The 100 Hours Pie Chart

Here is a break down of how my 100 hours were spent.

-BC



Hour 98, 99 and 100: Potluck in the Park

Volunteers Prepare the Potluck

For my 100th hour of community service in 2012, I returned to O'Bryant Square in downtown Portland for Potluck in the Park. PITP has not missed serving a Sunday afternoon meal since 1991, and this Sunday was no different. However, in addition to the standard hot meal they were giving donated Christmas trees to those in need. Today I worked the cold bar, serving bread, Christmas cookies and cake to the guests. Today there were 30-40 volunteers setting up, serving the meal and then cleaning up. Just after 3pm the flodgates openind and approx. 600 guests wound there way through the maze of food stations. PITP has lots of food options, hot and cold, for the hungry of Portland. I, and many of the other volunteers I met on Sunday, signed up for the event through Hands on Greater Portland.  

 



Donated Trees for Guests of PITP



 

Hour 94: Operation Nightwatch

Tonight was my fourth and final time volunteering at Operation Nightwatch this year. Of all the different organizations I have worked with this year, Nightwatch has been the most influential on me. The center, open Thurs-Sat nights, provides a safe, substance free place for those looking for shelter from the streets. As a volunteer at Operation Nightwatch, it is my role to provide hospitality to our guests. Tonight was the fullest I have ever seen Nightwatch, and I have to believe it has to do with the cold weather we are getting in Portland. The reoccurring conversation for the evening was whether of not it would snow over night. This time of year, I am used to hearing friends and family wonder aloud if there will be snow with the nostalgic tones; hopeful for a white Christmas. For many of the guests at Nightwatch, snow is cause for concern. Around the room tonight I saw many familiar faces looking weary and some sick from the cold streets of Portland in December. I spent most of the evening playing board games with a guest who I see regularly around town, but have not seen since the Summer. Nearby a young man waited, barefoot, much of the night for a dry pair of sock to be fetched from the donated clothing. He was given new, dry socks and shoes that night. But the rain continues here and he is likely fighting off cold feet again. As volunteering experiences go, Nightwatch is sadder and more raw than most here in Portland, but for me, one of the reasons it is my favorite place to volunteer is, with the sadness and difficulty, the unique perspective of the blessed lives we live. I am grateful for this perspective, and for each person I've met at Operation Nightwatch.  

 

 

Merry Christmas, Operation Nightwatch

 

Hour 93: Blanchet House

This morning I served breakfast at the Blanchet House. BH has been active in assisting the homeless in Portland since 1938. Today the house serves 3 meals a day, 6 days a week to the hungry, but they also providing room and board to men willing to work in the kitchen 40 hours a week, and adhere to the no drugs or alcohol policy. This morning I worked with some of these men, busing table once guests finished their breakfast. Pancakes, coffee, bagels and tangerines were served to roughly 125 guests, who were free to get back in line if they wanted a 2nd or 3rd helping.

 

The Blanchet House recently moved into its new location, shown below. Interestingly, I toured this building with my ACE Mentoring team when it was still being built back in February of this year.

 

The New Blanchet House

 

Hour 86: Habitat for Humanity

This Saturday morning I joined a Habitat for Humanity effort to build 45 homes on a street in outer SE Portland. The street was purchased, and partially developed, by a private developer, who went bankrupt in the process. As a result, H4H picked up the lots at market rate. Today there were approximately 60 of us working on 8 of the duplexes, which are scheduled for opening in March 2013.

 

 

 

This Habitat experience was different from my others. The organization is moving away from single lot homes and into these multi-home developments. The large number of volunteers requires added coordination by Habitat, and a bit more communication for volunteers on site. Today I worked to measure, cut, and hang base boards. Because of the large number of volunteers working inside the house, it was tricky navigating around the rooms, finding needed tools, or even group leaders. The day gave me an added appreciation for volunteer coordinators who are, not only skilled in their area of expertise, but able to lead groups of people.

 



Farooq Measures Twice, Cuts Once



 

 

As we were cleaning up building materials and tools from the site, our group leader announced that one of the volunteers had just finished her 500 hours of volunteer service required for all home owners; not a minor accomplishment.

 

 

Typical Duplex for This Site

 

Hour 82: ReStore

 

This afternoon I worked the ReStore here in SE Portland. As I wrote in previous entry, ReStore receives building materials and sells the materials at a reduced price. Profits go toward funding Habitat for Humanity projects in the Portland metro area. The ReStore website claims that, they 'have raised over $1.5 million for Habitat', and the 'keep more than 5.6 million pounds of materials out of the landfill each year'. This afternoon I arranged and organized tile in the retail area. The store has maybe 10 to 15 pallets full of tile, donated by contractors, retailers or individuals. As you can imagine they have every size, color and material that tile has ever been made in. Denise, another volunteer, and I sorted the ceramic, vinyl, slate, marble tiles; lifting, carrying, sorting and cleaning hundreds and hunderds of pieces of tile. The goal was to make the tile section easier for shoppers to navigate. As we sorted Saturday shoppers wandered around us; many looking for cheap materials with which to complete their home projects.

 

 



Sorting It Out

Hour 79: Dabney State Park Cleanup



This morning I was lucky enough to be joined by Allie for the cleanup of Dabney State Park, just west of Portland. It was cold. It was rainy. But we took care of business. This was one of the many cleanups put together around Oregon by SOLVE. (SOLVE has been putting on cleanups along the Oregon Coastline to focus on the cleanup of debris washed ashore from last years tsunami in Japan). Today was a 'riverside cleanup' along the Sandy River. We hiked along the Sandy River, through the state park which provides water access for fishers and boaters. We alse made our way through some of the attached disc golf course. Lots of beer bottles to be found and hauled out. As poor as the weather was, it was good to move around outside and spend some time with Allie.

Thanks to group leader, Conor Rouse, for having us and sharing his pictures.

 

 



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