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By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

When her brother took his wedding vows in the Willamette Valley in July, Allison Bansen took the opportunity to move back from Washington, D.C., to her beloved Oregon. Two weeks later, she started work at the Oregon Food Bank (OFB).

“It was the perfect transition time,” she said.

Allison is one of five volunteer coordinators working full time on the OFB team. Coordinating volunteers isn’t new to her. She’d been at it for five years in Washington before moving to Concordia.

“I live right off Alberta. It’s less than a two-mile, six-minute commute.”

Her passion is food and food access, which makes sense as Allison’s favorite part of her job is the food repack. Produce arrives at the warehouse in 48-by-48- inch bins. Volunteers then repack the food down into family-sized portions.

The items that are repacked mirror the season. “Right now we are repacking potatoes, pears, apples, turnips and radishes,” she reported on a recent Thursday. “Tonight we are doing cauliflower.”

The focus is on providing fresh food. Allison sees engaging the community – in addition to raising hunger awareness – as the most important part of the job.

“I like to share and develop relationships focusing on what we do here and making a difference.”

Of course, she loves coordinating all the volunteers. “Our volunteer registration is strictly online. After you sign up for a shift, you’ll receive a confirmation of the date and time you’ve signed up for and you’re all set.

“Our main volunteer opportunities are in our food repack shifts that run Monday through Saturday,” she added. “We also have a garden – it just wrapped up for the season – and administrative work that people can volunteer in as well.”

Volunteer opportunities at the Portland and Beaverton locations also include leading nutrition education classes, maintaining learning gardens and lending a hand at events.

Most volunteer opportunities are two to three hours in length and do not require a regular commitment.

“We are currently holding Our Season of Giving campaign,” Allison added. “That helps us raise money to enable us to get more food throughout year.”

To donate, you can mail a check, drop off cash or a check, or donate online at OregonFoodBank.org, the same website where you can register for a volunteer shift.

OFB’s goal is $20,000 and the Season of Giving goes through the first week of January. Within the first day, on Nov. 1, OFB had already raised $2,000.

Tamara is Edit Kitten, a writer with 20-plus years of experience offering a softer, gentler approach to editing and coaching. Her personal editors – Armani, Max Factor and Spicey’D – are also her cats. Visit her at EditKitten.com or contact her at Tamara@editkitten.com.

Editor’s note: A partner of the Oregon Food Bank, Northeast Emergency Food Program – with its food pantry and clothes closet – was chosen this year to benefit from the CNA Holiday Party. See Pages 1 and 3 for details about how you can help.

Ask the historian

By Doug Decker | Historian

The question:
What can you tell me about the building at 20th Avenue and Going Street that used to house the Tifereth Israel
Synagogue? – Alessandra Novak

The historian reports:

I’m so glad you’ve asked: it’s a fascinating and rich story. This long, narrow white clapboardsided building was built in 1907 and purchased in 1914 by Congregation Tifereth Israel, a Jewish community with roots in Russia and the Ukraine.

Originally the center of Jewish life for a small handful of families on Portland’s eastside – many of whom lived within walking distance – the congregation expanded over the years to include up to 100 families.

Known during those early years as the Alberta Shul – a Yiddish word meaning a place of study and prayer – the building drew the eastside Jewish community together. By the early 1950s, Tifereth Israel had outgrown the building, so the congregation purchased and moved into the former Redeemer Lutheran Church at 15th Avenue and Wygant Street.

From 1952 until the early 1980s, the building was home to several African American congregations, including the Mt. Sinai Community Church.

In 1980, when it was sold to its current owner, the building was rented out for various purposes including religious gatherings and then eventually as storage space. In 2010 it became home to Xhurch, its current occupants, as a gathering and workspace for resident artists and musicians.

When the property was placed on the market in 2016, members of Portland’s Jewish community began to organize an effort to purchase and restore the building. The group’s proposal was in competition with developers interested in tearing down the building. But the current owner was intrigued with the restoration project and has since entered into a contract with the coalition for purchase.

