Earth-Friendly Friday

Instead of taking - why not give-back to the community this fall?

WAYS TO VOLUNTEER THIS FALL:

1)    Oregon Food Bank – As the hub of a statewide network of 915 hunger-relief agencies. OFB serves all of Oregon and Clark County in Washington. Oregon Food Bank recovers food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals, and government sources. OFB then distributes the food to 20 regional food banks across Oregon. http://www.oregonfoodbank.org/

2)     The Nature Consortium – The Nature Consortium is a grassroots, community-based organization whose mission is to teach environmental lessons through the creative arts and hands-on conservation projects. They produce a Youth Art Program, an Urban Forest Restoration Project and the Arts~in~Nature Festival.  http://www.naturec.org/index.htm

3)     Portland Parks & Recreation – PP&R offers a variety of fun and rewarding volunteer opportunities at sites across the city. Annually, Portlanders volunteer over 450,000 hours.  Volunteer coaches, teacher aides, and mentors are always needed for their youth programs - and the parks, gardens, and natural areas welcome additional hands. For more information, contact Volunteer Services at 503.823.5121 or http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=38304

 

 

ThanksGIVING

With Thanksgiving on our doorstep, I wanted to remind everyone that while we're feasting with family and friends others aren't always so lucky. At any time of year, but especially during the holidays, we should take a minute to think about Giving...

Every community has organizations that can help stretch your donations. Here in Portland one great organization is the Oregon Food Bank (OFB) – it is at the center of a statewide network of 915 hunger-relief agencies.

OFB serves all of Oregon and Clark County in Washington. Oregon Food Bank recovers food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals, and government sources. OFB then distributes the food to 20 regional food banks across Oregon. And there are plenty of ways to donate: 1) give canned goods; 2) give dollars; 3) donate time.

These are ways to really celebrate the season.

Turkey Trot - I DID IT - That Turkey is Cooked, Over, Fineto

I guess I was hoping that running in that 32 degree chill would create some sort of thrill.

NOT at this Turkey Trot. Well, I did get a few chills and I saw a few spills.

They call it a “trot” but I think they got the lettering a little mixed up. It should have been called a tort…ure. Some of those hills were sooooo steep I felt like I should have been rappelling off of them.

This little 4 mile run was more like a masochistic maneuver mile(s) or at least not what I was expecting.

I can run 7.5 miles, so 4 miles should have been a “piece of cake” but it was more like a piece of humble pie that I was eating one agonizing footfall after another, on that icy path. Perfect for Thanksgiving…right? Maybe not for the two guys I saw slip and sliding next to me. One of them even went down. Some of us footfesting freaks even slowed our pace to make sure he was okay. He said he was so we ran on. Call us crazy—‘cuz me and my aching feet sure do.

Well, it did help me burn about 600 calories and help keep from packing more pounds on those already overburdened thighs of mine, as I ate another piece of pie—this time it was peach :) Plus, we (my husband, sister and I) helped raise some money for a few good causes...the Oregon Food Bank and the Oregon Zoo.



For any runners out there, check out this elevation map of the "trot"- just in case you want to run with me next year.