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enjoy snack boxes with treats from local
restaurants, a scavenger hunt for kids and a
trivia contest for older youth and adults. All
participants under 18 will receive a prize at
the end of the parade route. Adults who par-
ticipate in the trivia contest can enter a lot-
tery for prizes including a zip line tour, yoga
membership package and handmade quilts.
Fall fun for a cause
‘THIS WILL BE A CHANCE
TO GET OUT OF YOUR
HOUSE FROM THE SAFETY
OF YOUR CAR AND HAVE
SOME FUN FAMILY TIME.’
Jane Cartwright, assistance League of the
columbia Pacific board member
All proceeds from the event will bene-
fit the organization’s programs that provide
emergency clothing, school supplies and
other care items to Clatsop County children.
In 2019, the organization served 644
kids in Clatsop County. The organization is
in its 10th year as an official chapter of the
national Assistance League and has 102 local
members.
During recent months, the organiza-
tion has shifted to address students’ distance
learning needs. School supplies like ear-
buds and microphones for Zoom classes or
art supplies for younger learners have been
especially in demand, said Shelby Mogen-
son, the organization’s president.
“This year, because of COVID, we’re
really concentrating on what the kids need
for digital learning or for in-school learn-
ing if they can’t share school supplies,”
Mogenson said. “We’re finding out from
the schools what they need.”
The organization provides a range
of services to local youth through five
programs.
Operation School Bell provides new
clothing to children. The Duffel Bag pro-
gram donates duffel bags with comforting
items to children entering foster care. Cin-
derella’s Closet lends about 500 new or
gently used gowns to high school girls for
school dances.
Mogenson said she hopes the organiza-
tion’s members will be able to visit schools
in-person again soon in order to meet
the kids they serve and deliver clothing
face-to-face.
“(The kids) would be so excited, skip-
ping down the hall, smiles on their faces.
The most wonderful thing is the kids’ reac-
tion to their clothes,” Mogenson said.
Photos by hailey hoffman/The astorian
TOP: Shelby Mogenson is helping plan a ‘Pandemic Porch Parade.’ RIGHT: The ‘Pandemic Porch Parade’ will be fall and Halloween themed. LEFT:
The Assistance League of the Columbia Pacific runs Operation School Bell to provide clothing to school children in need.
Two other programs provide support
beyond clothing and essential items. The
School Sponsored Activities Scholarship
program provides funding to help middle
and high school students afford athletics,
field trips and other extracurriculars.
The Outreach program, started this year,
was developed to respond to emergency
needs. This year, funds were donated to the
Clatsop Community Action Regional Food
Bank’s backpack program. The league is
also considering a partnership with a read-
ing program to bring books into the homes
of local children, Mogenson said.
Fundraising for programs has been more
difficult during the pandemic. The league
also canceled its annual Golf Ball Drop
fundraiser last spring.
Despite setbacks, board member Jane
Cartwright said that the league is look-
ing forward to hosting the Pandemic Porch
Parade.
“People have not been able to get out
and they haven’t had things to do,” she
said. “This will be a chance to get out of
your house from the safety of your car and
have some fun family time.”
Thursday, OcTOber 1, 2020 // 9