Cindy is pleased.
Cindy is pleased.
  • Cindy is pleased.

It’s almost that time again: the annual Mercury charity auction is coming right up!

Last year we raised $16,000 for the Portland Women’s Crisis Line. In others years, we’ve raised money for Sisters of the Road, Resolutions Northwest and JOIN.

So the big question is: what Portland nonprofit deserves to receive a giant box of money under their nondenominational holiday tree this year?

Pitch your favorite local charities in the comments!

Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.

293 replies on “Which Do-Gooders Deserve a Giant Pile of $$$?”

  4. If I don’t get my non-profit paperwork finalzed before the end of the year, you guys should give the money to the Recall Sam Adams people.

  6. The Portland TIP [Trauma Intervention Program] http://www.tipnw.org/
    Day or night, every horrible thing you see on TV or hear about; shootings, murders, fatal accidents, suicides, OD’s, TIP has a trained volunteer on scene usually within 15-30 mins to help the victims, friends and family, bystanders and any other folks were affected. After Fire, Police and EMT leave they are there taking care of emotional needs and support. The work they do is beyond imagination. If you want confirmation ask any fireman or EMT. In these hard times they really deserve any support you can give them.

  7. Ride Connection – a great organization that helps people with transportation…they’ve been an excellent help to my elderly neighbor who wouldn’t have any other way to get to her doctor or get groceries.

  8. Transition Projects, Inc (TPI) could really use support this year and every year. They serve more than 9,000 people a year by providing housing and preventing homelessness.

  9. Domestic Violence Resource Center. Not only an emergency shelter for all survivors, but the DVRC operates the only shelter that does not discriminate due to gender in the tri-county area– additionally, Monika’s House Shelter is one of under a dozen known shelters in the US that serve survivors who are men. DVRC is also the ONLY non-profit providing free clinical counseling for children who witness in the State of Oregon. Office of Disease Prevention & Epidemiology estimates one out of 10 women (ages 20-55) in Oregon were in a domestic violence relationship in the last five years. Children witnessed 33% of intimate partner physical assaults and 20% of intimate partner sexual assaults. Many studies indicate that children who witness violence are at risk of developing a wide variety of physical, emotional, and behavioral problems.

  10. Schoolhouse Supplies – The Free Store for Teachers! 21,000 Portland children arrive to school lacking the basic school supplies. $25 represents what it takes to send one child back to school with ALL the supplies needed for the entire school year. Help our little ones stay in school by providing them with the tools to succeed.

  11. Did you know that teachers spend $1,200 of their own money on school supplies for their classrooms each year? Luckily, Portland is home to SCHOOLHOUSE SUPPLIES – where teachers shop for free! Please help this worthy cause.

  17. Impact NW’s mission is to help people achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and to prevent and alleviate the effects of poverty. Housing and safety net services, 0-5 Early childhood and school-based programs, mentoring programs, services for seniors and people with disabilities – services are designed to help people improve their quality of life and live independently.

    http://www.impactnw.org/
    http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=Impact+N…

  19. I’d like to second the nomination for Impact NW (formerly Portland Impact). This organization serves those who are feeling the effects of the economic downturn more than anyone: homeless families and low-income families and seniors. They provide transitional housing, assistance with energy bills, and emergency food and clothing, in addition to preventative services like early childhood development and skill building activities for both children and parents. Impact serves 60,000 people in the metro area annually, with 2,400 volunteers and a staff of 130!

  20. Hows about Portland Habilitation Center Northwest http://www.phcnw.com

    PHC Northwest has provided nearly 60 years of broad-based educational, training and job opportunities (with full union benefits) for thousands of people with developmental, physical and mental disabilities. As a dynamic and forward-thinking industry leader, PHCNW’s diversified business lines have allowed it to help employees develop the technical skills required to earn living wages in a variety of occupations, thus enabling them to pay taxes and empowering them to raise families and live independently. PHCNW’s influence extends into the general community through provision of affordable housing programs, and environmental stewardship in the form of developing the largest contiguous solar energy array in the Pacific Northwest region.

  21. How about Portland Habilitation Center Northwest? http://www.phcnw.com

    PHC Northwest has provided nearly 60 years of broad-based educational, training and job opportunities (with full union benefits) for thousands of people with developmental, physical and mental disabilities. As a dynamic and forward-thinking industry leader, PHCNW’s diversified business lines have allowed it to help employees develop the technical skills required to earn living wages in a variety of occupations, thus enabling them to pay taxes and empowering them to raise families and live independently. PHCNW’s influence extends into the general community through provision of affordable housing programs, and environmental stewardship in the form of developing the largest contiguous solar energy array in the Pacific Northwest region.

  22. Neighborhood House! Largest Emergency Food Pantry on the West-side, largest provider of school based services in North Portland, Senior Centers in SW and downtown Portland, transitional housing for homeless families called Turning Point, Headstart provider on the west side, emergency rental and energy assistance, an employment assistance program. They do a lot! Amazing organization!

  23. Neighborhood House! Largest Emergency Food Pantry on the West-side, largest provider of school based services in North Portland, Senior Centers in SW and downtown Portland, transitional housing for homeless families called Turning Point, Headstart provider on the west side, emergency rental and energy assistance, an employment assistance program, a Childcare Improvement Project. They do a lot, and I know the need is high in the Food Box program right now.

