I hi P o ru
ynd
O bserver • F ebruary 5 , 1997
P age A 5
Grant awarded to Oregon for
local family literacy efforts
Oregon communities interested
in beginning, expanding or im ­
proving family literacy projects will
benefit from a U.S. Department of
Education grant awarded to O re­
gon's Office of Community C ol­
lege Services and Department of
Education.
Family literacy programs inte­
grate early childhood education,
adult literacy education and pa­
renting education and support.
“Family literacy programs help
parents develop in their role as
their children's first and most im ­
p o rta n t te a c h e r ,” said C ath y
Lindsley, family literacy specialist
at Office of Community College
Services. “Parents whodropped out
of school themselves probably won't
have positive feelings about school.
It’s difficult for them to walk in the
school door, nonetheless become
partners with schools in their chil-
•dren’s own learning.
“Once parents have positive
learning experiences themselves,
•they are then more likely to read to
their children, enjoy reading to their
children and the children in turn
see that their parents value educa­
tion.”
Family Literacy programs give
parents an opportunity to improve
reading, math, writing and think­
ing skills, while they also partici­
pate in fun learning activities with
their children. Adults in family
literacy programs get their GFD. or
earn high school credits and work
on life skills, such as budgeting,
accessing health care, getting their
driver’s license and using other com ­
munity resources.
Family literacy, a relatively new
research field, supports the approach
as a long-term strategy for breaking
the cycle of poverty and literacy.
“The grant will allow local teams
strategy for breaking the cycle of
poverty and illiteracy. "This grant
will allow local teams interested in
building family literacy projects to
learn together and from each other,”
she said.
The grant activities will also build
on what Oregon communities have
learned through the experiences of
current Even Start programs, one
family literacy program model.
Local schools. Head Start pro­
grams, volunteer literacy groups, li­
braries, state agencies, social ser­
vice agencies and community col­
leges will be invited to form teams to
determine what family literacy strat­
egy makes the most sense in their
communities.
The grant includes money for two
state-wide conferences for about 150
team members plus funds for techni­
cal assistance and resources at the
local level for the critical collabora­
tion-building piece. The first con­
ference will be April 30, 1997 in
Corvallis with a follow-up confer­
“Waiting Children”
ence one year later. A steering com ­
mittee with representatives from a
variety of constituent groups will
guide the process.
Most communities have at least
some of the elements of family lit­
eracy already in place: adult basic
skills, or English as a second lan­
guage program, parenting educa­
tion and early childhood programs
In family literacy projects, the com ­
ponents are integrated, which re­
quires cross training and education
of community partners, identifying
community strengths and resourc­
es, eliminating duplication and de­
termining evaluation strategies.
Oregon is one of only five states
to receive a family literacy initia­
tive grant. The grant U.S. Depart­
m ent o f E d u c a tio n funds of
$143.(MX) represents about 50 per­
cent of the total cost, with the bal­
ance matched by state agencies and
community partners.
For more information, or for a
packet on forming a family literacy
in itiativ e team , co n tact C athy
Lindsley, Office of Community Col­
lege Services. 255 Capitol St. NE,
Salem. OR 97310-1341. or b> e
mail at:
cathy.LINDSLEY ©stale,or.us.
Packets will be mailed to Oregon
school districts, Head Start grant­
ees, community college basic skills
directors and county Commissions
on Children and Families.
Above: Kanithia, Katrishia and Kamishia.
Right: Keith and Keonna.
Around the United States, there
are many children awaiting adop­
tion. In the states of Oregon alone,
there are over 300 children in need
of adoptive families. We are a group
of private agencies working with the
state to help find adoptive families.
These agencies are completely waiv­
ing fees in order to encourage the
adoption of these children in need.
Single adults, both male and female,
as well as couples are welcome to
consider adoption. To learn more,
contact The Special Needs Adop­
tion Coalition at The Boys and Girls
Aid Society, (503) 222-9661.
Below arc some examples of these
special children:
K a n it h ia ,
K a m ish ia.
K a t r is h ia
and
ages 12, 9 and 5--The.se
beautiful girls are aclose and memo­
rable set of sisters!
Kanithia. known as “Kiki", has
many talents and abilities. As a
skilled athlete, a variety of sports fill
her days.
Katrishia is a warm middle sister
who interacts easily with people.
She likes to make a positive impres­
sion on those she meets.
A ffe c tio n a te ly
know n
as
“Kamish”, little Kamishia is a com ­
passionate and playful girl. Despite
her sickle cell anemia, she is pres­
ently a picture of health.
All three girls are eager for a
second chance to be som eone’s spe­
cial daughters. They would make a
glowing addition to a new home.
K e ith an d K e o n n a. ages 7 and 8-
Take the bite out of winter’s chill
50th Wedding Anniversary
The family and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Wi llie Henderson
Jr. (shown right) celebrated their 50th wedding anniver­
sary on January 25, 1997 at the Oregon Association of
Minority Entreprenuers (OAME) Center located in the
Cascadde Plaza in North Portland. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson
were married in Beaumont, Texas on January 22. 1947.
Mr. Willie Henderson Jr., originally from Dumus. Arkan­
sas, is retired from Union Pacific Railroad. His wife, Mrs.
Gloria Henderson, who was self-employed, is also retired.