Today, the Alberta Shul Coalition is raising funds and support to transform the building back to its earlier role as a place for meeting, learning, community and prayer for the eastside Portland Jewish community.

Eleyna Fugman is one of the founders of the growing coalition. Her vision is for a special, simple gathering place for local Jewish residents to connect through a variety of community-driven programming, as well as a space that northeast neighbors could rent and use for meetings, classes and events.

“The fact that we could work, play and practice in a building that our ancestors built and made into a Jewish home is very important,” Eleyna said. “There are many young Jews who are looking for a place to be Jewish, who are yearning for Jewish community in some format.”

The coalition’s vision is that Alberta Shul can be a cultural venue for Jewish art, music, learning and gathering, as well as a place for traditional and alternative religious services and prayer.

The coalition raised about $40,000 during the summer and early autumn, and is hoping to raise $136,000 by March 2018 to complete the purchase. Further fundraising of another $250,000 is planned the following year to enable the restoration.

To learn more, visit the Alberta Shul Coalition Facebook page.

Editor’s note: If you have a question for the neighborhood historian, send it to NewsEditor@ConcordiaPDX.org, and we’ll ask Doug Decker to do some digging. Check out Doug’s blog for more on local history at AlamedaHistory.org.

By Nancy Varekamp | CNews Editor

Portland is overdue for an earthquake of devastating magnitude, thanks to the proximity to a fault and delicate soil that may damage building footings.

That’s what 35 Concordians learned last month at the neighborhood association annual membership meeting. They heard from Amy Gard, leader of the Concordia-Vernon-Woodlawn Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET), and from Justin Ross, Multnomah County Office of Emergency Management community capacity specialist.

Both stressed that planning for disasters – resiliency – makes recovery easier. The county focuses on four resiliency factors:

• Situational awareness: Take stock of where you are at all times. Know that a doorway is no longer the preferred safe zone in an earthquake; instead, drop under the cover of furniture.
• Plans: “Plans don’t cost any money and are one of the most important resiliency factors,” the county specialist pointed out. Know how to reach and reunite with your loved ones.
• Access to supplies: It may take two weeks for outside help arrive, so plan for it. “You don’t need to hoard,” he advised. You can grow vegetables instead of lawn, share supplies with neighbors, stock water purification kits, and more. Medications may be the most difficult to store since insurance companies balk at stocking up.
• Community connections: Be aware that 90 percent of all rescues are performed by neighbors. “Talk to your neighbors who aren’t here tonight,” he advised. “Those are the people who are going to be responding to the disaster immediately.”

Amy focused on that community connections factor. The local NET has 20 to 30 active members currently. Each completed 30 hours of training and they continue to train and drill on fire suppression; search and rescue; triage; and emergency medical treatment. (See details in the August CNews at ConcordiaPDX.org/NET.)

Since the NET encompasses 2.4 square miles and 17,000 residents, its volunteers will be spread thin during a disaster. So Amy advises neighbors to be prepared to help each other.

It requires just 2 to 3 hours of training to volunteer for basic earthquake emergency communication nodes (BEECNs), she added. Those volunteers will be stationed at the Killingsworth fire station, Alberta Park and Rigler Elementary School after disasters – to gather information and help the injured.

“It’s low time commitment, but provides an opportunity for involvement in the neighborhood emergency plan,” she said.

Since the NET must purchase its own supplies and equipment, donations are always welcome, Amy said. One easy way to donate is by registering for the Fred Meyer Community Rewards program.

Does your organization want to launch a local conservation project next year but needs start-up funds? Apply for a Partners in Conservation (PIC) grant by Dec. 15.

The East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) program provides funding to support conservation projects and conservation education that show a clear public benefit in any of these areas:

• Habitat restoration or watershed health
• Soil erosion prevention/control
• Soil health
• Water quality
• Water conservation
• Environmental education

Starting in 2011, EMSWCD provided three years of PIC funding for the nearby Cully Neighborhood Farm, supporting the Cully Young Farmers Project that provides gardening education for neighborhood youth. The urban garden sits on land owned by Trinity Lutheran Church and its school.

