The season of Advent is here, and with it our Advent Giving Tree. The tree is now up and ready for tags to be taken. The tree will remain up through December; these are not Christmas gifts and will be delivered in early January.

This year there are three ways to help out those in need. The Northwest Pilot Project was formed in 1969 by an Episcopal/UCC priest who saw that with a bit of help many elders could remain self-sufficient and out of nursing homes. Meals On Wheels was created; legal advice and housing assistance were invaluable, and TriMet became more available for elder use. It remains one of the few agencies to focus on the housing needs of the elderly. To learn more, click here.

Bybee Lakes Hope Center is located what was built to be the Wapato Correctional Center site but was never utilized. It is now a recovery center for homeless men, women, and families with children. Those accepted have agreed to remain alcohol-free and will accept help to work toward a self-sufficient, clean and sober lifestyle. To learn more, go to helpinghandsreentry.org.

The PTA Clothing Center has clothing, some new, some gently used, that students from kindergarten through high school can access. Clothing is important to students, as no child wants to go to school and be teased because of apparel. Since school began this year, over 550 students have come to be outfitted. To learn more, click here.