This month we kick off SW Hope, a community-led food and fund drive to support the Free Food Pantry with lots of family-friendly events. The School Age Program is learning about both Science! and Black History Month. Check out our social media for an interactive history lesson of your own.

Since 2007, the SW community, businesses and faith communities have worked in partnership to combat food insecurity. With a growing number of food-insecure households, the SW Hope annual food and fund drive helps ensure no family goes hungry in our community. SW Hope supports the Neighborhood House Free Food Market, one of the largest food banks on Portland’s west side.

Join SW Hope today to keep the spirit of generosity flowing.

Last month, children in the School Age program put on white lab coats, safety glasses and official Scientist badges for a day of experiments and fun. If the fun level is equal to the messiness level, they had the most fun!

On school in-service days, the School Age program goes from being a before- and after-school child care program to a full day. Teachers prepared a day full of scientific principles like forming a hypothesis, measuring materials and summing up conclusions.

Science! activities included: 

Elephant Toothpaste (lots of foamy, oozing, colorful action)

Will it Sink or Float? (can you tell just by looking?)

Keep it Up Challenge (don't let your balloon touch the ground)

Magic Milk (add soap and food coloring to milk and it spreads out and makes cool patterns)

Bridge Design Challenge (architecture study with tongue depressors)

"I was so impressed with all of their creativity and teamwork," Program Leader Zoey Ruzicka said. Multiple groups' bridges held all the weight we were testing and never broke! All the kids got really invested in the challenge and build different types of designs from one another."

We are proud to be able to offer full-day child care when school is out of session. It's a comfort and help to working parents, knowing their children are in a safe and familiar space.

During Black History Month, our School Age program is learning about significant figures in Black history. Each of the four school-based locations are approaching a month of learning in different ways.  

At Boise-Eliot, students are learning about civil rights activists, musicians, artists, and scientists, with a focus on one historic person from one of those categories every day. They’ll watch a short video about the person and create a coloring sheet. At the end of the month their work will be combined into a mini mural.  

At Martin Luther King, Jr. and Chief Joseph schools, students will learn about iconic Black musicians. At King, students will engage in an art activity based on the artist’s style. At Chief Joseph, each week will highlight artists from different eras, including the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.  

If you’re interested in local Black History Month events, here’s a list recommended by our staff:

Are you looking for a way to support Neighborhood House this year? Consider donating part or all of the kicker refund you receive when you file your 2023 state taxes.

Oregon’s Office of Economic Analysis identified a record-breaking $5.61 billion revenue surplus. This will be returned to Oregon taxpayers through the “kicker,” a refund (credit) to your 2023 personal taxes. You can estimate the amount of your kicker refund on the Oregon Department of Revenue’s web page Revenue Online.

With the largest kicker in State history, please consider joining a community of supporters who donate some, or all, of this surplus to help your neighbors. When you make a gift to Neighborhood House, your generosity directly helps the many working families, children, and seniors in our community.

Thank you for caring about your neighbors!

Students in the Head Start program at Markham Elementary met a warm welcome in a new classroom home while their school undergoes repairs from the recent winter storm. Head Start staff shifted services for 18 children and their teachers to the Neighborhood House Head Start location at the Children’s Center at Stephens Creek Crossing (SCC).

“We are thrilled that we have this space and the opportunity to continue to teach many of our students,” said Julia Pitner, Mental Health and Inclusion Manager for Head Start program. “Supporting our students, families, and staff is always our number one priority.”

Fox12 News covered the story of children and families’ resilience with the move. See pictures from their visit to the classroom below.