Hour 74: ReStore Construction

The 825 ReStores around the country sell donated building materials to customers at a reduced price, compared to other retailers (Lowes, et al.). The proceeds are used to fund Habitat for Humanity projects. We have 3 ReStores here in the Portland area. Our inner east side location is moving to the outer east side and today I volunteered to help with construction of the upcoming location. The new location will allow for greater space to store and sell building materials. Today there were 5 of us volunteering, and 2 project managers (Janell and Joe).

 

 

Katie and I were paired up this morning and sent to prime interior walls in the future retail area. We were glad to be indoor on this dreary, rainy Saturday. While we worked Katie told me that she hopes to become a regular on this project, so as to gain volunteering experience, make contacts and someday get a job with a Portland-based volunteer organization. This is not an unusual story in Portland, a city that attracts, among others, idealistic 20-somethings from all over the country (self included). I appreciated Katie's energy and enthusiasm for the task at hand, but also on her long term goal of service.

ReStorers

 

Hour 70: Wordstock

One Stop Printing Press

Today was hands down the funnest volunteering I've done so far. I spent my Saturday afternoon working at Portland's Wordstock Festival. Wordstock is 2 days of all things written ; author readings, writing workshops, booths operated by local bookstores, publishers, printers, and so on aimed at both adults and children. I was sent over to the Kinder Care area and set to work helping kids put together their own books. Not quite 'Nancy Drew' level...think more 'The Very Hungry Little Catepiller'. The young authors chose the color of their cover, and I would get to work assembling their book. It was then up to them to decorate and write their own story book, using crayons and letter stamps. I definitely enjoyed helping and watching them create. I was fortunate to be raised by parents who made reading a priority. Because of them I appreciate the role reading and writing can play in the development of children and today was an opportunity to volunteer in support of these things. As a bonus, I was granted entry to the festival after my time at the booth and I got a chance to walk the convention center and meet authors and publishers from around the country. The book nerd culture is alive and well here in Portland.

 

Authors Talking Books...Audience Captivated

 

Hour 66: Operation Nightwatch

This was my 3rd time volunteering with Operation Nightwatch this year, possibly my favorite place to volunteer in town because of the unique chance to closely interact with those living a very different lifestyle than my own. ON is a group that focuses it's service on providing hospitality to those looking for a break from the street. Every Thurs, Fri and Sat night they open their doors, and my job as a volunteer is to welcome them, and serve the occasional sandwich or cup of coffee. This Saturday night I talked with a young veteran who lives in a nearby lower income building. He told me stories of his time at different military bases across the country, his time in Iraq as an interpreter, and how he made his way to Portland (for the mild weather). He knew many of the regular guests at Operation Nightwatch, telling me that those living on the streets of Portland make up a not-so-big community themselves. He told me that some form of mental instability and drug abuse is a common denominator among those in the community. Drugs are often used to self-medicate. We talked about all topics; baseball, the weather in the midwest, and even politics (rare for me). I enjoy Operation Nightwatch so much, I think, because of conversations like this. Finding common ground with those who seem uncommon.