Biography
My name is Michael Gastony and I am a Senior at Portland State University, enrolled in the Capstone Class, "Effective Leadership for Change", for the Winter 2020 term. This term, I have been volunteering at the Sunshine Division on Friday afternoons, helping in the food pantry as well as the clothing room. This page is intended as my reflection on my volunteer work there.
My name is Michael Gastony and I am a Senior at Portland State University, enrolled in the Capstone Class, "Effective Leadership for Change", for the Winter 2020 term. This term, I have been volunteering at the Sunshine Division on Friday afternoons, helping in the food pantry as well as the clothing room. This page is intended as my reflection on my volunteer work there.
Sunshine Division: A Brief History
The Sunshine Division was established in 1923 and provides emergency food and clothing to people and families in need in Portland, Oregon. Whether due to a loss of a job, domestic crime, illness, or fire or other natural disaster, the Sunshine Division has built a legacy of mobilizing quickly and efficiently to assist distressed Portland residents. They offer emergency food assistance six days a week at their North Portland warehouse, as well as 24/7 through their partnership with the Portland Police Bureau, who store food boxes at each precinct that can be dispatched to people in need at any time. In addition to food relief they also offer new and gently used clothing to those in need at both our North Portland and Southeast Portland locations.
During the lifetime of Sunshine Division, they have grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that relies solely on donations to fund the collection and distribution of food and clothes. Through their front doors they serve over 13,000 households a year with "shopping" experiences in their clothing store as well as food. They also make bulk donations of food to 15 other food-relief agencies representing four counties, extending the reach to those in need beyond the city of Portland.
The Sunshine Division offers immediate assistance to Portland residents experiencing hardship. They provide services for families with children, individuals collecting social security or disability benefits, including veterans' pensions, and to anyone over 70 years of age. This is a link to a short video on the history of the Sunshine Division. : youtu.be/SL02NF1IHZY
Statement of Equity
"The Sunshine Division values and embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental to our mission to provide food and clothing to those in immediate need.
We Believe In:
Food pantry
Clients are able to ‘shop’ for food at the onsite food store, selecting items that fit their needs. Each client is given a food allowance card (which varies depending on the size of the household) and a shopping cart. Once the client has selected their food (approximately a week’s worth of food), the food is weighed, bagged and the client is on their way!
It was my job to weigh their shopping cart and record the weight on the client's intake sheet. I was also responsible for keeping the shelves well stocked with food.
Eligibility for Services: To receive regular services one must live in the City of Portland and one of the following must apply:
• have someone 18 years old and younger dependent upon them in their household
• receive social security/ disability income
• veterans/ widowed veterans pension
• over the age of 62
• receive SNAP benefits
Clothing Room
The onsite clothing store carries new and gently used clothing items. Each client is allowed to browse the store and take home a grocery sized paper bag full of clothes, a coat and a pair of shoes for each member of their household.
Part of my duties while working in the clothing room was to weigh the client's shopping bags and record that number on an on an intake form. I was also responsible for assisting clients as needed and keeping the clothing room neat and tidy.
Eligibility for Services: To receive regular services one must live in the City of Portland and one of the following must apply:
• have someone 18 years old and younger dependent upon them in their household
• receive social security/ disability income
• veterans/ widowed veterans pension
• over the age of 62
• receive SNAP benefits
Two Convenient Locations
687 N. Thompson Street, Portland OR
503-823-2102
&
12436 SE Stark, Portland OR
971-255-0834
The Sunshine Division was established in 1923 and provides emergency food and clothing to people and families in need in Portland, Oregon. Whether due to a loss of a job, domestic crime, illness, or fire or other natural disaster, the Sunshine Division has built a legacy of mobilizing quickly and efficiently to assist distressed Portland residents. They offer emergency food assistance six days a week at their North Portland warehouse, as well as 24/7 through their partnership with the Portland Police Bureau, who store food boxes at each precinct that can be dispatched to people in need at any time. In addition to food relief they also offer new and gently used clothing to those in need at both our North Portland and Southeast Portland locations.
During the lifetime of Sunshine Division, they have grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that relies solely on donations to fund the collection and distribution of food and clothes. Through their front doors they serve over 13,000 households a year with "shopping" experiences in their clothing store as well as food. They also make bulk donations of food to 15 other food-relief agencies representing four counties, extending the reach to those in need beyond the city of Portland.
The Sunshine Division offers immediate assistance to Portland residents experiencing hardship. They provide services for families with children, individuals collecting social security or disability benefits, including veterans' pensions, and to anyone over 70 years of age. This is a link to a short video on the history of the Sunshine Division. : youtu.be/SL02NF1IHZY
Statement of Equity
"The Sunshine Division values and embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental to our mission to provide food and clothing to those in immediate need.
We Believe In:
- Fostering a culture of equity and inclusion in our workplace and in all of the programs and services that we provide
- Eliminating any barriers to service and providing food and clothing for families or individuals in need
- Serving and meeting the needs of the entire greater Portland community whose members have diverse cultures, backgrounds and life experiences
- Treating everyone with dignity and respect at all times
- Delivering our services in a culturally sensitive manner and providing foods that are culturally appropriate
- Reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve in our staff and Board of Directors
- Embracing and valuing workforce diversity in all forms, and providing each employee the opportunity to contribute their skills, experience and perspectives
- Enhancing the organizational culture of equity and inclusion by incorporating equity related topics in board and staff training, meetings, and activities"
Food pantry
Clients are able to ‘shop’ for food at the onsite food store, selecting items that fit their needs. Each client is given a food allowance card (which varies depending on the size of the household) and a shopping cart. Once the client has selected their food (approximately a week’s worth of food), the food is weighed, bagged and the client is on their way!
It was my job to weigh their shopping cart and record the weight on the client's intake sheet. I was also responsible for keeping the shelves well stocked with food.
Eligibility for Services: To receive regular services one must live in the City of Portland and one of the following must apply:
• have someone 18 years old and younger dependent upon them in their household
• receive social security/ disability income
• veterans/ widowed veterans pension
• over the age of 62
• receive SNAP benefits
Clothing Room
The onsite clothing store carries new and gently used clothing items. Each client is allowed to browse the store and take home a grocery sized paper bag full of clothes, a coat and a pair of shoes for each member of their household.
Part of my duties while working in the clothing room was to weigh the client's shopping bags and record that number on an on an intake form. I was also responsible for assisting clients as needed and keeping the clothing room neat and tidy.
Eligibility for Services: To receive regular services one must live in the City of Portland and one of the following must apply:
• have someone 18 years old and younger dependent upon them in their household
• receive social security/ disability income
• veterans/ widowed veterans pension
• over the age of 62
• receive SNAP benefits
Two Convenient Locations
687 N. Thompson Street, Portland OR
503-823-2102
&
12436 SE Stark, Portland OR
971-255-0834