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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2011)
Page4______________ S-*’' ^îortlanh (DbserUrr A Tradition of Giving c o n t i n u e d f r o m front out holiday gift bags to other volun teers at the event, Jackson pointed across the room to a smiling elderly man, who seemed to know every one in the room. “He was in charge of the program when I was a little girl in Kindergar ten,” she said. “He brought food to my family.” Jackson said she remembers say ing to her mom that night, ‘I want to help someday.’ “And after all those years, I came back and volunteered,” she said. “I feel blessed.” Bud Lewis, who celebrated his 91st birthday this year, has been helping feed families through the organization for decades. “I’ve been here every year since 1 became the Commander of the Sunshine Division in 1963,” he said. Although now retired from the Police Bureau, he shows up every season to support the division, which he said has changed so much over the years. “I remember when we used to cut up the beef quarters for families every year,” he said. “Now it is automated.” Back in his time, he said the ma jority of workers were jail trustees, previously or currently incarcerated individuals looking for a way to give back to the community. Now, how ever, local residents show up to give back to the neighborhoods they live in. Although times have changed, Lewis said the mission of the divi sion remains the same. “It started with the Portland po lice who wanted to help people,” he said. “And the amazing thing is it is a homegrown organization. That is what’s nice.” Don Lee, who has also been vol unteering with the organization for over three decades, agreed. This holiday season marks the second year that retired state em- December 21, 2011 photo by M indy C ooper /T he P ortland O bserver Volunteers for the non-profit Sunshine Division gather at a north Portland warehouse to prepare boxes o f food for the holiday season, which will feed more than 3,5 0 0 families in time for Christmas. ployee manager Jerry Fugere vol and there are a lot of folks who need unteered. it,” he said. “The people here are giving back Kyle Camberg, the executive di to the community to get food out for rector of the Sunshine Division, said Christmas to the folks who need it— every food box will contain a spar kling cider, four cans of vegetables, fresh potatoes, oranges, onions, pears and carrots, a desert mix and stuffing in their boxes. “When you add all of that up, it’s right around a 40-pound box,” he said. “And on Saturday, before the volunteers deliver the boxes, we add a chicken.” More than a dozen local non profits and the Portland Police Bu reau precincts also join in to make the deliveries successful. Cam berg said the non-profit agency works year-round through a variety of programs to ensure fami lies receive their basic needs. “Hunger isn’t seasonal,” he said. “The work that we do will not slow down in the coming months.” According to Camberg, one in ur. b illy K. blowers (above center) and his skilled sta ff are ready to help those in need two Americans are at or below the poverty line, and the need for food services is at an all time high. Police officers also have the abil ity to deliver a food box, which makes the Portland program unique. “No one else does that,” Camberg said. An ongoing series of questions and answers about Am ericas natural healing profession The Sunshine Division has re THE SPINACOLUMN Part 15. Back Pain: Why “oh, my aching back has become such a popular phrase. : I always know when my back hurts. But I rarely know ation. Fixation. This is yet another function the way nature intended, component of what we call the ver we Chiropractors not only relieve tebrae are not moving the way na your back pain symptoms, we re why. A : Statistics tell us 80% of all ture intended. Other factors include move the cause. Without drugs. / l i n e n , women, and children muscle spasm and disc herniation. Without surgery. Without doubt. will experience back pain in their O f course, in addition to knowing Call our office for an appointment lives. Chiropractors can also tell you have back pain, chiropractors today to find out how Chiroprac you why. There are, for example, also know how to make it go away. tic can help your “aching back.” several mechanical malfunctions By eliminating the components of Or if you have any questions about that cause back pain. Among them the subluxation complex and allow your health, just call us at the are: Direct pinching on the nerve. ing the central nervous system to number below. This is the reason many people give for their back pain, but in fact, “pinched nerves” only account 2124N.E. Hancock Street, Portland Oregon97212 for about 10% of it. Edema (swell Phone: (5 0 3 ) 2 0 7 *5 5 0 4 ing) This occurs from inflamma tion due to simple strain or sublux Q Flowers' Chiropractic Office ceived 1.8 million pounds of food donations for Portlanders in need this year. “A little over a thousand families each month will visit and receive services from us,” Camberg said. “They go grocery shopping in our store.” The organization also provides a clothing room. In 2011, the group secured an estimated 20 thousand pounds of donated clothing. Although he works year round to help provide assistance to families, Sunshine Division Operations Man ager Phil Kent said last week’s ‘pack night’ is traditionally the biggest volunteer effort they make all year. “We see people from every walk of life come in and pack boxes,” Kent said. “Sometimes they are here because Sunshine helped them. We have church groups, teams, or just people who do it every year.” 56-year-old Erik Jenson, who has been a volunteer with the non-profit for eight-years, agreed. “It’s a great atmosphere, work ing with all these people,” he said. “And it seems like every year the need becomes greater.” For more information about the Sunshine Division or how to be com e in v o lv e d , v isit sunshinedivision.org. Today’s Little Scholars Childcare Today’s Little Scholars Childcare is located near Portland Community College on Killingsworth and Albina street offering Flexible Scheduling. Are you looking fo r reliable and safe childcare? 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