JANUARY 19. 2007
JUStlOUt 13
northwest
M9.99 OÏL CH4\(,F
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Flower Police
This couple have Our House covered
by Malka Geffen
hen I walked into
the refurbished
Our House of
Portland, located
at 2727 S.E.
Alder St., 1 first noticed the beauti­
ful plants thriving in direct sunlight
that the new skylights provide.
1 noticed the colorful pillows, nig
and lamp that adorn the waiting
area. And the kitchen, to my right,
looked pretty upscale and well
equipped. I later learned that all of
this, from aesthetics to necessities,
comes from the time and efforts of
Allen Simmons and Bob Cramer.
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John Oules, marketing and
communications director, told me
about the amazing things these
two men have done for Our House
Besides providing flowers for Our House residents, Allen
through the years. While 1 waited
Simmons (left) and Bob Cramer also cook meals.
for the duo, who I had been
affectionately calling the “flower guys” for days,
time for a change,” Simmons said.
1 watched as one miniature Christmas tree after
“There are wonderful young people on the com­
another was gathered and prepared for an upcom­
mittee, and they’re so enthusiastic,” said Cramer.
ing year in storage. 1 began to see what a big effect
“It’s going to be great.”
the decorative efforts of Simmons and Cramer
When the couple are not procuring donations
have on this place dedicated to the comfort and
from friends and neighbors to provide items for
care of people with AIDS.
auction or dinner centerpieces, they are on site
“We got enough money to give every resident a
getting their hands dirty. “We cook once or twice
small tree,” Cramer said after a warm greeting.
a month,” said Cramer, who also said they enjoy
“And for new decorations, so the place looks
eating with the residents from time to time.
uptown like the new building does,” added Simmons.
Working in the kitchen became more pleasurable
Since their retirement from ownership of Dorcas
after Cramer and Simmons organized a kitchen
Flowers in downtown Portland, the couple have
shower, which raised between $6,000 and $8,000
made volunteering at Our House a top priority.
for small appliances, silverware and glasses. “The
people here are perfectly wonderful,” Cramer said,
“They totally take care of us over here,” said
Oules. “They’re of the opinion that Our House
“and they don’t deserve seconds.”
deserves to have new, nice, beautiful things.” ’
Simmons, a garden lover, said he had to come
Starting in the mid-’90s, Cramer and Simmons
in one day and rake leaves because the organiza­
would send fresh bouquets from Dorcas to each new
tion doesn't have the money for gardening service.
resident. "In the old days,” said Simmons, “we’d send
“I got 48 garbage bags full of leave»,” he said. “In
over five or six a month because so many were
the future, we want to get people who are interest­
dying." The new owners of the flower shop, who are
ed in gardening to come down. It’s a new and fresh
former employees, continue the bouquet tradition.
landscape that should be kept up.”
Cramer and Simmons worked in a flower shop
Cramer and Simmons have many reasons for
together and have known each other for 50 years.
devoting so much time and energy to the physical
Cramer graduated from college with degrees in
upkeep of Our House. “Environment is important
floraculture and business and said he wanted to
to someone who is ill,” said Simmons. “Before,
work with flowers from the time he was a little boy.
there were just gray couches and a gray rug here,
Simmons started in flower delivery. “Even though
and it needs to be cheerful.”
there’s no money in it, the work gets in your system
Cramer reminds me that the Our House staff has
and nothing else satisfies," said Cramer.
too many responsibilities to pay attention to the
They bought Dorcas Flowers in 1962 and have
details that the couple are happy to put so much care
been a couple for 30 years. “Our lives changed, and
into. “The residents and employees are so apprecia­
then we were blessed to have the business,” said
tive for everything,” add?d Cramer. “It makes you
Simmons. “We loved it every day.”
want to do it."
Both men say volunteering at Our House
Cramer, 71, and Simmons, 69, say they get
much more out of volunteering than they feel they
helped them tremendously in their transition into
retirement. "When you own your own business,
give. “We go to our house in Cannon Beach as
you can’t plan ahead and volunteer as much as
much as possible,” said Simmons, “but when we
you’d like,” said Simmons, “and we always looked
come back to Portland, we plan our schedules
around coming over here and doing stuff." ©
forward to doing so.”
The two have given dinners for Our House for
15 years and have been the chairmen of the Dinner
at My House for Our House committee for the past
two years. “We’re doing one more, and then it’s
To volunteer at OUR HOUSE OF PORTLAND call
Kathryn Siebert at 503'234'0175 or visit
uww. ourhouseofportland . org.
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Roger
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