  24. Ride Connection is a nonprofit that colaborates with over 30 different area agencies to provide transportation to seniors and people with disabilities in the tri-county area. This is a vital service that goes under-recognized and under-valued because so many people take access to transportation for granted. It would be great to highlight this charity and the work they are doing as well as make people more aware of the need for transportion for those who struggle to simply get to medical appointments and food sources.
    http://www.rideconnection.org

  25. I’ll chime in for Bark (http://bark-out.org). Bark’s celebrating their tenth anniversary this year of working to save Mt. Hood National Forest from logging, OHV (off-highway vehicle) rogues, and the Palomar Pipeline. Their on-the-ground work has been critical to keeping our drinking water safe and our ecosystem as intact as possible.

    Mt. Hood is a pride of Portland, and I’m grateful for an organization that works to eliminate logging on our public land. Check Bark out!

  28. I’ll put in a plug for the Josiah Hill III Clinic, a grassroots community health nonprofit working to protect children from environmental hazards and promote community action for healthy homes. They provide around 600 FREE blood tests for childhood lead poisoning every year, empower community members to reduce in-home toxins that can cause asthma, hold free workshops on chemical-free cleaning, and provide outreach/education on issues related to health & housing. They do a lot with very limited resources and could definitely benefit from a feature in the Merc.

    You can learn more at http://www.jhillclinic.org.

  33. Child Abuse in this country is epidemic in proportion. Oregon leads the nation in Child Abuse. Our Foster Care system is ranked by the Federal Government near the bottom of the list. So should it suprise us that Portland has the highest per capita homeless youth population in the US…90% of whom have been sexually abused.

    There are several social service agencies working hard, but only Dinner & A Movie is focused on Abuse Recovery Mentoring. You can learn much more at http://www.dinnerandamoviepdx.com and thanks for thinking of us…

  34. Oregon now leads the nation in homelessness, second in unemployment and third in hunger. It makes sense to choose an organization that serves one of those needs. I’d like to recommend the Home Builders Foundation, a small organization that has partnered with over 40 shelters in the Portland community to make everything from minor repairs to complete renovations to make these buildings better for the people that call them “home.”
    Also, finding an organization that helps people get back on their feet by helping them find jobs in an already difficult market or giving the money to an organization that feeds the hungry in our state would be worthy ways to spend this year’s resources.

  42. I definitely think that the Josiah Hill III Clinic would be an increadibly worthy cause. They provide amazing resources at a grassroots level to families about how to reduce there exposure to harmful environmental hazards in the home!

  45. I second Bradley Angle! They house the only LGBTQ Coordinator for queer Portlanders experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault. AND they have a drop in center for African-American survivors and their kids. This is wraparound, culturally-specific services at its best!

  46. I’d like to put in a plug for Backline, which is dedicated to addressing the broad range of experiences and emotions surrounding pregnancy, parenting, adoption and abortion. The agency recently had to suspend their talk ine program after 4 years and 8 months of service to women, men, and their loved ones across the US and Canada. The all-volunteer run organization has thrived on donations from individuals and community allies in order to sustain the important service of creating a safe space for those to call and engage in discussion about their pregnancy decisions. The hope is to reinstate this service down the road, so that our callers can continue to utilitze the safe space, and build stronger connections with those they love the most. Thank you for your consideration! http://www.yourbackline.org

  53. Bridges to Independence is a grassroots nonprofit social service agency in operation since 2003. At Bridges we strive to be family and community friendly, adhere to principals of harm reduction, and work toward economic and social justice for all.

    Bridges currently serves around 75 individuals, mainly adults with developmental disabilities. Our services include community supports, money management, group recreation, camping, art, vocational training, social sexual supports, LGBT program, health and nutrition, diabetes peer support, swimming, and more.

    At Bridges, services are person-centered and client-driven. This means that we strive to respect client choices around setting goals, determining services, and defining independence. We welcome client decisions to involve family members, friends, spouses, partners, service providers, case managers, and others in their services.

  54. I nominate Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition (OSSCC), a non-profit working hard to make sure that all students, teachers and families feel safe in communities. OSSCC is currently working with schools to implement new anti-bullying legislation. Two major projects are a fall training for youth/adult teams to assess needs in schools and implement appropriate strategies to promote safety for gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and questioning youth and assisting schools to create Gay Straight Alliance organizations in schools.

  65. Gotta be Schoolhouse Supplies. They’re green (they save several – i think three – school bus loads full of corporate surplus from heading to the landfill) and they save teachers (one of the most underappreciated, underpaid professions out there) from having to spend thousands of their own dollars on supplies for the kiddos whose families can’t afford them. What could be better than that?

  67. Gotta be Schoolhouse Supplies. They’re green (they save several – i think three – school bus loads full of corporate surplus from heading to the landfill) and they save teachers (one of the most underappreciated, underpaid professions out there) from having to spend their own cash on supplies for the kiddos whose families can’t afford them. What could be better than that?

  68. I would like to recommend Neighborhood house they serve both southwest AND North portland children youth and families. They are an organization That encompass a variety of services from rent assistance, emergency food boxes, Employment training programs, After school Academic and enrichment programs, Case management for children youth and families, and senior services. They also partner with early head start, to provide parent activities for children ages 0 – 5 they are the entire package!!!!

  74. They ALL do! Such a difficult choice. But I have to go with Raphael House too, simply because they serve so many clients, and because they serve so many people in immediate crisis.

  76. I have to send another shout out to Raphael House! The need is greater than ever, and resources in this economy are more difficult than ever. Help provide safe care & shelter for survivors of domestic violence. Most are children!

  85. Definitely Schoolhouse Supplies! I have volunteered for them and they are a great group of people putting their efforts together for a very worthy cause.

