The festive season has arrived! Finally, the holiday season has begun, and to kick it off, there are some fantastic local celebrations that the whole family can take part in!
City of Troutdale’s First Friday and Tree Lighting
Troutdale’s downtown should be your first stop. Their First Friday “Inside Edition” with a thriving and unpretentious art scene in the Columbia River Gorge begins on Friday, December 2nd. You may meet the artists and browse for beautiful local art. With your loved ones, enjoy live music while dining at neighborhood eateries and shopping for Christmas at other partner stores!
Then, on Saturday, December 3, and Sunday, December 4, downtown Troutdale will hold the Wind-er Wonderland Holiday Market and Tree Lighting from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. Don’t forget to bring some canned food items with you since this event will help SnowCap Community Charities, our neighborhood food bank. On Sunday, December 4, at 5 o’clock, the annual tree-lighting event will take place in Mayors Square. There is a ton to see and do at this free event for the whole family!
City of Gresham Holiday Tree Lighting
On Saturday, December 3rd, Gresham’s events get underway with the 2nd Annual Holiday Light Cruise. Take a holiday-lit tour of Gresham’s downtown before arriving at the Gresham Center for the Arts Plaza in time for the annual Spirit of Gresham tree lighting ceremony. Please visit https://tinyurl.com/HolidayLightCruise to register by going there. Or, if you’d prefer to watch from a distance, make sure to locate a spot on Main Avenue in Old Town Gresham around 4:30. At 5:00 o’clock, the holiday light cruise will pass by and come to a close at the Plaza. Join us on the Plaza to cast your vote for your favorite automobiles and see Santa and the Mayor light the tree to signal the beginning of this lovely holiday season. Remember to bring some canned goods for SnowCap so you can enter to win some fantastic prizes!
Fill A Bag for SnowCap Community Charities and End Hunger in the Gresham Area
East County now has an even bigger need as a result of the pandemic. Pre-COVID statistics are represented by the 1 in 5 estimate of food insecure residents in the Gresham region. Oregon was recognized as the 20th most hungry state in America by the USDA in 2019. It makes sense that their numbers have considerably increased given the pandemic’s unexpected impact on the number of homeless people. According to Kirsten Wagerman, executive director of SnowCap Community Charities, the needs of our community have grown significantly. SnowCap has started to provide two food boxes each month in order to serve our community, while other foodbanks have had to close their doors as a result of the difficulty in adhering to and meeting state and federal Covid regulations.
As part of its commitment to giving back to the community, Riverview supports the local food banks. Initiated and sponsored by Riverview Community Bank, Fill-A-Bag is a community initiative that brings together Gresham Outlook/Pamplin Media Group, Gresham Ford, and companies from all around East Multnomah County. SnowCap provides year-round meals to the one in five needy residents of the Gresham region. More than $56,455.71 was raised via the 2020 Fill-A-Bag Food Drive for East County Oregon to pay for food from the Oregon Food Bank at a rate of $0.10 per pound. 4,861 extra pounds of food were also gathered during the event. A first for the 2020 campaign was the gathering of more than 370 pounds of desperately needed sanitary supplies.
Essential Donations Needed
In the previous season, Fill-a-Bag exceeded the expectations of both SnowCap and its sponsors. Cash contributions increased significantly from the prior year. Thousands of pounds of more food, clothing, and even pet food were donated. A list of the things they most need is provided below.
- Canned Tuna
- Canned Vegetables
- Canned Soups and Stews
- Canned Chili
- Peanut Butter
- Canned Fruit
- Hot Chocolate Packets
- Dessert Mixes (Jello & Cake Mixes)
- Coffee
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Toothpaste
- Lotion
- Conditioner
- Deodorant
- Razors
- Shaving Cream
- Hand Sanitizer
- Baby Wipes
- Dish Soap
- Dishwasher Detergent
- Laundry Detergent
- Toilet Paper
- Paper Towels
- Toothbrushes
- Masks
- Hand Warmers
- Hats/Gloves
- Activity Books
- Playing Cards
- Crayons
- Paper Bags
This weekend, gather your loved ones and let’s go out and start the celebration!
Merry Christmas!
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