“My hope is that these blankets will keep kids comfy and feeling good.” Members, volunteers, and staff hand-delivered the quilts they made in our sewing and quilting class to Rose Haven’s day shelter this September.

“Volunteering in a privilege,” asserts Crystal, our Spiritual Support Coordinator.

Throughout their lives, many of our members have heard a subtle and pervasive message that they don’t have anything to offer; that they’ll always be takers. Yet, our members know deep inside they have something valuable to share.

What if we could change the conversation from what you can’t do because of a physical or mental ability to brainstorming how to creatively-utilize your talents?

For the last year, we’ve been growing our capacity to accommodate our members’ unique skills and gifts. And despite daily challenges, over 100 of our members are actively making our community a better place through volunteering.

• Over 25 members welcomed student nurses into their homes and helped educate our future health professionals regarding complex health challenges related to poverty.
• Babs led a class on recovery this spring.
• Jackie, Brayden, and Gary volunteer as Building Ambassadors, advocating against social isolation and referring residents who may benefit from Maybelle Center services.
• Di started a calligraphy class.
• Doug, wanting to give back to the Maybelle Center community after his death, has listed Maybelle Center as a 25% beneficiary of his life insurance plan.
• Wendy wrote an argument for a ballot measure that was printed in your fall 2018 voter guide.
• Daniel, Wendy, Gary, Sassan, Ron, Christopher, and others shared their stories in support of our community.
• Robert was instrumental in securing a grant from Free Geek for six laptops and is currently teaching a technology class on Fridays.
• Over 40 of our members painted pots for Gather: Make: Shelter, a fundraiser for folks experiencing homelessness in September.
• Kelley is an extra set of hands in our Community Room almost every day, occasionally bringing soup for members, making popcorn, and so much more.
• JC, Christopher, and Jeff shared their art with the Portland community during our First Thursday art shows this summer.
• Four members made quilts in our sewing and quilting class that were hand-delivered and donated to children at Rose Haven’s day shelter.
• Jackie was our appeal speaker at our annual fundraising event.
• Tim hosted folks from Right 2 Survive at our building which facilitated their participation in Gather: Make: Shelter.
• Gayle organizes the decoration of our Community Room for the holidays, making it an inviting space for members to gather.
• Gary translates for several members who speak Spanish to assure we are addressing their needs.
• Over 20 members raised their voices along with the Oregon Symphony to address houselessness with three performances in May and a recording performance in August.
• And so many more who jump in and help staff and fellow members at a moment’s notice.

Our Spiritual Support Coordinator, Crystal, picks up six laptops donated through a Free Geek grant. Longtime Maybelle Center member, Robert, was instrumental in securing the grant.

Long-time Center member, Robert, teaches a technology class every Friday, covering computer skills such as e-mail, website design, graphic arts programs, blogs, and more.

Thank you for walking alongside our members with a new story of dignity, promise, and ability.

It’s going to take us all – each contributing our unique gifts and skills – to work towards the hope of a stronger and less isolated community.