  90. Definitely has to be Schoolhouse Supplies!

    Such a great organization and it shows the kids of Portland that they are cared for.

  101. Schoolhouse Supplies is the shizzle, and the bee’s knee’s all wrapped together to form a magnificent cornucopia of educational supplies for those most in need. Think, the Voltron of school supplies. Schoolhouse Supplies! Yeah!

  107. PDX Pop Now! is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating, promoting, and enhancing Portland’s vital and diverse music community. We also strive to connect this community, in various ways, to the public.

  108. Schoolhouse Supplies – The Free Store for Teachers! 21,000 Portland children arrive to school lacking the basic school supplies. $25 represents what it takes to send one child back to school with ALL the supplies needed for the entire school year. Help our little ones stay in school by providing them with the tools to succeed.

  110. The Children’s Book Bank! This is a GREAT small organization that kelps get books in the hands and homes of children who otherwise would not have a collection of their own! In a city that loves books, what better organization??

  112. The Children’s Book Bank ! They provide a much needed service, getting children’s books into the homes of kids who wouldn’t otherwise have books of their own.

  113. The Children’s Book Bank! This is a GREAT organization that places books in the hands and homes of children who otherwise would have none of their own! VOTE FOR THE CHILDREN’S BOOK BANK!

  121. Local outreach to homeless youth – Dinner & A Movie http://www.dinnerandamoviepdx.com. We’re committed to mentoring the abused and neglected youth of Portland, helping them transition from the streets. We’re working with nearly 200 youth and 30+ young families – over 40 children under the age of 5 years old, helping break the cycle of abuse and keep these kids out of the seriously overburdened Oregon Foster System. We’ve been around since September 11, 2001. This money would make a HUGE impact on the lives of the homeless youth of Portland.

  123. TransitionsGlobal’s local arm, TransitionsPDX, is seeking money to build a shelter for victims of human slavery. A PPB vice detective has said if the shelter were built tomorrow, she could have two dozen underage prostitutes in there by the end of the week.

    These victims can then rehab and learn in a safe space while pursuing career education and self-discovery. I have no relation to the organization; this just needs to happen.

  125. Animal Aid Inc. of Portland is very worthy and has been helping pets and their people in our communities for 40 years. A no-kill, nonprofit, animal rescue organization, Animal Aid goes above and beyond what you expect from an animal shelter. They serve abused, neglected, abandoned and suffering animals, find foster and adoptive forever homes, provide workshops and outreach, special events and the very special: Animal Aid Fund for Veterinary Care which offers aid to people without adequate resources when urgent veterinary care for a beloved pet is needed but not affordable. The Aid Fund works on a “pay it forward” premise, and has since the organization’s founding in 1969. People are asked to repay the kindness whenever possible, and that enables Animal Aid to reach out and help more pets and people in need in Portland. The staff is extremely lean at just 4 employees. All the rest of the work is done by devoted volunteers of all ages. Animal Aid allows children to volunteer, as well as adults. Animal Aid runs on donations, contributions and event fundraising income. Donations are badly needed at this time! Please consider Animal Aid. http://WWW.AnimalAidPDX.org. It truly is a legacy of love. Thank you.

  127. Animal Aid (http://www.animalaidpdx.org) is a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter serving the Portland metro area for 40 years and is very dear to me. It’s a really grass-roots organization and has often been overlooked as a major contributor to our community. Not only an animal shelter for dogs and cats, Animal Aid has a very unique program that makes them a nonprofit that helps people and animals. Their VetCare program helps low-income members of our community in providing urgent veterinary care for their pets. Not sure if you’ve thought about it, what if you didn’t have the money to pay for urgent care for your pet? (Veterinarians do not extend credit for making payments.) My pets are members of my family and this program makes me thankful that Portland has such great nonprofits such as Animal Aid. Please consider them for your annual auction.

  128. Consider KZME radio, brand new non-commercial radio station featuring all local music. What a great way to stimulate the local economy by showcasing Portland area musicians, thus encouraging record and performance sales. The trickle down from artists to venue owners, record stores etc. goes on and on.

  137. Open Meadow Alternative Schools!
    They make a positive difference in the lives of North Portland youth. Open Meadow Schools offers a personalized educational experience for middle and high school youth and educates youth in small, relationship-based programs that emphasize personal responsibility, academics, and service to the community.

    Open Meadow serves youth who have not fared well in the public schools. Many of the students dropped out of public school. Many struggled with attendance, academic, or disciplinary issues. Open Meadow believes that all of them deserve a quality education!

  138. The Children’s Book Bank is super deserving. This little org is getting books to kids who don’t have books. KIDS WHO DON’T HAVE BOOKS. Right here in Portland. Dude. And the Book Bank needs help to keep doing it. Pick them!!

  139. The Children’s Book Bank is super deserving. This little org is getting books to kids who don’t (and won’t?) otherwise have books. KIDS WHO DON’T HAVE BOOKS. Kids whose schools don’t offer libraries. Right here in Portland!!! …Dude. And the Book Bank needs help to keep doing it. Pick them!!

  142. Please support Animal Aid!! They are a grass-roots no-kill animal shelter that has been helping the Portland community for 40 years! They take in abandoned cats and dogs and place them into loving furr-ever homes. On top of that they provide vital community services and educational workshops. Their medical loan program helps low income pet owners cover the costs of emergency veterinary bills via no-interest loans. Their most recent workshops topics included disaster preparedness for your pets and reduced cost micro chipping and pet ID tags. Animal Aid relies on a large network of volunteers which means more money goes to the animals at the shelter instead of paying for support staff. For more information please go to their website at http://www.animalaidpdx.org/

  143. Every day young people struggle to find an education that is the right fit.

    Open Meadow supports young people who have struggled in traditional educational settings by reconnecting them with their education and preparing them to build meaningful futures and to become a vital part of their community.