Today, the church leases the land to the urban farm in exchange for donations to the church food pantry, science and gardening lessons for its pre-K through 8th grade students, plus the opportunity to engage students in learning about healthy, local food sources.

“The project we funded fit our criteria for serving and engaging disadvantaged populations and diverse communities, as well as providing garden education opportunities for local youth.,” said PIC grants manager Suzanne Easton. “The three years of funding at $10,000 per year helped develop the garden education program, and these funds were matched by hefty donations of time and labor in creating the program.”

With the assistance of Concordia University and University of Portland students, the project developed and implemented weekly garden education curriculum for 103 students, many whom qualified for free or reduced lunches.

CNews youth writer Raven Pearce offered a first-person report on the garden in December 2016. (See her story at ConcordiaPDX.org/gardening-is-more). The types of organizations eligible to apply for grants include:

• Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations
• Nonprofit entities without 501(c)(3) status that retain qualified fiscal agents
• Educational institutions
• Government agencies
• Native American tribes

Funding for grants ranges between $5,000 to $60,000 for single-year projects, or up to $100,000 per year for multi-year projects. Grants less than $10,000 require no matching funds and, for grants more than $10,000, EMSWCD requires applicants to secure dollar-fordollar matches.

For details about eligibility, types and amounts of grants and how to apply, visit EMSWCD.org/pic, call 503.935.5370 or email Suzanne@emswcd.org.

By Rachel Richards | CNA Media Team

The Northeast Emergency Food Program (NEFP) provides not just food to those in need. It also has a clothing closet which provides free clothing to men, women and children, and it distributes nearly 50,000 items of clothing annually.

Other donations – bedding, kitchen items and toys – are also distributed quickly to those in need. There’s no space for furniture donations.

NEFP is recognized as one of the first Model Healthy Pantries in the state, and empowers those in need, through a shopping-style experience, to choose what they need, from both the clothing closet and the food pantry.

Serving 800 families per month, NEFP can provide four items of clothing per person per visit and 25 to 30 pounds of food up to three times in a six-month period.

There are no residential restrictions, and visitors to the pantry can provide proof of household members who aren’t present to obtain items the others need.

According to Travis Niemann, program manager, a fear currently exists across Portland that – because of the requirement to enter names into Oregon Food Bank’s Link to Feed database – undocumented immigrants are not accessing needed services.

“Our goal is to feed you, not to report you” he said. “Most of the families we serve have someone who is working,” he added. “They have resources, just not enough.”

NEFP program assistant Cecilia Estraviz said donated children’s costumes were set aside until Halloween season, to the delight of children.

Currently in the clothing closet sorting room, a few bins of toys are awaiting the holiday season, but a noticeable lack of men’s clothing exists. NEFP is currently in need of men’s job interview clothes and men’s work wear, as well as all types of winter clothing, rain gear and socks.

NEFP serves working families, seniors, people with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, people experiencing homelessness and you, if you need it.

Located at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 4800 N.E. 72nd Ave., NEFP is part of the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and a partner agency of the Oregon Food Bank. It’s open 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Donations are also accepted during these hours and NEFP is always open to new volunteers.

Donations will be accepted at the Concordia Neighborhood Association Holiday Party. Needs include rice, soup, proteins, personal hygiene items, pet food, winter clothing and work clothing.

Monetary donations are also welcome, and NEFP is participating in the Willamette Week’s 2017 Give!Guide. To donate, visit GiveGuide.org/#neemergencyfoodprogram.

Rachel is a 16-year Concordia resident who loves her community. She has a background in counseling/education and uses her passion for helping others in her work as a real estate broker. Contact Rachel or learn more about her at RachelRichardsRealtor.com.

