Volunteer In Portland

The Volunteer in Portland committee organized its first ever Harvest Dinner with community Partner, Raphael House, in November. This event was unique in that it not only required League members to attend the event, but also to spend time prior to the event shopping and cooking to provide the food, pre-made. The enthusiasm and eagerness to celebrate the spirit of the season with the Raphael House residents and staff was amazing. Despite the volunteers cooking in separate locations, The harvest meal of stuffing, mashed potatoes, rotisserie chicken, green salad, Polish vegetable salad, pies, and cookies blended perfectly together and was much appreciated by all of the guests. At the dinner JLP served approximately 20 women and children, not including the team of six volunteers. Raphael House has 11 rooms in he emergency shelter, and 3 rooms were vacant - so the attendance at the event far exceeded expectations! This type of event not only supports those families living in shelter, but also helps women and their families that are no longer in shelter to stay connected to Raphael House. By volunteering at the harvest dinner, members contributed to the core mission of the Raphael House Advocacy Center: building relationships and a sense of community for participants who are no longer living in the shelter. Not only was the event meaningful for the families of Raphael House, but also for the women of JLP. Here are just a few comments made by the volunteers " I learned so much more about RH, met some amazing League members and interacted with the participants in a way that made me feel my efforts were making a positive impact in someone's life." and "Such a rewarding and meaningful volunteer opportunity! Already looking forward to the next RH event!"