Help families and children this holiday through local non-profits

Portland families get much needed assistance from nonprofits in the metro area

Nonprofit organizations around the greater Portland metro area aim to help at-risk families in need during one of the bustling and coldest times of the year. There also are schools around Gresham that are able to help provide to those families by taking on nonprofit organization’s missions by helping to host a charity or donation.

SnowCap

At MHCC, the college supports SnowCap, a nonprofit organization that takes food donations and is currently collecting outside the Associated Student Government Office in the Student Union.

SnowCap is an acronym for Suburban Neighborhoods Operation Witness Community Action Program, which was founded in January 1967. SnowCap’s goal was/is to assist those in the area through residents, churches and community leaders to meet those needs. The organization embraces the philosophy that “SnowCap will cross the lines of race, religion, national origin, and economic status, hoping to coordinate and act as a barometer, correcting conditions which call for improvement.”

SnowCap’s services include providing emergency food, clothes for the whole family, back to school supplies, a community garden and more. Those interested in volunteering should email Nate Larsen, Volunteer Coordinator, at: [email protected]. For more information about SnowCap, visit the website: snowcap.org

Christmas Family Adoption

Another local nonprofit is the Christmas Family Adoption Foundation, also known as The Adopt-A-Family Program. The Foundation is an organization in the Portland Metro area that provideås families the gifts that allow them to enjoy a holiday celebration. “The families express a great amount of gratitude when they receive their gifts and it gives them a sense of hope,” said Mike Burright, Foundation president.

The Adopt-A-Family Program officially began in 2010, but in 2002, Burright realized that a family with two children wouldn’t have a Christmas if he didn’t help. He asked his friends, family and acquaintances to donate toys, clothing and household essentials. He wrapped the gifts, put on his Santa suit and made the special delivery on Christmas Eve for that family in 2002.

The Foundation volunteers commit their time and resources to raise funds for the holiday season. They manage donations, shop for gifts, wrap presents and make the deliveries just before Christmas. “Some donors have been incredibly generous by donating furniture, money, bills and anything else they can,” said Burright.

For more information on how to contribute, visit the website: christmasfamilyadoption.com

Impact NW

Impact NW provides educational and social services in the Portland metro area. Its mission is to help people prosper through a community of support. They’re hosting the Holiday Hope Drive, which helps support people by providing a blanket for a baby, warm coat for a child, food for a senior, or other necessities. The organization advocates for, and provides assistance to, people of all ages with skills and resources needed to achieve success, as well as their communities. The group serves some 36,000 low-income children, youth, families, seniors and adults with disabilities each year.

For more information about Impact NW, visit the website: impactnw.org.

Gresham High School

Nearby Gresham High School has supported nonprofits such as Red Cross, Breast Friends, the Thirst Project and the KGW Toy Drive. The school plans to host three different blood drives this year. Ty Gonrowski, GHS activities director, said he’s “proud of the leadership classes” at the high school. One is the student council, which is based on helping the school and the renaissance leadership class, which is based on connecting the school and Gresham community.

Red Cross is aimed to help families and individuals in need of clothes, food, shelter and other necessities. The Thirst Project aims to put wells in countries around the world to provide them water that they normally wouldn’t have access to. Breast Friends is an organization that provide services to women with breast cancer. “We helped with chemotherapy (payments), partner with them and do a fundraiser,” said Gonrowski. Participants have worn pink all day at school and raised money that evening at an athletic contest by selling “little Italian sodas,” he said.

Although anyone may donate to these nonprofit organizations, there are many others across the Portland Metro area and around the nation that you can help.

For more to help find and check out nonprofit organizations, visit: nonprofitoregon.org/membership and click “Current Nonprofit Members.”