vernonia prevention coalition
november13
2012
15
The content on this page is provided by the Vernonia Prevention Coalition
Be a Piece of the Puzzle
Reaping What Volunteers Sow—Did You Know?
By DeAnna Pearl
On Saturday November
3, the Vernonia Volunteer
Celebration, sponsored in
collaboration by the Vernonia Preven-
tion Coalition(VPC) and the Vernonia
Area Chamber of Commerce(VACC)
was an evening of Did You Know?
For example, did you know the
Meals on Wheels uses 8 volunteer driv-
ers to serve over 2100 dinners last year!
This year’s theme for the vol-
unteer celebration was “Reaping What
Volunteers Sow.” The purpose was to
celebrate the efforts made by groups and
individuals whom volunteer and support
the livability of Vernonia.
The partnership of the VPC and
VACC was created to help invigorate the
community to work together to support a
safe and healthy community. The VPC’s
mission is to develop safe and healthy
neighborhoods through collaborative
planning, community action, policy ad-
vocacy and enforcement. But did you
know the mission of the VACC is to be
the heartbeat of Vernonia area business-
es, acting as a catalyst in bringing com-
munity, government and business to-
gether and creating a strong community
of choice. Did you know there are over
262 business registered in Vernonia?
Throughout 2012, as many years
in the past, the citizens of Vernonia have
reaped many rewards of the countless
hours volunteers put into serving com-
munity and its interests. Another exam-
ple of did you know, Summer Meal Pro-
gram volunteers spent over 1000 hours
to serve over 4074 meals! Further, did
you know four Pacific University stu-
dent volunteers provided 960 hours of
mental health services to VSD 47J stu-
dents in 2011/2012 school year. Great
news! They are back helping again this
year. Both of these activities directly
serve area children in building resilien-
cy: reducing risk factors and increasing
protective factors. (Voice, Feb. 2010)
One of the greatest things we
2012 NEW VPC Board Member
Other Prevention Sector
Breane Mares Prevention/Intervention Specialist
Columbia County Mental Health
The CCMH Prevention/Intervention Specialist position is
to provide evidence based and best practices service
in regards to prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other
drugs, gambling and suicide prevention. Breanne is
a Applied Suicide Intervention Skill Trainer (ASIST) as
well as a prevention partner for programs throughout
Columbia County. She brings to the table a passion to
support services where she has capacity.
The VPC welcomes Brianne and CCMH prevention
services back to Vernonia and throughout Columbia
County.
Breanne Mares
Prevention/Intervention Specialist
Columbia County Mental Health
briannem@ccmh1.com
(503) 396-7637
OSSOM
Operation Student Safety On the Move
Over 30 OSSOM students have registered
at VHS for the 2012-2013 school year.
This year they are focusing on asking
kids, “How do you stay Above the
Influence?”
The AI program is about focusing on
positive behaviors of teens and how
they stay safe and healthy.
can do as a community is to celebrate
the capacity, whatever that may be, of
individuals, groups, programs and agen-
cies that service our community. Often
times the individuals or groups listed
above do not take the time to get out of
the trenches and celebrate their efforts.
Taking the time to celebrate the outputs
and the following outcomes is important
because it helps us recognize where we
have been and how far we have come in
realizing our mission. Some individu-
als are uncomfortable to even shed light
on their work. However, sometimes the
greater good is to give the receiving in-
dividuals an opportunity to say thanks.
And we as volunteers need to let them.
Did you know, The Vernonia Rural Fire
Department has 27 volunteers that have
responded to request for help from 489
families!
Did you know: We are NOT
just a small community trying to put on
a hotdog feed. We ARE a community
recovering from a disaster to rebuild a
school, health center, senior center, food
bank, waste water treatment, etc. to pro-
vide a safe and healthy environment for
our community and our youth. We are
NOW sitting at the table with county,
state, federal agencies and private phi-
lanthropy. We CAN no longer be inartic-
ulate about our needs and expectations.
We are NOT VICTIMS of our circum-
stances nor at the mercy of the kindness
of others. We are BECOMING creators
of our own destiny. Vernonian’s and our
surrounding communities are reaping
what our volunteer corps have sown for
this year and beyond. We ARE develop-
ing safe and healthy communities where
volunteerism is celebrated and positive
outcomes are the norm.
If you would like to know more
about the VPC or volunteer opportuni-
ties, please contact DeAnna Pearl, @
(503) 369-7370 or DeAnna@verno-
nia-or.gov. If you would like to know
more about becoming a VACC mem-
ber, meetings are the second Thursday
of the month at 12:30 at the New Hong
Kong or email vernoniachamberofcom-
merce@gmail.com.
National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Are you feeling desperate, alone or
hopeless? Call the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline a free, 24-hour
hotline available to anyone in suicidal
crisis or emotional distress. Your call
will be routed to the nearest crisis
center to you.
Veterans Suicide
Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-TALK (8255) Press 1