    Learn more about why Open Meadow deserves “a giant pile of $$$” by visiting http://www.openmeadow.org

  145. Definately Animal Aid! I’ve been volunteering there for over two years now and they do great work in taking in cats that are abused and neglected. This non-profit has a very small staff and they need all the help they can get.

  147. Animal Aid is the best. In the last 2 years alone they assisted over 1600 pets that needed urgent veterinary care, plus they provide educational workshops to pet loving people and run a beautiful no-kill free roam shelter for cats up for adoption and house their adoptable dogs in foster homes. And they partner with other rescue organizations to reduce pet overpopulation by providing information, discount coupons and funding for pet spay and neuters. It’s a relatively small, but mighty organization that has been helping people and pets in the Portland Metro area for 40 years!

  148. PLEASE! Animal Aid, Inc. – in desperate need of money to provide veterinary assistance to financially strapped pet quardians, provide loving adopted homes to homeless Portland pets in danger of euthanasia, and assist with vital spay/neuter programs in our community. There are hundreds of worthy options, but none have a stronger case!!!

  149. Please help Animal Aid. They not only help animals but the people love them. They are over 40 years old and in need of funds to keep things rolling and serving the area. Animal Aid!!!

  150. Animal Aid gets my vote – please give it yours! We can’t save them all, but Animal Aid saves one life at a time, and makes a huge difference in the lives of the cats and dogs it rescues as well as bringing limitless love into the homes of the adopters. Add to that their outreach/educational programs and medical support to keep pets united with their guardians: an inspiring 40-year story of dedication to Portland’s beloved animal population.

  152. Raphael House of Portland has my vote! Nearly 100 families are served in their emergency shelter each year, and more than 5,000 callers are offered safety planning and advocacy on their in-house crisis line and 400 survivors receive non-residential advocacy services each year. Raphel House of Portland does not descriminate based on gender. They have proven, over and over, their commitment to the safety of all survivors of domestic and sexual violence through the development of creative programs and initiatives to meet the very diverse needs of the very diverse community of survivors.

  153. Animal Aid of Portland! It is a local no-kill rescue that operates totally on donations and gets no money from any national organization. They help people (and their animals) who can not afford urgent vet care for their animals. My animals are part of my family & I am glad to know there is an organization I can turn to for help. They also help people who have lost their jobs and housing because of the economy by taking in their animals either into a shelter or foster home, provide vet care and find homes for the animals. They have mostly volunteers do all their work so most of the money goes back to the animals. I’ve been volunteering there for 6 years & they’re great!

  154. Raphael House of Portland has my vote! Nearly 100 families are served in their emergency shelter each year, and more than 5,000 callers are offered safety planning and advocacy on their in-house crisis line and 400 survivors receive non-residential advocacy services each year. Raphel House of Portland does not descriminate based on gender. They have proven, over and over, their commitment to the safety of all survivors of domestic and sexual violence through the development of creative programs and initiatives to meet the very diverse needs of the very diverse community of survivors.

  155. Animal Aid!!

    Animal Aid is a no-kill animal rescue shelter that also provides loans to those who do not have sufficient funds to get urgent vet treatment for their pets. They have been serving the Portland Metro area since 1969.

  156. Animal Aid!!

    http://www.animalaidpdx.org/

    Their mission is to reduce animal birth rates and animal suffering through educating the public about spaying and neutering, offering assistance to community members who cannot afford urgent veterinary care, and finding permanent homes for animals in their care, including those with special needs. They house cats in their free-roam shelter and dogs (and a few cats) in loving foster homes.

  157. Animal Aid is a small, PDX grass root, free roam shelter that also provides assistance such as spay and neuter assistance and emergency loans. Sometimes people can no longer afford their pets and they end up on the streets. Animal helps these people keep their pets or provides the shelter until they can find their furever home.

    For more information please go to their website at http://www.animalaidpdx.org/

  158. Raphael House of Portland (http://www.raphaelhouse.com) is a multi-faceted domestic violence agency dedicated to fighting the causes and effects of intimate partner violence in a variety of ways. We offer emergency shelter in a confidential location, safety planning and advocacy on a 24-hour in-house crisis line, non-residential advocacy in cooperation with the Portland Police Domestic Violence Response Unit, and transitional housing and advocacy services to survivors of domestic violence enrolled in the Transitional Housing Program. Nearly 100 families are served in the emergency shelter each year, and more than 5,000 callers are offered safety planning and advocacy on our in-house crisis line. An additional 400 survivors receive non-residential advocacy services each year.

    The mission of Raphael House is to provide a foundation of hope for a life free from family violence, and we have been working in this community—offering domestic violence survivors the tools they need to build violence-free lives—for more than 30 years. Raphael House serves a diverse community of people escaping domestic violence, and also works to eliminate the causes of family and intimate partner violence through community education and outreach.

  161. Animal Aid Inc. They not only take in pets that people can no longer afford to care for, they take in pets with medical issues that would otherwise have to be put down. They also provide financial assistance for pets requiring medical attention so that they can stay with the people who love them. I don’t know of any other shelter in the area that does this and they desperately need it.

