 NW Overton, a green colored building with a green awning.
To learn more about the warehouse workparties and why they're so important to our Emergency Food Pantry, Backpacks for Kids and Community Share programs, click here and here.
If you’d like to work at the warehouse but can’t make it to a workparty, let us know and we can find a way to schedule something that you can do. Thanks so much!

Contact:
Kelly Caldwell
Volunteer Manager, Northwest Portland Ministries
Kelly@nwpm.org <=== click here!
(503) 221-1224 ext.105