What does NCJW Portland Section do today?

On the local level we provide both financial and volunteer support for Lift Urban Portland, or Lift UP- (formerly known as Northwest Portland Ministries Emergency Food Program, which provides emergency food for the working poor of Portland’s inner city neighborhoods.

******New volunteers are always welcome to help with stocking the warehouse, staffing the pantry, preparing and delivering backpacks and food boxes.

We provide volunteers to work in collaboration with the Goose Hollow Family Shelter, which provides services for homeless families with children. With our financial support the shelter is now able to stay open year round.

******Our volunteers provide evening meals, host ‘kid time’, and help shelter guests.

We fund raise through our Showers For Shelters project for women who have been victims of domestic violence. Our yearly valentine fundraiser provides area shelters with supplemental necessities such as bus passes, and our tribute donations purchase gift cards for personal needs.

******Past recipients have been; Raphael House, Bradley Angle House, Clackamas Women’s Shelter, and the Domestic Violence Resource Center.

We solicit tribute donations once a year from our members in honor of their birthday. Our Birthday Tribute Fund donations go toward providing health services for the uninsured and needy in our community, and for senior programming. Tributes for simchas are also appreciated; 100% of donations go directly to the beneficiaries.

******Past recipients have been; Children’s Community Clinic, North by Northeast Community Health Center, Vision Northwest, The Community Transitional School, YWCA, Jewish Family and Child Services, The Kinship House, Cedar Sinai Park, Community Warehouse, Urban Gleaners, The Friends of Creston Children's Dental Clinic, and The Kelly School Summer Reading Program.

A Short History

1896-1925

Portland Section founded in 1896 * 1906 the first Neighborhood House was built * Programming for religious school, sewing clubs, and boys’ clubs * Present Neighborhood House built in 1910 * Programming for free well-baby clinics, kindergarten, Americanization and English classes for new Americans.

1925-1955

Endowed bed for indigent use at St Vincent and Emanuel Hospitals * Raised war relief funds * Fund raised for refugee children and the new state of Israel * Ship-a-box started to send educational materials and clothing to Israel.

1955-1975

Council Thrift Shop opened * Launching of WICS (Women in Community Service) * Jean Rustin Memorial funds scholarship for nursing students * WICS volunteers participate in implementing federal Job Corps vocational training program * Neighborhood House Inc. created to provide social services in SW Portland * Launched Homemake Program with JF&CS.

1975-1995

Contracted with Portland to run the Southwest Youth Service Center * May Apartments built at Cedar Sinai Park Campus * Chair of Jewish Studies endowed at Reed College * Teen Parent Program and Fatherhood Project launched * Start up grant given to Circle of Life Educational Services * Life Skills added to WICS program * Coordinated volunteers to serve kosher lunch at the MJCC two days a week * Helped start HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-School Youth) in Portland area school districts * Job Start begins at the Council Thrift Shop.

1996-2007

Portland Section actively advocates at state legislative sessions for adequate funding for families in poverty, seniors, people with disabilities and public schools * Members work on the state and national level to preserve women’s reproductive rights, the separation of religion and state, and civil liberties * Meetings and events for voter education * Establishment of Section’s Book Club * Emergency vouchers given annually to local service agencies for their clients * Membership vote to distribute Neighborhood House Fund to Oregon Jewish Museum and Cedar Sinai Park for designated projects. 

2007-2010

Advocacy work continues on the state and national level * Voter education forums are presented * Partnership established with NW Portland Food Box Project to collect and distribute food * Establishment of Showers for Shelters Project to provide support to domestic abuse shelters for women *  Bequest donations have been granted to the Community Transitional School, NW Portland Ministries, and Vision Northwest * New partnership developed with the Goose Hollow Family Shelter.

2010 to Present