June Focus On Food

Amid these tough economic times, food is on everyone’s mind. Do we have enough? Will everyone be fed? During June, you can help as Hands On Greater Portland focuses on food. We’ve developed a number of meaningful volunteer opportunities to help get food to people who need it.

One of them takes place Saturday, June 13, as we help prepare a new community farm created out of a partnership between Multnomah County, the Oregon Food Bank and others. Call it a “Victory Garden” for Multnomah County. County CROPS will transform two acres of surplus county land into a garden. Produce will go to the food bank to feed people in need.

We have also developed ways to volunteer at a food bank as demand for emergency food hits an all-time high. To help youth in Washington County, prepare and serve a meal at HomePlate. New immigrant farmers are growing produce in partnership with Adelante Mujeres. You can volunteer to support this collaboration at the Forest Grove Farmer’s Market.

Please join us this month for our Focus on Food. With your help, we can ensure that food reaches people who need it. For more information, visit our website.

Hit the Parks This Summer!

When summer hits the Northwest, outside is the place to be. Thanks to the Portland area’s extensive park system, we needn’t go very far.

From Forest Park, the largest wooded park within city limits in the US, to the plethora of small neighborhood parks perfect for family strolls, picnics, and Frisbee games, we are incredibly lucky to have so many places to get our outdoor fix during these months of sunshine and warmth. These green spaces are no accident; their existence and accessibility is due largely to the dedication of volunteers like you!

This summer, trade your Frisbee for a shovel and put a little love back into the parks that define our region. We have designed several opportunities for you to volunteer with parks. Use your weeding power as an alternative to pesticides by helping out at a Pesticide-Free Parks work party. Get into garden-mode with Portland Community Gardens. Flex those muscles and tackle some invasive species with Three Rivers Land Conservancy at their many locations.

Forest Park and Woods Memorial Nature Park both need help removing garlic mustard to improve their habitat. Help install a new trail and maintain the old ones with Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation. Show your SE Portland parks some love by helping spruce up Mt. Tabor, Laurelhurst, and Tideman Johnson Parks. Or, use your eye for detail to vanquish new ivy and blackberry shoots at Marquam Nature Park, Tryon Creek State Park, and NE Portland’s Rosemont Bluff.

Think about taking on some leadership by attending our Green Thumb volunteer leader training to learn about how you can help Hands On lead more projects in the great outdoors.

Whatever your plans this summer, make some time to pull on some gloves, enjoy some sun, and give back to the parks that offer us so much during these warm months!