  162. I know Open Meadow school deserves the funds! I have been affiliated with Open Meadow for over 2 years now and I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done for me. They found funds for me to be able to go to school. Thanks to Open Meadow, I have been staying on track with school and am working towards my nursing degree. Go Open Meadow!! 🙂

  163. Raphael House has also played an instrumental role in founding TEEN, Teen Education and Empowerment Network, a collaborative effort of domestic violence and sexual assault violence agencies in Portland working to provide outreach, education and resources to youth about healthy relationships, dating violence, consent, communication, etc. Last year, we educated over 3000 youth in the Portland area and presented in over 250 classrooms. We also collaborate with other agencies to provide trainings on teen dating violence and healthy relationships to parents, administrators, teachers and youth advocates in the community and provide trainings to businesses on responding to domestic violence in the workplace. We cofacilitate support groups with youth who have experienced violence in their lives and provide resources to thousands of youth a year.

  164. I think Open Meadows deserves a lot of cash. They are not only a school, but they offer many resources for young adults, including shelter, food, transportation help, assistance with scholarships, clothing, job opportunities, and just about anything else you can think of including personal consuelors

  165. Youth Progress Association! YPA has a 45 year history of providing counseling, education, housing, life training skills and job placement for youth in Oregon who have experience a traumatic homelife or who have been through the juvenile justice system. Many of the youth are low-functioning or low IQ and a lot of other agencies choose not to serve this population. YPA has a great track record of helping these young men and women lead happy productive lives, despite their tough start in life.

  166. Please consider Animal Aid of Portland. With so many people out of work and losing their homes, many more animals need new homes than usual. Animal Aid is a wonderful non-profit animal rescue, and out-reach shelter in SW Portland that provides loving care for homeless animals. The volunteer staff work hard to take great care of them and find them new loving homes.

  167. I would like to suggest a company such as Amimal Aid or Project Pooch to be this years charity. Help the animals that rely on us for care when it has not properly been given by no fault of theirs.

  169. ANIMAL AID!!! They are a hardworking organization that is truly dedicated to helping those animals (and their families) in need. Pets require help too!

  174. Playworks has just opened our P-Town office and are operating in 8, soon to be 9 PPS elementary schools. A box full of money would be a pretty awesome welcome wagon gift and would help us to reach more kids in the coming year. Here’s a little about what we do:

    For more than 14 years, Playworks has actively operated on the pavement, grass and hardwood of low-income schools throughout the country. More than just a proven model for increasing physical activity at schools, Playworks is actively helping to change the school culture and improve learning.

    Playworks coaches are part of the school community, working full-time to help improve learning by bringing safe, healthy play to children on the playground, with teachers in the classroom during and after school and through leagues and leadership opportunities. With a unique focus on recess, Playworks employs play and physical activity as tools to teach valuable lessons that translate back to improved learning in the classroom. Students return to class after recess better able to focus and with fewer conflicts that cut into valuable teaching time. The result is that teachers can focus on teaching, and the schools and students benefit from the recaptured teaching time. In fact, many schools recapture more than 36 hours of teaching time a year – the equivalent of several weeks of math, language arts or other instruction.

    Play On!
    http://www.playworks.org (check us out)

  176. Animal Aid, Inc. because I donate to them but can’t afford to slide huge piles of cash their way and you can!. Do it for the little animals!

  185. Open Meadow High School!! this place benefitted me sooo much!! The staff and teachers there helped get me back on the right track and inspired me to do well in school, to improve my attendence, prepared me for the real world of college and work. Even paid for me to take a couple college classes!! If any organization deserves financial support to help them do what they do…its Open Meadow!!

  187. Open Meadow!!! They are helping our youth in all ways!
    I hear they have a great food program and a very dedicated staff.
    You can directly help our future generation by voting for
    Open Meadow Alternaive schools.

  188. I vote for Animal Aid in Beaverton. I hear so many stories lately about abandoned pets or pets whose guardians can’t afford to take them to the vet etc. etc. and organizations like Animal Aid can help with that!

  189. Raphael House of Portland! They do tons of great work not only helping victims of domestic violence, but educating our society as a whole!

  190. Schoolhouse Supplies makes a real difference in our community. Our school wants to thank the donors, staff and everyone who makes this organization possible.

    Vernon School Office

  191. I would like to nominate Open Meadow Career Connections, Crue School. They are a nonprofit Organization that helps Portland’s youth 18-24 yr olds write outstanding resumes, cover letters, how to interview for jobs the right way to raise confidence in them selves. They also help youth with networking with local businesses to possibly get their foot in the door.

    My personal experience with them was wonderful I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for Open Meadow and the wonderful staff.

    When I first moved to Portland about a year and a half ago I was down on my luck, unemployed feeling hopeless had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. When I came across their flyer I knew what I had to do, contact them and get enrolled in their training program. When I started the program I had little confidence in my skills, when I finished the program my coincidence grew Significantly, I was able to interview with confidence along with having an awesome resume and cover letter to go along with it. Not only do they help youth with how to interview with confidence but they also help them look the part by helping them get new clothes to feel good in.

    About two months after the training program I was able to get a full time job at a book store, I had a wonderful interview and blew them away with a great resume and cover letter. Open meadow also helped me fill out my FASA so I can go to college and do something important in my life. I am currently getting ready to enter Medical School through PCC.

    So thanks to Open Meadow Career Connections I was able to turn my life around and get on the track to success.

    They really deserve this money; they have helped change so many young lives for the better. Today’s youth are Tomorrows leaders.

  193. Animal Aid has been doing a great job of finding safe and caring homes for discarded and abused pets, in particular cats and dogs. They need support to continue their good work.

  194. In homes in middle income neighborhoods, the ratio of books to children is 13 books for every child.

    In low income neighborhoods the ratio is 1 book for every 300 children.

