Food Baskets
Volunteers from the Oregon National Guard will distribute holiday food baskets to families throughout the Portland Metro area during an annual event coordinated by the Portland Police's Sunshine Division.
The event will take place starting promptly at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 20. Holiday food baskets will be distributed from one of four locations: Southeast, 4735 E. Burnside; Northeast, 449 NE Emerson St.; East, 737 SE 106th Ave.; and the Sunshine Division Warehouse, 687 N. Thompson Ave.
The baskets contain all the ingredients to prepare a holiday meal, including a four-pound ham.
Individuals from the Oregon National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Portland Police, and surrounding community volunteer their time to deliver the completed food baskets. Other donated items include toys and stuffed animals, which will be distributed along with the food baskets.
For information contact Detective Bob Clevinger, Portland Police, 503-823-2177
Book Reading
A Book Sharing at Reflections' Talking Drum Book Store presents Dr. Darya Funches, author and lecturer on transformation, Friday, Dec. 19, from 5-7:30 p.m. at 446 NE Killingsworth.
Her newest book is, "I Send My Blankets Over You—Lessons of Love: Volume One of The Reflect Upon The Rock Collection," poems, stories and songs for healing, transformation and co-creating new realities.
For more information go to www.talkingdrumbookstore.com, or call 503-288-9003.
Friends of Trees
Homeowners have until Jan. 5 to sign up to order bargain-price street trees from Friends of Trees if they live in the Beaumont-Wilshire, Cully, Madison South, Rose City Park and Roseway neighborhoods. They just need to click on "Order Street & Yard Trees" at www.FriendsofTrees.org and follow the simple steps.
Even if residents haven't ordered trees, all are invited to come for neighborhood plantings to make their neighborhood greener. All plantings start at 9 a.m. at staging areas noted on Friends of Trees' Google calendar at "Planting Calendar" under "Volunteer" at www.Friends ofTrees.org.
For information contact Brighton West, 503-282-8846 ext. 19.
Smoke Free
Starting at midnight on New Year's Eve, Oregon's Smoke free Workplace Law will protect nearly every Oregon employee from the health risks of secondhand smoke. Aztec Willie's in Portland plans a smoke free salsa dancing party for people ages 21 and older.
The event is Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 1501 NE Broadway in Portland, starting at 9 p.m. and running until 2 a.m.
The salsa lessons begin at 9:30, followed by a dance performance, live salsa music and then a midnight toast. Admission is $15.
For info on how to stop smoking, Oregon's Quit Line is a free service available to all Oregonians at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or in Spanish, 1-877-2NO-FUME.
Housing Groups
The Oregon Association of Realtors HOME Foundation has awarded grants totaling $25,000 to three local organizations: Portland Housing Center, Portland Community Land Trust, and Clackamas Community Land Trust. The HOME Foundation provides financial resources to create, expand and encourage homeownership opportunities for Oregonians at or below local median income. This year the Foundation distributed 16 grants totaling $63,999.
