Jebruary 1 8 .2ÛQQ r J u s t M it 23
C ascade
AIDS
P roject
Provides nonmedical services to people whose
lives are affected by H IV and A ID S.
Needs volunteers for a wide range of pro
grams.
Contact: (503) 223-5907 in Multnomah
County, (503) 693-3234 in Washington
County, (360) 735-9170 in Clark County
Sidney J. Thompson
S
ome people volunteer in their own unique
“I’ve never really gone into an agency
and said, ‘I am here to volunteer for you,’ ” Sid
ney J. Thompson says.
Thompson has informally volunteered for
Cascade A ID S Project and Project Quest,
among others, but has found his volunteering
niche on his own.
“We don’t focus on everyone getting help,”
Thompson, who is HIV positive, says. “There’s
too much prejudice from one group of people
to another! It doesn’t matter where it came
from or how it happened. It happened.”
Thompson’s mission is reaching out to peo
ple affected by AIDS and HIV, especially the
people being neglected by existing services.
“We were overlooking the most important
people who have something to do with this,”
he says. “The parents of those with HIV and
AIDS. In some sense they were being ignored."
M ark Rosenberg
“I wanted to volunteer but didn’t know how
to get started,” Rosenberg says, echoing what
he’d heard from friends.
He knew the cliché about volunteers get
ting back more than they give, but once he got
started delivering meals he realized the old
saw is true.
“It’s something you just can’t buy,” Rosen
berg says about the feeling that comes from
helping others. “You have to do it.”
When Rosenberg periodically wakes up in
a bad mood, he knows what to do. He heads
to the kitchen where meals are prepared for
Daily Bread Express.
“It’s almost like endorphins,” he says. “You
just feel so good about yourself, you feel like
you’ve really contributed to and been a part
o f someone’s life.”
Also passionate about animals, Rosenberg
volunteers with an organization that rescues
greyhounds that are retired from racing. Once
a month, he is part of a team that bathes the
40 or so dogs that are up for adoption.
Rosenberg uses his love of animals to help
break the ice with the people he visits on his
delivery route. He says that not all home-
bound people want to become close and some
simply say thank you.
“But sometimes it ends up with a friend
ship,” he says.
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I m per ial S overeign
R ose C ourt
Social organization dedicated to raising money
for charities within the queer community.
Needs support personnel for events.
Contact: (503) 306-0700, ISRC@ aol.com,
www.rosecourt.org
P eacock in the P ar k
Annual event to raise money for the Audria
M. Edwards Scholarship Fund.
Needs people to provide security, setup,
breakdown and cleanup for events and to
procure sponsors.
Contact: www.gaypdx.com/peacock
Kimberlee Van Patten
K
imberlee Van Patten grew up in Portland’s
drag community.
“I wasn’t 21 when I started,” she admits
sheepishly.
As she became familiar with the Imperial
Sovereign Rose Court, she began to give her
time and energy. Van Patten served on the
board of directors and is a past president of
ISRC. She’s also coordinated coronations and
|
produced numerous fund-raising events.
Though in her early 30s, Van Patten is consid
ered an elder by ISRC members.
“It kind of happened overnight,” she says.
“I think it enhanced my natural leadership
skills— my ability to lead,” Van Patten adds.
“It’s made me more outgoing.”
The past ISR C Emperor explains that she
tends to be a behind-the-scenes type.
ISR C is dedicated to raising money
throughout the year for charities in Oregon
that are related to the queer community. Most
of the organization’s events are drag shows.
In addition, Van Patten is the co-director of
Peacock in the Park, the annual picnic fund
raiser for scholarship money.
“I get a huge charge out of Peacock in the
Park!” Van Patten says. “Standing back and
seeing 4,000 people sitting there, knowing that
they are there because I got the toilets there
and because I ran around and got the posters
done, that is great.”
Whether Van Patten is being a leader, pro
ducing flyers or lining up 50 portable potties,
she thrives on community involvement.
“I really feel empowered by the whole court
and Peacock and the committees and the
groups that I’m involved with,” Van Patten
says. “I really feel there’s nothing I can’t do!”
■ JONATHAN K ipp is a former volunteer at Our
House of Portland and now feels inspired to get off
the couch more often. This is his debut as a
free-lance writer and the first time he’s utilized his
journalism degree. You can reach him at
jkipp@teleport. com.
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When Thompson felt the
African American community
was in denial about HIV, he put
together a resource packet on his
own and distributed it at com
munity events. If Thompson
sees someone ill on the street,
he’ll often make sure that they
know about the resources avail
able to them.
“Sometimes, it is just intro
ducing African Americans to
treatments that they aren’t
familiar or comfortable with,”
Thompson adds.
He is aware of his limitations
in his volunteer work.
“Human beings are work,”
Thompson chuckles.
But Thompson is usually
available to help people in need
learn about the places that can
assist them.
“That is an act of friendship
right there," he says. “For a moment, I was
their friend.”
Unique garden gifts
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