    Give the money to the Children’s Book Bank.

  198. Schoolhouse Supplies, the free store for teachers, is an incredibly valuable resource in our community and certainly would be excellent stewards of any support you gave them.

  199. Schoolhouse Supplies, the free store for teachers, is an incredibly valuable resource in our community and certainly would be excellent stewards of any support you gave them.

  201. CITY REPAIR!!!

    One of the most genuine, heart driven, organic grass-root non-profits in town!!

    Filled with oodles of integrity and sincerity in all of their actions!

    Helping communities help themselves in bettering this world for all!

    check out their loveliness!
    http://www.cityrepair.org

  202. Please pick Animal Aid, Inc! They are a small but feisty animal welfare group that runs a no-kill shelter in SW Portland. But that’s only a TINY part of their work in the community — being reactive to the pet over-population problem through rescue and adoption campaigns is ethically necessary but solves nothing. There will be twice as many animals in need tomorrow (actually, far more than that – an unspayed female cat over 5 months old can produce several litters per year). Animal Aid recognizes that it is imperative to work proactively to stem the flood. They focus on educating pet owners about the importance of spaying/neutering, and they team with other groups to create low-cost opportunities to do so (e.g., the annual Tom and Mom Cat Special). But that’s not all — Animal Aid provides financial assistance to low-income pet owners faced with urgent veterinary expenses. And Animal Aid’s annual low-cost workshop series offers low-cost education focusing on activities that promote the physical and emotional health of pets and their families. Goal? Prevent pets from entering the rescue cycle in the first place!

  205. ANIMAL AID, INC wonderful, open, free roaming shelter for homeless, unwanted animals. Help a kitty, adopt a best friend, educate someone about the importance of spaying/neutering. Vote Animal Aid!!

  207. Animal Aid of Portland! A no kill, FREE ROAM(not locked in cages all day&night), place to live for life, shelter! They spend thousands every year on special needs animals, surgeries, and spay/neuter for those in the comunity who otherwise couldn’t afford it. If for any reason a home doesn’t work out, even years later, the shelter will take the animal back-no questions asked.

  208. Animal Aid,Inc. http://www.animalaidpdx.org/ – a no kill, free roam, animal shelter that houses and fosters cats and dogs. In addition to taking care of shelter animals, Animal Aid spends thousands each year assisting the community by providing no cost loans or paying for medical services and emergency care that many people have not been able to afford in this economy.

  209. by Leanne(age 10)- Animal Aid, Inc http://www.animalaidpdx.org/ – should get the money. Not only do they take care of animals, and help people be able to afford to take care of their animals (’cause sometimes emergencies happen) but Animal Aid, Inc. is the only place in the Portland Metro that will give young kids like me a place to volunteer. I have been volunteering at animal aid for almost 2 years now. I am part of a great team that works very hard at saving animals lives and teaching people about the importance of pets for life, taking care of them, and why it’s so important to spay/neuter your animals. -typed by mom.

  211. for Jim (my husband) Animal Aid, Inc. http://www.animalaidpdx.org/ should win this one. I’ve been to this shelter a few times with my wife and daughter. It really is neat what they do and it’s obvious the animals are so well loved and taken care of. Animal Aid is able to provide funding and loans to people who can’t afford emergency vet bills, or animals needing critical emergency care from having been left inside cardboard boxes on the side of the road in the peak of summer. Help them keep doing what they’ve done for Portlanders since 1965!-(typed by wife as dictated by husband).

  212. Schoolhouse Supplies. It might not save a life or help prevent abuse or neglect, but it’s still pretty cool and impacts the lives of children, parents, teachers, families, schools…. Okay, pretty much everyone. Schoolhouse Supplies is the real deal. Please help support low income familes. Please help support schools. Please help support Portland.

    Support Schoolhouse Supplies, yo.

  217. Animail Aid is a small NO-Kill shelter. I have adopted a wonderful kitty from them and they are doing GREAT work! As a no-kill shelter, they work with animals and attempt to get all of them placed. Because they are small, they may not be as well-known, but they are just as dedicated to placing mis-treated and mis-placed animals into loving, forever homes. No one could appreciate it more — ESPECIALLY the animals whose LIVES depend on it.
    – Melissa Williams – Beaverton, OR

  218. The Children’s Book Bank (http://www.childrensbookbank.org) is dealing with a seriously neglected and very important issue: in low income neighborhoods, children tend to have NO BOOKS at all. The pre-literacy skills attained before kindergarten are ESSENTIAL to education and too many children have no books at all! Middle and Higher income neighborhoods are FULL of used childrens books, sitting in boxes in attics and basements and they NEED to get into the Hands and Homes of Low Income Children !!!! THE CHILDRENS BOOK BANK!!!!

  220. I would love to see the Mercury support Animal Aid. I’ve been volunteering at Animal Aid for about 4 years. In that time, I’ve seen abused, neglected, and just plain abandoned pets come into our care. Some of these stories are heartbreaking, what keeps me going back day after day is that we’re able to make a difference. We often bring in animals from local county shelters who are literally on “death row” because they’ve been waiting for their adopters to find them. These animals are often the sweetest, greatest companions. These very animals are adopted quickly at Animal Aid! To me, it feels great to help provide a “new lease on life” for these animals who would have otherwise been euthanized. Please seriously consider them! Thank you.

  223. Beyond helping low income families care for their pets through a no interest loan program Animal Aid also directly cares for homesless animals in need. Animal Aid helps animals that aren’t doing well in a normal shelter situation by placing them in foster care. They provide needed health care and rehab behavior problems to give dogs and cats a second chance.