By Ben Earle | Secretary, CNA LUTC

The Land Use & Transportation Committee last month welcomed some news on the Concordia development front.

Henry Point Development and Edge Development last month announced they are partnering to acquire and transform the languishing J’s Food Mart property at Killingsworth Street and 33rd Avenue into a 4,850-square-foot Mud Bay pet store.

Designed by Michael Flowers Architects and WDY Engineers, principle project lead Travis Henry said the goal for the development is to breathe life into this long under-utilized site.

They will expand the existing 2,700-square-foot convenience shop into a modern, attractive, one-story store.

It will be Mud Bay’s 44th store in Oregon and Washington, its 10th in the Portland area, and it will be the company’s first to introduce a new self-serve pet washing service.

According to its website, Seattle-based Mud Bay is the Pacific Northwest’s premier independent pet retail chain, with natural, solution-based and competitively-priced foods and supplies for dogs and cats.

Started as a family business in 1988, Mud Bay has garnered praise across the years, including Pet Business magazine’s 2015 Retailer of the Year.

Mud Bay also is known for providing a supportive and engaging work environment, and recently extended company ownership to its 400 employees.

In addition to the appealing new building profile, site improvements include:

• Reworked frontage with space for eight cars and a new parking area for bicycles
• Pedestrian- and wheelchair-friendly connection from Killingsworth to the store’s entrance
• Tasteful landscaping

Construction is anticipated to start by year’s end, with opening targeted for next spring. “Mud Bay Concordia will be a high-quality retail development located in the heart of one of Portland’s most popular residential neighborhoods,” reported developer Henry.

“We are excited to be developing a project compatible with the scale and needs of the surrounding area by bringing a strong local retailer to a new audience of pet owners.”

He is a Portland native, who returned to Oregon in 2008 after college and post-graduate studies to work in environmentally-friendly agriculture and watershed restoration. He then transitioned into urban planning, and more recently into commercial and retail development.

He said his firm is committed to community-oriented projects that respect and enhance the unique character of Portland’s distinctive neighborhoods.

By Karen Wells | CNA Media Team

Bedtime is the best time for toddlers and parents. After a long, exciting day of exploring and learning new fine motor skills, rest is best for growing toddlers. Back in the day, bedtime meant pulling out a favorite book, turning down the household distractions, and finding a comfy place and lap.

Bedtime was a time for bonding, unwinding and marveling as the story unfolded with the soothing voice of a parent. Has bedtime reading changed in the digital age of iPads and other smart devices?

A 2015 Pew Research Center report, “Parenting in America,” found, “About eight in 10 parents with children younger than six say their children have screen time on a typical day.”

A bit of screen time before bed? Here are some things to consider before handing that smart device to your toddler before bed.

They’ve just discovered their index fingers can point, at everything. They point to get attention and to things that have gotten their attention. Toddlers are developing their fine hand skills: grasping cups, holding spoons, pulling up their pants. Although, these seem like simple tasks to adults, they are important stepping stones on the path to self care and independence.

Holding a book supports important hand and learning skills that toddlers build upon. Touching a book and turning pages while the story is read helps a child learn language, meaning, and how to read.

Many “learning” applications targeted at the very young have not been proven to be effective. Many are poorly designed, too sophisticated for young children or only “teach” rote rudimentary skills. Skills are best learned by active interaction with the environment, peers and family.

Screen time before bed, with its bright light, the “bells and whistles” of the app, and potential for frustrations – on the part of parent and/or child – distract from the goals of bonding, relaxing and falling asleep.

Multnomah County Library youth librarians and Concordia University’s George R. White Library & Learning Center can help with advice on ageappropriate digital device applications, children’s book titles and/or materials.

Concordia University’s six reference librarians are available weekdays to answer questions. Multnomah County Library’s youth librarian at the Hollywood Branch, Natasha Forrester Campbell, recommends good bedtime reads like “Lola Loves Stories,” by Anna McQuinn, “Go to Bed, Monster!” by Natasha Wing, and “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown.

