August 2014 - In This Issue:
2014 
Family Reunion Fundraiser
Tickets are officially on sale for Portland Homeless Family Solutions' biggest fundraising event of the year! 

Join us for a night of dinner, games, live auction, live music, and other fantastic entertainment all while supporting homeless families with children. Click the links above to learn more, or jump right into buying your ticket. We're looking forward to seeing you there!!
Interested in helping out with this fun event? We are now recruiting for volunteers! We have opportunities for game assistants, parking attendants, check-in/check-out, and much, much more! Fill out this Google Form to mark your interests or shoot Emily an email at emily@pdxhfs.org

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Monday, August 4th

Tuesday, August 5th

Thursday, August 7th
6:00 PM - Art with Heart at First Thursday (Learn more about PHFS community partners and the stories their communities have to tell)

Wednesday, August 20th
5:00 PM - Dual Shelter Orientation (Thirteen Salmon + Goose Hollow)

SHELTER NEEDS
  • Strollers
     
  • Undershirts for men (new only, please!)
     
  • Conditioner (travel-sized)
     
  • Pillow cases (gently used or new)
Thank you, Bank of America!
Volunteers demonstrate that "life is better when we're connected"
We always love it when our volunteer groups visit the shelter. In July, we welcomed a group from Bank of America to help us do some much needed deep cleaning and organizing in the laundry room at our Goose Hollow Family Shelter. Volunteers sorted our clothing closet, making sure everything was labeled and clearly accessible for our families to take advantage of. In June, we had a large group come to help us decorate and deep clean the family room at GHFS. Many thanks, Bank of America volunteers!!!

Volunteer Spotlight: August

1. How long have you been volunteering with PHFS and what got you involved initially?

I started volunteering with PHFS last summer. I always wanted to help and be involved with my community. I started doing some research online, came across the PHFS website, and showed up for the orientation.

 

2. In what position do you typically volunteer and has that changed or evolved over the years?

I am the Overnight Host so I'm responsible for supervising the shelter from 7:30 PM to 7:30 AM. This experience has been very valuable to me because it's helped to give me an understanding of the reality of homelessness and who truly represents Portland's homeless community. Before I started to volunteer with PHFS, I thought many people ended up homeless because of drug or alcohol addiction. After talking with the families, though, I'm learning that many of them became homeless because of loss of work, pregnancy, or other unplanned events. This experience has definitely changed my view.

 

3. What's your favorite thing(s) about volunteering with PHFS?

Being able to make a difference in people lives and simply the overjoyed feeling and happiness that I get every time I leave the shelter in the morning.

 

4. Can you share any advice for new volunteers?

Know the rules of the shelter and your duties. Try to get to know the families and call them by their first name; and, most importantly, have fun while being at your best.

 

5. Outside of PHFS, what do you do for fun/to unwind/relax?

I enjoy running the south waterfront trail. On sunny days, I like to take my bike to Forest Park and enjoy some of the bike trails.

 

6. What's something nifty or fun that few others would know about you?

I like to put on a play of my favorite actors and make my friends laugh.

 

7. In rainy Portland, what's your favorite thing to do?

On a rainy day, I like to stay in bed and watch a movie or have friends over and play games.

Welcome to our first group of CCF Fellows!
Community Connect is a brand-new summer service-learning program that began this summer as a way to get young adults to truly get an educational experience out of volunteering. PHFS hand-picked 5 brilliant, passionate students from the Portland metro area to get hands-on experience in nonprofit management, network with local businesses, and volunteer several hours to truly know our families and the way the shelter system works. Click here to learn more about the Community Connect Fellowship. But first, meet our fellows!
Laudie Porter
My name is Laudie Porter, and I am a recent graduate of St. Mary's Academy. I will be headed off to Carleton College in Northfield, MN, in the fall. Aside from being a student, I am a musician and love singing in choirs and playing the violin. I chose to become a PHFS CCF Fellow because I wanted to do something that would change me in some way before I headed off to college. I knew that this would put me in an unfamiliar position and force me to adapt as I go along. The people I have met have been incredibly welcoming and have taught me what having hope can accomplish, even in a time that seems desperate. I am so incredibly grateful for these people and for the lessons that PHFS has given me as I continue onto the next chapter of my life!  
Karina Hernandez

Hello PHFS! My name is Karina Hernandez, and I'm a University of Portland Intern for Justice, as well as a CCF Fellow. I was born in Mexico, but have lived in Oregon since I was 8 months old. I am a rising senior at UP where I am working on completing a BS in biology and BA in Spanish. My main objective this summer is to work with and personally get to know the amazing families at PHFS at both the day and night shelters. I'm looking forward to getting more involved and becoming a part of the PHFS family!

Reilly Villanueva
Hi all! My name is Reilly Villanueva and I'm a Community Connect Fellow with PHFS. I'm a rising junior at Reed College, where I am currently studying mathematics. I plan on using my degree to become a statistician. In my free time, I enjoy working at my school's research nuclear reactor where I'm a licensed operator. I began volunteering as an Overnight Host about two years ago when I first moved to Portland from Yuma, Arizona, for school. Classes have made it difficult for me to volunteer as much as I'd like to during the academic year, so I'm grateful that this fellowship has given me the opportunity to spend more time with the families at PHFS over the summer. 
Sierra Samore
I'm Sierra Samore, I'm 18 years old and will be a senior at St. Mary's Academy. My interest in volunteering began when I lived in Mazatlan, Mexico, when I was younger and volunteered at various orphanages and animal shelters there. (I continue to volunteer at a particular orphanage whenever my family and I return to Mazatlan, which is usually every winter and summer break.) Since I've moved back to Portland, I've done my best to stay involved. During the school year, I volunteer at the Macdonald Center in Old Portland a few days a week. Apart from volunteering, I'm involved in theatre and play the ukulele, guitar and piano. I also play tennis, basketball, golf and downhill skiing. When I graduate St. Mary's, my goal is to take a gap year and live in a Spanish speaking country to teach English. I've loved working with PHFS; it's been a moving experience and I feel blessed to be apart of such a strong program. The staff is incredibly supportive and loving towards "us fellows" and the families. Thank you, PHFS, for such an amazing opportunity. I hope to continue volunteering throughout the school year!
Congratulations! You made it to the bottom.
We only wish we could thank you the way this TD Bank ATM in Canada did for their customers! Click on the picture to watch the whole video.

(WARNING: this WILL make you smile.)



Thanks for all you do!

- PHFS Team

Portland Homeless Family Solutions
503.915.8306


Helping Homeless Families 
Move Into Permanent Housing

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