The Giving Season

As we enter the first week of December, we are amidst the anticipated holiday season. During the holidays’ joy, family, celebration, large feasts and gifts are the focal point, but it is imperative that we remember that giving is more important than receiving.

According to the Oregon Report Card, focusing on the 2015-2016 Century High School School year, 43 percent of students are economically disadvantaged.

In May of 2015 the Oregon Department of Human Services published a report titled “High Poverty Hotspots,” shedding light on geographic concentrations of poor residents in Hillsboro. It includes the percentage of those populations in poverty and the amount of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Clients. The statistics provided in the report are eye-opening.

The two poverty hotspots (an area with a poverty rate higher than 20 percent) highlighted in the report are Tanasbourne and Southeast Hillsboro. In the Tanasbourne area, the poverty rate is 20 percent, estimated to be 8,950 residents. In the Southeast Hillsboro area, the poverty rate is 34 percent, an estimated 9,242 residents. Oregon DHS has ranked Southeast Hillsboro as the 13th highest poverty percentage among all hotspots. In total, Oregon’s overall poverty rate is 16 percent, affecting 3,868,719 residents.

The amount of SNAP clients is also provided. In Tanasbourne 1,382 residents receive SNAP services, on average the clients receive services for 64 months. In Southeast Hillsboro 2,885 residents receive SNAP services for an average of 70 months. In the entirety of Oregon 763,700 residents receive SNAP services.

13,238 Oregon residents are unsheltered.

Pulling this even closer to home, 43 percent of Century students are on free and reduced lunches and 50 percent of Hillsboro School District Students are on free and reduced lunches.

When the provided data is applied to the holiday season, the picture is grim. Hillsboro families may not have the money to purchase a turkey for Thanksgiving or the money to purchase holiday items such as a Christmas tree or gifts. Suddenly, a time that is supposed to be full of joy is full of misery.

Spending time volunteering and donating can help these families find joy and combat financial issues during this season.

To battle these issues three Century seniors, Marisa Hernandez, Ashley Pence, and Jai’shell Greenup, are collecting blessing bag items for the local homeless population for their senior project. When asked why, Greenup stated, “My mother and sister were living in a women's shelter when we first moved down here from Louisiana from a really bad hurricane named Katrina. I know what it is like to be sheltered and it hurts to see that many people are homeless.”

Their most wanted items are warm clothes, such as scarves, hats, and blankets, that are in good condition. These bags will be going to women and men homeless shelters and will be hand delivered by the them personally. These items can be dropped off at the main office or in N122 until February 17th.

The Winter “Warmies” Drive is another program collecting donations at Century. They are collecting either new or gently used items such as warm socks, gloves, hats, and scarves. Items can be donated between November 14th through December 16th during first lunch or in S234. All items donated will be given to the Portland Rescue Mission.

The canned food drive has also begun. From November 28th through December 12th you can donate cans to your classroom. Canned food such as peanut butter and soups are needed. The canned food will be distributed from the Hillsboro Elks Lodge to families in our community.

Each year KPTV hosts their annual toy drive, they compete to see if they can top lasts year’s toy count. At the end of the toy drive the gifts will be distributed to local non-profit agencies. Toy drop sites are located at Les Schwab Tire Centers or at the KPTV studios.

The Salvation Army Angel Tree Giving Program is another great way to donate toys. They connect donors with children who may not see gifts under their tree. The trees containing tags can be found at Washington Square, Cedar Hills Crossing, the Lloyd Center, and Eastport plaza. Tags can also be found online.

The Salvation Army also recruits holiday bell ringers, those to help pack food boxes for needy families, and those to lend a hand in other programs.

If doing more would provide satisfaction, the Christmas Family Adoption Foundation is appropriate. Their goal is “To create a positive and memorable holiday by giving gifts, clothing, and necessities to families in need.” This non-profit organization allows your to “adopt” a family and provide gifts and such to make their Christmas spectacular. You can also donate on their website.

Toys For Tots is another way to donate toys to children in need. The drop sites are located at Toys-R-Us, Safeway, and Starbucks locations throughout the Portland Metro Area. From November 21st to December 9th, unopened toys can be donated during both lunches for Toys For Tots.

During this season soup kitchens and homeless shelters that provide Thanksgiving and holiday meals are all looking for extra volunteers. Try the Portland Rescue Mission. Doernbecher Children's Hospital recruits volunteers to spend time with patients all year round, though the holiday season is a prime time to bring a smile to a child’s face.

Holiday caroling and participating in holiday charity runs are additional ways to donate.

While the holidays are associated with giving, giving should not be limited to three months out of the year. Donating to the Salvation Army or Goodwill, or volunteering at a hospital or places that provide assisted care needs to occur year round. Promoting and advocating for donating and volunteering also helps further the cause.

As Greenup said, “ we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Act out of altruism, and make this the season, and all seasons, the season of giving.