  224. hello Mercury Staff,

    I heard recently about your live auction in December that benefits a not so well know staff picked local charity. I know there are so many amazing and wonderful charities out there, it must be a daunting task to chose one. Well this is my pitch for a wonderful, much in need, animal rescue organization Animal Aid. They have been around for over 30 years and are a vital resource for our communities animal welfare….i have volunteered there for almost two years now weekly because I believe so strongly in what they do for the animals and the people in the Portland community…They sure could use the extra funding for their many needs and outreach programs and the publicity…Please consider Animal Aid this year….check them out and the amazing animals they have 😉

  232. Childrens’ Book Bank, absolutely. Never have I heard of an organization with such a focused and promising mission. With time, this group alone could make great changes in the achievement levels of Portland’s kids. CBB: Keep it up! Mercury: Fund CBB!

  233. you can help me are you in it. its friday october 9th 11: 55 are you in it in portland to georgia i used light speed at 180000 mph

  234. It seems to me that in economic hardship, those that can give, will turn to help their fellow man: food banks, shelters, medical aid…all basic life necessities. If individuals are helping one another, then businesses and corporations can be helping those with basic life needs who also can’t help themselves: animals. A furry friend gives unconditional love and they deserve unconditional love in return.

    As one of the many unemployed, I turned to volunteering as an outlet. I may not have money to give, but I have the time. I chose Animal Aid, a local, non-profit, no-kill, animal shelter, because of their values and services but also for my love of animals. One of those services is helping pet-owners who have fallen on hard times with financial assistance for the care of their four-legged family members.

    So if you’re one of those individuals who thinks we need to be taking care of each other right now, first and foremost, now you know that by helping Animal Aid, you not only help the animals, but your fellow man as well.

  235. Transition Projects — serving the homeless, meeting people’s basic needs, but also working with people to overcome their homelessness. They’re doing really amazing work to help reduce homelessness in Portland. Housing, employment, and mental health support — a really impressive and much needed agency!

  237. Why choose Schoolhouse Supplies?

    “Thank you for giving us the stuff we need to work with and we will show respect to the pencils and erasers. We will not break them or chow on the erasers.” – Eddy

  238. Another student who has received support from Schoolhouse Supplies –

    “Some of our families can’t afford school supplies. Most people want a good education and you can’t get one without a pencil, so thank you for everything.” – Ernest

  239. Schoolhouse Supplies impact on Portland’s youth –

    “ No longer do I see a few privileged students with expensive-looking backpacks while other children are without. Everyone is privileged! What a boost to a child’s self-esteem.” 


    – Susan Foxman, Principal, Vestal School

  240. I vote for Animal Aid. It is a no-kill, nonprofit animal shelter that is very compassionate: the cats have a lot of space to move around, and the dogs are let out to foster homes so that they aren’t cooped up at the shelter.

  241. I vote for Animal Aid. It’s a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter that is particularly compassionate: the cats have plenty of space to move around, and the dogs are let out to foster homes until they’re adopted for good, so that they’re not cooped up inside the shelter. I have often done volunteer work there.

  244. Schoolhouse Supplies budget also is impressive with 90% of their funds going directly to programs and only 10% to admin. Did you know that they are located in a rent free, utilities free space? Keeps their overhead way down so they can focus funds to their good work in the community. This year they gave out nearly 8,500 FREE backpacks full of school supplies to title I schools through their Tools for Schools program.

  245. KZME radio is coming to town – thank goodness! Imagine turning on the radio and hearing LOCAL music – yeah! Please consider this new non-commercial station as the recipient of your generous support!

  246. Schoolhouse supplies is giving to both students and teachers when they help with classroom supplies. Educating the the movers and shakers of tomorrow or at the least preventing poverty through education should be a priority but the funding isn’t there. This organization has a generous heart and sends the money directly to where it can do the most for schools.

  247. KZME community radio is the most noble cause I can think of if you are concerned about hearing great community radio on an FM band that isn’t KBOO.

  254. i hope you choose a place that feeds and shelters the needy. It’s getting cold out there and the amount of people on the street just brakes my heart! =(

  256. Open Meadow !!!

    They help individuals to build life lasting career skills and life skills ! In the program we learned how to build an effective resume, how to apply your experience to be versatile in the workforce, how to accept diversity while building professionalism. We learned how to be effective within our own personal networks and seek new opportunities wherever the case may be. I don’t believe I would have gotten so far without having being part of this program that helped me to get the building blocks started for my present and my future. They provide bus passes and help encouraged young adults that they can have a hope and a future in this struggling economy. The effects of this will greatly impact lives, and the future of any economy.

  260. Animal Aid is a wonderful organization that is a no-kill shelter for cats and dogs. I have rescued many cats from my apt. complex that have been abandonned and they have always taken them in (I may be on a waiting list for awhile) and they are always adopted and not left out in the rainy NW weather to fend for themselves.

  261. Animal Aid is a wonderful no-kill shelter. I have rescued many stray cats abandonned at my apt. complex and gotten them into this shelter and they have all been adopted. They no longer have to fend for themselves in the rainy NW. Please consider helping the many stray or abandonned cats and dogs in our area by choosing Animal Aid.

  263. PDX Timebank! It’s like the coolest “think local” organization ever. I can’t get over how much it can change the city when it takes root.

