December 2020 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER 19
Boys & Girls Aid
By ZOE NIKLAS
Support for foster children during holiday season is important
She was obviously traumatized . She shrank from me , fearing touch , uncertain if the hand was friendly or dangerous . I sighed , I
NIKLAS had never fostered before . I knew what it was like to be a foster child , but never the adult .
I recognized myself in that little face : unsure of belonging , terrified of a new world , new surroundings and unfamiliar people . Typical foster care trauma . The holidays are a tough time for foster children . When all the world seems happy , their world is not . Mine was not ,
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until I met loving people who saved me and acknowledged me . I never had been a foster parent to such a traumatized little soul . Resigned , I picked her up , cuddled her and gave her a dish of milk . That little kitten reminded me of all the foster kids in Oregon that face uncertainty every day . The Boys & Girls Aid of Oregon and the Cypress branch give these kids affirmation , attention and forever families .
During this pandemic it is even more difficult for the members of the Cypress Auxiliary of the Boys & Girls Aid to gather the goods and funds to gift to the children this holiday season . They needed help . This is where the support of outstanding community members came together for our children .
The Rotary of Wilsonville Foundation in the city of Wilsonville , responded to a written funding proposal by Diann Harland , our Cypress Auxiliary president , to match their donation of last year . The proposal for funding was accepted ! Last Monday , Jake McMichael took our proposal to Rotary ’ s Foundation board meeting and they fulfilled the complete request for $ 1,500 ! Because of this generosity , the sports bags will be filled with sweatshirts , basketballs , socks , water bottles , wallets , gift cards , toys and two dozen homemade cookies . In addition to that , Steph Pump was able to get funding for $ 450 from David Riener and Zachary Riener , Brokers of RE / MAX equity group in Canby . These donations were made for the purchase of 30 very special sports bags for our boys in the STEP program . ( STEP : Stabilization , Transition , Evaluation Program ). Kudos to Ann Miller , who offered to purchase the boys socks this year . Additionally , Steph Pump heard from the Reiners that not only are they donating this year , but will make this an ongoing donation each year going forward . And finally , the Cypress Auxiliary wants to thank T-Line Designs in Canby for all their help providing assistance with our sports bags over the past 15 years .
Acknowledgement is due to Leslie Walker who has offered to place the Gifting Christmas Tree on her covered porch , so we can all select the tags for gifts . These gifts were requested by the children , so members of the Cypress Auxiliary can pick the tags and fulfill their Christmas dreams . Mary Fieweger
COURTESY PHOTO
Generous donations helped purchase sports bags full of gifts for boys in the Stabilization , Transition , Evaluation Program . Pictured here are last year ’ s sports bags .
worked with the Knights of Columbus to provide children with warm winter coats . Boys & Girls Aid doesn ’ t need the coats this year , so Mary steered the Knights of Columbus to work with a group named , Transitional Living- Breaking Cycles . This group assists youth to get off the streets and into group homes . Because of the giving hearts of Cypress , The Knights of Co-
See BOYS & GIRLS / Page 20
Charbonneau Sharing Begins December 1
We all know this holiday season is going to be a challenge for many in our community who have been affected by the pandemic , wildfires , loss of employment , etc .
For the past several years , Charbonneau has donated toys to Toy & Joy / Compassion in Action of Clackamas County . This year , the toy distribution center is going to be operating very differently because of COVID-19 and are asking donors to consider giving gift cards from local businesses rather than toys . This way , the families can obtain items themselves while supporting local businesses . Of course , it is still acceptable to give toys as in the past .
It is so easy to participate ! Beginning on December 1 , here is what you do :
1 ) Bring a gift card ( preferred ) or unwrapped toy , to the Charbonneau clubhouse during business hours ( Mon . – Fri ., 9am-5pm ).
2 ) Do this between Dec . 1 and Dec . 17 . 3 ) We will deliver the donated items to the collection site .
Charbonneau is a very generous , caring community and we are looking forward to spreading some more of that Charbonneau spirit to the greater community .