Food Services of America & Charlie's Produce Join the Feast

Last week we got news from our contact at Oregon Culinary Institute that both Food Services of America (FSA) and Charlie's Produce will provide support to Feast for Southeast.  We are looking forward to preparing a truly fabulous, high-quality feast that will make the community feel thankful.  

Food Services of America is part of Services Group of America, one of the nation’s largest privately-held companies comprised of businesses providing a broad array of foodservice solutions to a wide spectrum of customers. (Including our event partner - the Oregon Culinary Institute).

Charlie's Produce Portland is a full service wholesale produce company, offering fresh produce delivery to restaurants, grocery stores, institutions and wholesalers throughout the greater Portland area.  Their chief goal is goal is to develop long term partnerships with their customers.

Thanks so much to Chris Carter at FSA and Pat Carey at Charlie's Produce.  We hope you guys will stop by and say hello on Thanksgiving!

SO Much Support From Warner Pacific College

The mastermind/planning committee leader of Feast for Southeast happens to be a full-time college student.  That is, he is an adult student (he also works full-time and is a full-time husband and father).  He just happens to attend Warner Pacific College, which also employs his wife.

A few weeks ago, Rob's Academic Advisor, Christine Tokonitz heard about what he was working with to put together for Thanksgiving.  Before we could blink, we received a call from the school's Director of Communications, who was interested in getting more information about Feast for Southeast.  Almost instantly, Warner Pacific's Director of Marketing got involved and the school started laying on layer upon layer of support.  From volunteer recruitment (Warner Pacific's President, Dr. Andrea Cook is volunteering with us!), to event promotion, strategic ideas about things we could do for next year, and even a generous monetary donation.  (We are even working to see if we can use the school's kitchen for storage - cross your fingers).

Thank you Warner Pacific College!

SE Portland Neighborhood Associations Support the Feast

What started as one person's dream has really snowballed into a collaboration of so many.  Before this initiative, my experience with neighborhood associations was very limited.  What I have learned over the last few weeks of working with Southeast's most involved citizens has made me think of these groups in new ways.  Neighborhood associations are the most grassroots, organic forces in making or breaking a community.  Whether things get done or not in a neighborhood is often largely decided in these warm, inviting monthly meetings where folks who care about where they live and who they live near decide what's worth supporting and what is not.

With all that said, the support from the neighborhood associations Feast for Southeast has been working with has been absolutely overwhelming.  Not only have these groups helped to spread the word through the Web, through announcements at meetings and distribution of flyers, but they have also come through as financial/gift sponsors as well.  The first one to do this was the Mt. Scott/Arleta Neighborhood Association.  Just this week, the Woodstock Neighborhood Association and the Brentwood/Darlington Association joined us with this humbling and encouraging support.

Aside from endorsement, financial backing and promotion, these association have provided an unexpected but much needed source of volunteers.  Neighbors from all walks of life are excited about getting involved.  And we can't wait to serve alongside you and get to know you!

Local Starbucks Stores Pledge to Support Feast for Southeast

Thanks to Starbucks, Feast for Southeast will be jumpin' with java! Two Southeast Portland locations came forward to supply coffee for our neighborhood Thanksgiving event.  Bryan Hardin, Manager of the Eastport Plaza Starbucks said "...love that you guys are doing this and we want to support you."

Thanks to Erin Peterson and Christina (store manager) the Fubonn Shopping Center Starbucks on SE 82nd (between Powell and Division) also jumped on board and will help supply coffee (as well as hot water for tea) for the honored guests and volunteers of Feast for Southeast.

If you find yourself picking up a cup o' joe at either of these locations, make sure to thank Bryan (at Eastport Plaza) or Christina (at Fubonn) for supporting our community event.