Dear Friends,

This holiday season I am teaming teaming up with Representative Margaret Doherty, and Representative-Elect Jennifer Williamson to help local non-profits collect donations for families they serve in our community. I hope you will join us in making someone’s season a little brighter.

This week we want to highlight the vital work of the Raphael House of Portland which is a multi-faceted domestic violence agency dedicated to ending intimate partner violence for good. They serve individuals and families of all backgrounds, cultures, ages, and sexual orientations.

This time of year can be especially difficult for families experiencing domestic violence, the folks at the Raphael House want to help foster a bright & hopeful holiday season by providing gifts and much needed items to all of the families that they have served over the past year.

Come mid-December, more than 100 of these families will come to Raphael House and "shop" for holiday gifts for themselves and their children/family members. These items are 100% donated, this is where WE come in!

Please drop off your donations at 615 NW 22nd Ave, Portland OR 97210
(there will be a box on the porch through December 16th).

To arrange a pick-up of your donations, contact Monine Rodriguez Sutherland at moninerodriguez@gmail.com

Priority items include:

·         Kitchen supplies (silverware & dinnerware sets, cereal bowls & mugs, drinking glasses, cooking utensils, knives, pots & pans, mixing bowls, colanders, can openers, blenders, coffee makers, etc.)

·         Household items (twin sheet sets, towels, bath mats, washcloths, new pillows, alarm clocks, laundry baskets, etc.)

·         New clothing(especially underwear & socks, plus size items & boys and girls casual/school clothing sizes 5-16)

·         Toys (interactive items - games, puzzles, craft kits, etc.; items for teens & babies ages 0-3)

·         Personal items (shampoo/condition, blow dryers/curling irons, deodorant, soap, lotion, toothbrushes & paste, chapstick, razors, tampons, etc.)

·         General Shelter Supplies (Batteries, HE dry laundry detergent, bleach, dishwashing liquid, scrubber sponges, Ziploc bags, 33 & 45 gallon heavy duty trash bags, 10-13 gallon light duty trash bags)

·         Baby items (diapers sizes 4 - 6, pull-ups sizes 2T - 4T, shampoo, powder, lotion, toys)

·         Gift cards (Target, Fred Meyers, Albertsons/Safeway, etc. PLUS iTunes & Amazon as gifts for teenagers)

·         TriMet Bus Passes (All Zone or 2-Zone; Adult & Youth)

Please no used children's toys.

Please do not wrap any donations (however, gift wrapping supplies are much needed).

I hope you will join us in helping to make this season a memorable one for these families.

Thank you,

Ginny