Stories

Hunger is not an insoluble, nor an isolated, issue. This ethos drives the work of Clackamas Service Center, a non-profit based in Clackamas County providing community, food, hygiene and resilience to families and individuals seeking it. The 501(c)3 founded in 1973 has served as a vital community hub for low- and no-income Portlanders and is currently the largest food pantry in the county. They embody their core values in the work they do, providing trauma-informed care and centering the inherent dignity of those they walk alongside.

Resilience requires constant contributions and care. Fostering a stronger, tighter-knit community does not happen with a single instance of support, but instead this type of resilience blossoms from continual introspection, interest and investment. That’s why United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, Oregon Health Authority, and Trauma Informed Oregon envisioned and put into action the Disaster Resilience Learning Collaborative.

Promoting wellness and growth in early education while living through unprecedented times has been a trying and difficult task for United Way of Columbia-Willamette’s team at Early Learning Washington County, but their ingenuity has been fruitful and unphased. Through a variety of creative measures, our team has continued to challenge and invigorate learning in the youth and parents they serve.

In an increasingly digital world, picking up your phone and calling an information line seems horribly outdated. However, a service such as 211Info – the free, confidential and life-saving call-line supported by United Way throughout the country – is still one of the most reliable and prompt ways of getting help from knowledgeable experts on a variety of issues in several languages.

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role they played in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event was the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.

This extraordinary moment we all find ourselves in requires that I am especially thoughtful in the reflections I share with you — our supporters, partners and community — about United Way of the Columbia-Willamette’s response to 2020 and what we learned in the process.

2020 has been an enormously challenging year. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial injustice against BIPOC communities, our region is also grappling with devastating loss caused by the wildfires.

Given all that we are facing, the lead up to the elections has been unprecedented in recent history. It has been heartening to see citizens in our region and across the nation take to the polls early and vote in record numbers to ensure their voices are heard during this critical time.

For most, home is a place of comfort, safety, and rest. But unfortunately for the 1 in 3 families in our region who are unable to pay for basic needs, and have to make difficult  choices between paying for rent, and other necessities, the reassurance of a safe place to call home becomes less attainable.