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? I f so, I ’m a
certified provider giving today’s Little
Scholars a wonderful and loving environ
ment to enjoy being themselves. Allow me to
take care o f your children the right way...
Contact us today! 1-800-385-8594
DHS State Assistance Accepted
24 Hours Childcare Provider
http://www.todayslittlescholarschildcare.com