In this issue:
The Oregon Public House supports the Family Relief Nursery!

Enjoy delicious food and drinks at  The Oregon Public House and select VOA Oregon's Family Relief Nursery to receive proceeds from your purchase! This is a family friendly pub all hours of the day, so come one, come all!
 

When:   January 1 - June 30, 2017

Where:   The Oregon Public House
               700 NE Dekum St.
               Portland, OR 97211



Want a free meal and drink?  Volunteer for a 4-hour shift serving food, busing tables, and sharing info about FRN with guests. Contact Kelsey to sign up or learn more ( kstark@voaor.org )! Minors welcome to volunteer with adult supervision. 
Volunteer Appreciation Party
You're invited to VOA Oregon's Volunteer Appreciation Party on Thursday, April 27th from 3 - 5 pm! As part of National Volunteer Week and as a thank you for all you do, please join staff and volunteers as we celebrate YOU!

We'll be hosting the event at Oregon Public House (700 NE Dekum St.) which means all food and drink purchases will also support our Family Relief Nursery. Win win! This is an all-ages venue and very kid-friendly. You are welcome to bring family and friends, just please RSVP all guests. 

We will purchase some appetizers to share and you can purchase additional food and drinks if you choose. We'll have some goodies and activities, as well.

We hope you can make it! Please RSVP by April 20th to kstark@voaor.org with the number of guests so we can order enough food. Alternatively, you can RSVP to the Evite here.

THANK YOU for being a part of our family!
Volunteer Blog LAUNCHED!!
Volunteer Bridge, our blog just for VOA Oregon volunteers, is officially live! 

We already have several great posts from volunteers, Jenn and Taylor, discussing what to expect from the blog communications, immigration in Oregon, and personal protest experiences. Taylor and Jenn write with an engaging style and highlight current news and events to keep you informed and involved. Check it out today! 

                      *****

This blog serves as a resource for you to learn more about the issues surrounding our work. If you'd like to contribute a guest blog post, please email kstark@voaor.org. We'd love to hear your voice!  
In the News
Several youth from Youth Prevention Services' program at Plaza Townhomes were recipients of basketball scholarships from Off the Sideline.

Their team, The Plaza Park Boys, was so successful on the court (only losing one game) and built meaningful relationships off the court. They were highlighted in an awesome video by KPTV Fox 12 News and made the front page of The Portland Observer. Great job, boys!

VOA Oregon Wish Lists
In addition to volunteer time and financial contributions, VOA Oregon and our clients rely on generous in-kind donations. 

We are always in need of  hygiene items, new socks and underwear, and gently used clothing of all sizes.  Please consider donating some of the items off our wish list. 

Call the number of the program listed on the website to make a donation drop off or contact Kelsey Stark at kstark@voaor.org to make arrangements.
Volunteer Impact Report
As a valued volunteer, we want you to know the significant impact your contributions have had on VOA Oregon. You may not see results or an impact in one day/shift of service, but the cumulative effort helps our clients grow and create lasting change.

The annual Volunteer Services Impact Report strives to highlight the qualitative and quantitative outcomes of volunteerism in VOA Oregon. While just a snippet of the big picture, we hope this report helps you understand your value and how much we appreciate all that you do. Thank you!

Volunteer Services Video
Portland Community College recently interviewed FRN staff and volunteers and made this wonderful video highlighting the FRN's volunteer program (and a little bit about the agency in general). It's short and sweet! Hope you'll watch and share it with your friends!

Program Spotlight: Family Recovery Support
 

Family Recovery Support is excited to now host volunteers! In partnership with The Miracles Club, VOA Oregon's Family Recovery Support provides culturally responsive, trauma informed services to parents in recovery from addiction and their families. Our services are designed to assist families to stay together and stay well as they cope with the challenges of early recovery. All of our services are voluntary and free of charge!

Our drop-in center provides a safe place for families to seek resources or just hang out. We serve meals every day, have computers and free wifi, have a clothing pantry on site, and offer an array of supportive programming. We provide childcare, mental health treatment, self-help groups, employment and housing assistance, and more. Our services and staff offer a well-rounded approach to keep families on their feet and stay strong. 

We can't wait to have volunteers like you join our team at Family Recovery Support! With volunteer help, we can be creative, flexible, and provide better service to our clients. Volunteers will help make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve, like you do in your programs every day. Invite your friends and family to learn more about Family Recovery Support and volunteer today!

Positions available:
Home Free and Here We Go Again Partnership
Volunteer Spotlights
In an effort to showcase the work our awesome volunteers are doing and spread the word about our 32 programs, we're highlighting one stand out volunteer each month. With over 750 volunteers annually, it's hard to choose just one volunteer, but we want to show the community how you're making a difference. Follow the links below to read previous stories. We can't wait to share yours, too.

Kelsey Stark
Volunteer Services Manager
503-595-2009
Our Mission: To change lives by promoting self-determination, building strong communities and standing for social justice.