She comes from Beaumont. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have
resided in southeast Portland since the early 1950s and
have raised four children: Gloria Grenn-Wickliff, Gregory
IJenderson, and Anthony Henderson all of Portland and
Mary McDaniel of Vancouver, Washington. They have
three grandchildren: Taimsha and Nia Green of Portland
and Justin McDaniel of Vancouver.
H elp from the com m unity is
needed to save families from crowded
shelters
The rain, wind and cold weather
associated with Oregon winters can
be burdensome for everyone, but
they also may be life threatening An
estimated 130,0000regonians could
be living in homes without heat this
winter. To help. Portland General
Electric (PGE) has teamed up with
Oregon Heat, an independent, non­
profit organization dedicated to rais­
ing funds to pay people’s energy
bills.
This is the fifth year that PGE and
Oregon Heat have worked together
to meet the needs of families in crisis
due to unemployment, accidents,
sickness and other unforeseen cir­
cumstances.
"Most Oregon Heat beneficiaries
are single-parent households with
children under the age of five or
senior citizens on fixed incomes,"
said PG E’s C ustom er Resources
Representative Lynda Tatum. "Since
no one should have to choose be­
tween heating and eating, Oregon
Heat steps in and helps pay overdue
utility bills and makes sure that these
families have heat throughout the
FABULOUS FEBRUARY
LOW PRICES
SAFEWAY
FOOD & DRUG
Look For Your
Safeway Weekly
Shopping Guide
In Your Oregonian FOODday
in the Portland Metro Area
...And Save More Shopping
At Safeway!
Enjoy Extra Savings
With The
SAFEWAY EXTRA
In-Store
Savings Guide
Available at your Saleway store.
- Keith and Keonna are looking for­
ward to finding a family to call their
own. They are a delightful brother-
sister duo!
Keonna is an active girl who liked
to verbally express h e rse lf Keonna
plays e n th u sia stic a lly o u tdoors
riding bikes and tumping rope, but
is also content with doll play and
other indoor pastimes.
Affectionate, athletic Keith en­
joys being read to an likes to joke
with his sister. He is developing a
close connection to Ins foster lather,
and is working on peer relations
through his day to day interactions
with other children.
Sensitive parents who could pro­
vide this sweet pair with security
and comfort would be welcome!
Beef Round Steak
SAFEWAY o
!
• Bone-in
• Valu Pack 3 or more
•Sm aller packages $1.49 lb
I
I
•SAVEup to
$1.20 lb.
COUPON
Lucerne Gallon Milk
¡
• 1%, 2%, Dairyland, Non Fat or Skim Supreme
• First 1 with coupon
I
i
, -SAVEup to $1.26
• Tenderized Round Steak
$1.59 lb.
Show heart
for needy
*-*&■: y-
n>
limit one item per coupon. One coupon per customer per
visit. Not valid with any other coupon or otter. Valid
2/5/97 thru 2/11/97 at your Oregon Safeway Stores 1 * * • *
(except Milton-Freewater) and S W Washington stores serving
„ ..
Clark, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat
- a"Y Suprimí
-
* Milt
S*im
counties COUPON CANNOT BE DOUBLED
Mon-Fat Milk
(S)
Ovenjoy Bread
• 22.5-oz. White or Wheat
• SAVE up to $1.55 on three
w inter." PGE also offers home
weatherization assistance and edu­
cation on how to reduce energy eon-
sumption.
“Unfortunately, recent reductions
in federally-funded energy assistance
programs could force these families
to go without heat all winter." said
Oregon Heat Director Jay Formick.
"But with individual donations and
PG F's help, thousands of families
are able to stay in their homes and
out of crowded shelters."
Last year, PGE and its customers
donated over $3(X),()(X) to Oregon
Heat, helping a total of 7,399 people
stay warm. But thousands more still
need assistance. This year. PGE will
support O regon Heat with over
$43,(MX) in corporate donations and
in-kind support worth $30.(XX). How­
ever, custom er donations are ur­
gently needed to help make a differ­
ence.
Whether an individual or corpo­
rate donation. Oregon Heal ensures
90 percent of every donated dollar
will stay in the community where
the donation was made -only 10
percent goes to the organization's
adm inistrative expenses. Oregon
Heat receives no tax or United Way
support for its energy assistance pro­
gram.
For more information or to make
a donation, please call Oregon Heat
at 5O3-6I2-379O.
PIU 8001
Ptueooz
num i
PIU 3004
PtU 8000
3)1
N obody does it B etter * for L ess .
The Portland Police B ureau's
Sunshine Division. Western Family
and a host of other local sponsors,
invite you to help celebrate the 15th
annual Have A Heart Food Drive.
The Sunshine D ivision's largest
single food drive for the year, the
Have A Heart Food Drive helps feed
needy Portlanders not just during
the holidays, but throughout the year.
Please join us in culminating the
Have A Heart Food Drive on Friday,
February 14, from 10:00 a m. to
I 1:30 a m. at the Sunshine Division
warehouse, located at 687 North
Thompson St. in Portland A cheek
will be presented to the Sunshine
Division at 11:15 a m ., and there
will be refreshments on hand for all
Sponsors include: United G ro­
cers, Western Family, The Ray of
Hope Sunshine Division, The O r­
egonian. W illamette Industries. Inc ,
Earth 105 tm, KPTV O regon’s 12.