We’ve all heard it said: “Summer time and the living is easy!” But is that true for everyone?

Wilsonville residents, organizations and businesses are incredibly generous in support of families in need during the winter holidays. So, it might surprise many to know that families who rely on Community Sharing to help make budget ends meet are often even more pressed to survive in summer.

Why? Because many expenses--rent, gasoline, medications and paper products--remain as essential needs throughout the year. Many families also continue to make large payments on high energy bills generated from the winter.

What can you do to make a difference?

  •  Donate personal hygiene and paper products to the food bank to free up money for  other family expenses.
  •  Watch a neighbor’s children once or twice a month to stretch childcare dollars, relieve  parental stress and promote a feeling of community.
  •  Buy a booklet of gift certificates at a fast food restaurant and drop them by the  Community Sharing office or the senior center.
  •  Donate unused school supplies, outgrown-but-otherwise-usable backpacks, and cash to help lighten the burdens families face in the fall.

No one should need to go without in Wilsonville, but some are forced to--even in summer.

 Spread the word!
Wilsonville Community Sharing has been a respected clearinghouse for local and county services for years, but Wilsonville’s tremendous growth means that there are hundreds of new residents who don’t know who we are or what we do.

If you become aware of someone who needs assistance in the community, encourage them to call WCS, suggest they check our website or call our Information and Referral Specialist for a confidential conversation to receive suggestions for the best way to provide support. It sometimes happens that several organizations are trying to help someone at the same time and are operating independently. Wilsonville Community Sharing can help coordinate these efforts.

 Donate $$!
Wilsonville Community Sharing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Contributions to Wilsonville Community Sharing are tax-deductible, and can be sent to:
Wilsonville Community Sharing
P.O. Box 205
Wilsonville OR 97070

Donors can specify a particular need (such as heat or rental assistance) or can offer WCS the flexibility of putting the money toward the most pressing current need.

 Sponsor an Event:
Wilsonville Community Sharing has several seasonal service and fund-raising projects. Our needs are simple, our philanthropic ambitions are high! Hunger and need don't stop just because it's summer. Please contact us for current sponsorship opportunities.

And don’t forget: the holidays will be here before we know it. Call the Wilsonville Community Sharing office to have us put you on the mailing list to sponsor a local person or family in need for our annual “Holiday Baskets of Hope” Program.

 Donate food and personal hygiene products:
Many of our clients work hard to make sparse resources stretch as far as possible. Invariably, when ends do not meet, they turn to the food bank.

The WCS Food Bank accepts donations of food, of course, but personal hygiene and paper products are in strong demand as they cannot be purchased with food stamps.
In the fall, school supplies are also particularly welcome.

 Donate gift certificates:
Many times, visitors find themselves in need in Wilsonville. With no home, no cooking facilities and often, no money, gift certificates allow WCS to help someone in need by providing gas for their car, a meal at a fast food restaurant, or a phone card to connect with relatives. Gift certificates for services allow WCS to assist someone who needs a haircut for an interview, parts for the repair of a home appliance, housecleaning services for a shut-in, etc. Gift certificates at stores which house a pharmacy allow families to buy medications.

 Donate your time:
WCS is committed to providing clients with as much direct time with our specialists as possible. Your help in organizing food shelves, painting or redecorating, data entry, filing, language translation, or work as a grant writer are invaluable in-kind services for us. Your personal areas of expertise--organizing, gardening, small appliance or home repairs, carpentry, sewing, mechanical knowledge, computer set-up and software--provide a service pool for us to draw upon for our clients. In addition, we are often in need of vans or small trucks to help clients move to other housing.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, willing to sign a confidentiality agreement and to go through a training session. WCS works hard to match volunteer skills and interests with needs of our clients and the organization.

Call 503-682-6939 and set up an appointment to see what is possible!