So, get the house quiet, pull out a favorite book and find a comfy place. It’s bedtime. Sweet dreams.

Editors’ note: There’s a wealth of information on the web about the effect of screen time on young children. Karen provides many sites for your use at ConcordiaPDX.org/screen-time-research.

By Logan Wilmoth | Concordia University student

Every Thursday night, rain or shine, willing volunteers and homeless alike gather under the Burnside Bridge for Night Strike, an evening of care and companionship.

Concordia University (CU) students, faculty and staff work with local nonprofit Because People Matter Inc. to provide relief, mobilization and transformation.

This service opportunity, Night Strike, was born both from the university’s Christian mission and the need and necessity to love and care for those impacted by food and housing insecurity in the Portland area, according to Scott Ferguson, associate dean of student engagement & student affairs.

Night Strike is not only an opportunity for any member of the homeless community to enjoy a hot meal, receive a free haircut, replace clothing and enjoy company. It is an ideal occasion for volunteers to join in relationship with some incredibly resilient individuals, he added.

The university sends 200 volunteers each semester to experience this evening mission. One of them, Cecilia Magistrale, Concordia student and Night Strike coordinator, explained, “Night Strike develops relationships, and offers a unique experience for volunteers to break free of biases by stepping out of one’s comfort zone.” She also helps lead CU’s Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week events Nov. 11-19. For details on that event, visit HHWeek.org. For more information on Night Strike, visit bpmpdx.org.

For Cecilia, the Night Strike experience is a powerful one. “This organization holds such a huge piece of my heart because of how it challenges me every time I am there to recognize who I am serving, why I am serving and why I love it.”

Scott explains the lasting impact the experience has given him, and others at CU, “I have never been more humbled and blessed to assist another human being – by washing their road weary feet and having the opportunity to hear their journey – to better understand not only the struggles they have overcome, but still face.”

He likens the experience to a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

Logan is a Portland native and a junior at Concordia University studying psychology and fine art.

By Karen Wells | CNA Media Team

Marie M. is a talkative, friendly elder and longtime resident of Humboldt Gardens Apartments in nearby Humboldt neighborhood.

She’s one of about 20 residents who gather in the community room for the weekly Mobile Market hosted by Humboldt Gardens/ Home Forward and sponsored by Urban Gleaners.

It’s one of five Urban Gleaners Mobile Markets in north and northeast Portland. The others are at Charles Jordan Community Center, Cathedral Gardens Apartments, Hacienda CDC and Peninsula Park Community Center.

Mobile Market is a program sponsored by Urban Gleaners (UG), which was founded in 2006 with the mission of reducing food waste and alleviating hunger in the Portland area.

The Mobile Market is a drop-off site for a variety of foodstuffs for distribution to families with children, elders and/or neighbors in need of additional food. Items available for selection are arranged attractively by site staff to support the dignity of recipients. No questions are asked. If a person is in need of food, he or she is welcome to participate.

Neighborhood Gleaners (NG) is a partnership between Hollywood Senior Center and Hollywood Farmer’s Market. It grew out of a special project started at the Northeast Community Center. In 2010, NG moved to the Hollywood Senior Center (HSC) to continue its work of distributing “leftover” produce from the Hollywood Farmers Market (HFM) to seniors in need of food.

Volunteers clad in black aprons collect HFM vendor food/produce donations. Monday mornings, starting at 8:30, the HSC is abuzz with food distribution.

Seniors bring bags, and share stories about cooking, with some participants polishing their English language skills. NG, like all nutrition organizations, serves a diverse population. It partners with Kitchen Share Northeast to offer an annual Thanksgiving Dinner at HSC. NG cooks, serves, decorates and cleans up.

The Thanksgiving dinner is the highlight of NG’s season – and a holiday highlight for 70 seniors, who go home with leftovers.

Karen is a retired early childhood community educator, health and safety trainer. Reach her at 619.244.7892.