Creative Summer Cleaning - Yard Sales for Sisters

by Clare Simons, aka No-Clutter-Clare 

 

I pledged to host a yard sale for Operation Cornbread, but knew the current economy presented a challenge. Still, because of Sisters Of The Road's great word-of-mouth reputation, I raised $535.00 to keep those delicious carbohydrates coming.
 
I procured donations from friends and neighbors by offering an in-home intervention from No-Clutter-Clare. Letting go of stuff was easier because my friends knew they were helping to raise money for Sisters. I salvaged treasures from a recovering shopaholic, an estate sale professional, and my husband's photography supply warehouse.
 
The key to any successful yard sale is cool stuff, low prices and great signage. I doubled the posters so drivers could find my street and priced most items under $5. I printed pages from Sisters' website so people could read updates. Many shoppers offered additional money for their purchase because it was going to "a good cause." A Sisters donor was happy to be reminded about the drive and promised to mail her check.
 
I encourage other donors to clean house and host a garage sale for Sisters. It was a great day, well worth the sweat equity to help those who rely on Sisters' services.

 

Thank you Clare! 

 

Final note: we can provide brochures and even signs ("Yard Sale for Sisters Of The Road!") if you let us know in advance. Thanks!

Wolf From The Door

 

The annual Wolf From The Door dinner will be held Saturday, August 15th from 6-8pm. Wolf From The Door fundraiser for Sisters has been put on annually since 2004 by a group of dedicated elementary school-aged young people who plan, cook and serve the whole meal.

 

To RSVP, contact Ruth by calling 503-459-9201 or emailing wolf.from.the.door@gmail.com. The dinner location will be available when you RSVP.

 

Wolf From The Door is a lot of fun. Ruth says, "I hope everyone at Sisters will be able to come!"

 

 

Sisters in the News!

 

Sisters Of The Road has gotten some great news coverage lately!

 

• Read an article from the Oregonian about Sisters 30 years of service.
• Read an editorial from the Portland Tribune advocating the end of Portland's unconstitutional Sit/Lie ordinance.

Pride Foundation's Raffle With a Twist

 

We know you care about Sisters Of The Road. Take a moment to enter Pride Foundation's free Raffle With A Twist.  If you win, you can choose your favorite nonprofit to receive $2,500 (and we hope you'll choose Sisters!). 

 

Pride Foundation's Raffle With A Twist is the Pride Foundation's chance to hear from you which organizations you care most about. One randomly drawn entry will win $2,500 and they will give $1,000 to the most named organization in each of their funding states (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington). 

 

Winning organizations must have a nondiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. Sisters' nondiscrimination policy states: "Sisters is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, physical size, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, class,  housing status, gender identity or gender expression or any other classification protected by applicable law." 

 

It is easy and only takes a minute to enter, so enter today at PrideFoundation.org. Only one entry per person. Full rules and details at PrideFoundation.org. 

Sisters Arrives on Facebook

 

Sisters Of The Road can now be found on Facebook! We wanted to offer the opportunity for folks to get involved with Sisters on the web in a different way from our website. There are 3 different Facebook pages for Sisters. There is an "Organization" page where people can choose to be "Members", a "Business" page where folks can become Sisters' "Fans", and a "Causes" page where folks can show their support for the work that Sisters does, and share this work with others. There is also an option on the "Causes" page to donate directly to Sisters Of The Road.

 

Facebook is a great way for Sisters to become involved in the world of Social Networking, not only building new relationships, but facilitating relationships between our supporters! Check out the pages:

• Become a Member
• Become a Fan
• Join the Cause

What's New in the Personalist Center

 

As of July 1, 2009, after two years in operation, the Personalist Center (PC) and its programs are being revisioned and reworked! To increase the space's operation as an organizing center, both the appearance and the programs offered are changing.

To make space and time for our organizing work, we have changed our mail and phone hours to 10am-2pm, Monday-Friday; checks will continue to be available 9am-5pm. Our hygiene services have also been reduced. As available, we continue to carry infant diapers and wipes, feminine hygiene supplies, adult diapers and condoms. Other items such as soap and shampoo are no longer offered. These supplies are available elsewhere in our immediate neighborhood; click here for detailed description of our current hygiene program, including alternative donation sites.

 

Our physical space is being redecorated, shifting emphasis from delivery of basic services to organizing activity. From 10am-3pm, the same hours that the Cafe is open, customers are assisted and encouraged to participate in Sisters' community organizing activities. Posters, bulletin boards and fliers give accessible information about Sisters' organizing to customers, neighbors, and passers-by. New visitors to the PC are presented with ways they can become immediately involved. PC barter workers, rather than running the hygiene store, will work at the counter and may be the first face new customers see. These workers, many of whom are trained in Sisters' philosophies, will provide hospitality and information as well as hot coffee.

 

As part of the Western Regional Advocacy Project's Without Rights campaign, we will be offering a new drop-in service each weekday afternoon from 2pm to 3pm - the Civil Rights Project. This Project will organize our community and connect people who receive tickets for quality of life crimes (i.e. Sit/Lie) with potential legal representation. We will refer people who receive Anti-Camping tickets to the Oregon Law Center to help support their lawsuit against the Anti-Camping law. We will empower individuals whose property is confiscated by providing support around the legal process for small claims courts. We will gather data about how our community is affected by Sit/Lie and Anti-Camping laws, and build ally relationships to support their repeal.

 

Other Personalist Center programs are still in the planning process. Watch Sisters' Google calendar to keep abreast of all our awesome opportunities!