  264. I nominate Open Meadow. I participated in their Career Connections program this past April, and it pretty much changed my life. I would be jobless right now if it wasn’t for these amazing, hard-working, dedicated people. I can’t think of anyone more deserving, so please consider donating the money to them. For more info, check out: http://www.openmeadow.org/

  271. Open Meadow changed my life. Saved my life. I am an Allumni from the class of 99′. I now own two homes and run my own business. They have continued to help hundreds and hundreds of struggling youth ever year. If you take the time to learn about the organization and the programs they have put into place, you will see they have paved a proven path for all alternative education programs to follow in the future.

    There are many other great reputable charities mentioned here that definitely could use help. But sometimes our youth need to see that someone believes in them. This is what the staff at Open Meadow does for the kids every day of the year. This is what Open Meadow did for me. This is what a great donation from one of the most reputable and credible publications in the city can do for them as well. Lets show our community leaders of the future that we believe in them. And even if they have hit road bumps in their life, its not too late to turn it around.

  272. Children’s Book Bank operates on a shoestring to bring free books into the hands and homes of children and their families who otherwise wouldn’t have a home “library”. Please support them with money, time or both!

  273. Open Meadow Alternative School! They educate children our public schools can’t reach and help them become productive, responsible members of our world. Love them!

  275. The Portland Community College Foundation is pretty rad . . . we have over 60,000 alumni, but only 250 give back, annually. There’s never been a more crucial time to get involved . . . community colleges are training the un- and under-employed. We’re offering classes to folks in the community for less than $100 a pop. We’re the LARGEST high school in the Pacific NW, when you consider the amount of teens and adults complete their education at PCC. Not to mention . . . we’re one of the greenest institutions of higher education in the NATION. PCC’s all about your future. http://www.pcc.edu/foundation/

  276. Also, Paws To Freedom http://pawstofreedom.org/

    Located in Portland, OR, Paws to Freedom is a non-profit all volunteer organization with 501(c) 3 status. Our goal is to support opportunities for continued education and social activities for Service Dog Teams, and raise awareness within our community about service dog team partnerships.

  277. Open Meadows is keeping kids learning rather than letting them drift thru life in stupidity. As best I can tell stupid is pretty full right now so giving money to Open Meadows makes sense. I’m an old guy and I want lots of smart, well educated young people populating our fair land as I age.

  278. I would like to see the charitable funds go to Open Meadows. This organization helps change childrens lives to enable them to become successful contributing members of society. Every dollar spent to help positively change a child pays huge dividends later…. in terms of a better society and better human beings who may someday become your neighbor. For every adult who was helped by someone when they were a child, it is now your time to step up and pay it forward by helping a child.

  279. Animal Aid PDX is where some charity should go. They take such good care of the cat and dog rescues and keep them as well as treat any ailments if any for the rest of their lives or until they are adopted to their furever home. Animal Aid is in dire need of funds to feed, neuter, spay and in general keep the animals as comfortable as possible until they do find their furever home.
    PLEASE think of Animal Aid in donating funds.
    Thanks You

  280. Wallace Medical Concern is an awesome organization. Not only do they provide free accute care, they work with patients to get connected to longer term health resources and other social services they may be in need of. All of the doctors, nurses, specialists, and social workers are volunteers. No one is turned away for an inability to pay and everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

  281. Animal Aid all the way! Both my husband and I have adopted cats from this organization and they are AMAZING! They’re already socialized with other cats and very comfortable being around people. They are a no-kill shelter, so they have many long-term kitties who need lots of food and other supplies (not to mention medication and other essentials). Please give!

  282. The Children’s Book Bank. I had the chance last week to assist this worhtwhile organization by putting together a bag of 15 books for a child and their family. This organization was the vision of 1 woman who wanted to give all headstart children in Portland a bag of books they can call their own. She has accomplished that and more. Please choose this group!

  284. Reading is the foundation of everyone’s education. Children’s book bank provides books to kids without easy access to books, and helps them to build a foundation for life-long learning.

  288. CityRepair is spiffy org thats been around for years and has done incredibly powerful community building and placemaking projects all around the city! Sunnyside Street painting on 33rd & Yamhill, Share-It Square on 9th and Sherret in Sellwood. They also have projects like Depave which gets grants to help communities remove unneeded pavement and put in gardens or public commons. They have an annual 10day placemaking festival called VillageBuildingConvergence which helps dozens of communities each year develop, safer, more meaningful places to live.

    I first found out about City Repair when I went to one of their T-Horse events. Its an old pickup thats been converted into a mobile tea house with giant canopy wings. Its sole purpose is to serve free chai and create a warm space for people to gather and connect. I was very touched by their selflessness, their passionate ideals, and the powerful that I see permeating the entirety of the Portland community. Support for City Repair would further their ability to help communities creatively transform their neighborhoods and give aspiring placemakers like me, a chance to dedicate to a life of social activism.

    Thanks for this opportunity!

    cityrepair.org

  290. Open Meadow does awesome work with kids in need, helping give them the skills they need in school, to make a better life for themselves.
    Keep giving to the children, our most precious resource.

  291. The Sauvie Island Center would be a great pick.

    The Sauvie Island Center serves elementary school youth of Portland by providing hands-on educational field trips at the Sauvie Island Organics Farm, located in Howell Territorial Park. The Center seeks to increase the food, farm, and environmental literacy of the next generation.

    Over 70% of the Center’s field trips go to Title 1 schools from North Portland at no cost to the schools. Many of these children have never visited a farm or seen how their food grows.

    The Sauvie Island Center is a small organization, powered by many volunteers who help lead our field trips. It only costs about $250 to bring a classroom of children from North Portland out to Sauvie Island for a full-day educational field trip. Your dollars would mean a lot.

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