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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
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contents
December ‘20
10
FEATURE ARTICLES
10
Pivot Point Creative Fundraising during COVID
16
The Gift of a New Life Finding (and giving) hope through Open House Ministries
20
Her Majesty's Day One local mom's first foster experience
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IN EVERY ISSUE
16 This article has been removed.
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Editor’s Notes
8
Mosaic Family Voyage Goodbye Portland, Hello Nomadic Living
22
Calendar of Events & Activities
ON THE WEB
20
• Earth-Friendly Eats: Local Restaurants Serve Up Sustainability • Enter for a chance to win a pack of gift cards to all the restaurants featured in Earth-Friendly Eats!
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
It’s your moment. From the moment you find out you’re pregnant to the moment you see that precious face - your journey is full of joyful moments. At PeaceHealth, we’ve taken every precaution to keep you and baby safe and healthy. From ensuring each mom has one support person, to offering online classes and appointments, to expanding room service to your partner - our team continues to provide exceptional care. We’re here for you and every moment of your journey. Get your birthing questions answered at peacehealth.org/vancouvermom.
Photo by Scarlette Richards
EDITOR'S NOTES
Those Annoying and Wonderful Optimists What. A. Year. There’s hardly any need to recount the disappointment, the loss, the devastation, the anxiety and the anger that 2020 has brought most of us. And without a definite end in sight, the challenges will continue for quite some time. I admit I’m not always in the mood to look on the bright side, but I do continue to be inspired by those who do. Say what you want about the annoyance of perpetual optimists, but they just might be the ones who get us through this. I recently had the privilege of connecting with directors of local nonprofit organizations to learn how they have continued to fund and deliver their missions and services in the era of COVID. Nonprofit leaders, staff and volunteers are some of the most optimistic (though rarely annoying) members of our community, and they have to be. They regularly confront the challenges no one wants to talk about, and do the work no one else wants to do—the very work that is vital for any community to thrive. We are only strong if the most vulnerable of us always has a chance to recover and advance. And we can only create those chances if we start with a belief that it’s possible. Thankfully, you or I don’t have to found or lead a nonprofit in order to make a difference. We can support, we can volunteer, we can donate food, we can purchase a gift, we can lend our ear, we can give of our time. In this issue, learn about individuals and organizations who have done all that and more, from the nonprofits who have found a way to rally for a cause when physical gathering is banned (page 10) to a newly divorced mom who offered her whole heart and home to a foster child (page 20), to receivers who became givers after they got on their feet (page 16). The greater the challenge, the greater the opportunity to make this crazy COVID world a better place, even if it all must start with a little bit of annoying optimism.
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Volume 19, Issue 12 Publisher
Julie Buchan Julie@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762
Editor
Nikki Klock Nikki@vancouverfamilymagazine.com (360) 882-7762
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Sarah Mortensen Sarah@vancouverfamilymagazine.com
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Contributing Writers
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Calvin and Neha Walsh live in Vancouver with their daughter and their dog. They love to run and hike in the Pacific Northwest. Calvin owns a food distribution company and Neha is a healthcare hero (physician). Photo by Missy Fant Photography www.MissyFantPhotography.com (360) 448-1346
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
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MOSAIC FAMILY VOYAGE
By Rachel Messerschmidt All photos courtesy of the author.
Goodbye Portland
Hello Nomadic Living
Nearly five whole years
into our crazy plan to sell our house and almost all of our belongings, and buy and move onto a sailboat with our kids, we were finally ready to become true Pacific Northwest sailing nomads. It had taken everything we had, but there we were, looking forward into the future, ready to leave our home slip in our wake and cruise down the mighty Columbia River toward Astoria. We spent that last morning in our Portland slip running last minute errands, washing the boat, and visiting with friends and loved ones on the dock as they gathered to see us off. Because you can’t plan too far in advance as a sailor, due to a critical need for patience and careful weather planning, we didn’t yet know exactly what our full itinerary would look like. But we did know that sometime in the coming weeks we would be casting off our docklines for the very last time on the Columbia River, aiming the boat west, and crossing the treacherous Columbia River Bar to head north up the rugged Washington coastline. But first we had to get the boat to Astoria, a journey of 90 miles by river. It was, by far, the longest trip we’d ever taken aboard our boat, and we were doing it all on our own. It was scary and exciting all at the same time. A true adventure for the kiddos: the beginning of the grand adventure that we’d spent years preparing for.
We’d decided to take a whole week just getting the boat to Astoria. We wanted to really enjoy the trip down the river, relax a bit with the kids and have some fun. The months leading up to our departure were so jampacked with project after project that we’d had a really hard time keeping the fun in the lifestyle. We were all craving a bit of a break, adults just as much as the kids. So on Saturday May 4, 2019 just after noon and mostly on schedule, we hugged our family and friends one last time, untied the boat, and headed out of the marina. Our very first obstacle was getting under the I-5 bridge. We’d passed under only a couple times previously and, with the level that the river was currently at, we didn’t know when we left if we were going to need to call to have the bridge lifted for us or not. Our mast is roughly 62-feet high off of the water. We decided that if we called the bridge tender and they said it was at least 65-feet clearance, that we would pass under the high span without asking for a bridge lift. Of course, they answered that it was exactly 65 feet. Really? Like, it couldn’t have been just a few feet higher to give us a bit of breathing room? We gritted our teeth and ducked carefully under the high span. We made it without issue but, boy, were we holding our breath. A pit in my stomach, I kept doubting our calculations and fearing we would leave on our adventure and hit the bridge less than 30 minutes after our grand departure! Safely on the other side, we still had to get through the opening railroad bridge and we planned to hover near the iconic Grant Street Pier where Brenden’s parents had rushed to wave goodbye and get pictures. But, just as we started to approach the pier, the continued on next page Top: The author's husband and kids beside their sailboat, Mosaic, in St. Helens, Oregon on their journey toward the Pacific Ocean. Bottom: Evan, 9, and Kali, 4, watch the boat's progress and look for oncoming vessels on the chart plotter as the Messerschdmidt family heads downriver in May 2019.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
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railroad bridge started opening without our even requesting it. So much for that final photo op! With a quick wave on the way by, we motored on through the bridge and we were off! Three hours later, we tied up for the weekend at Sand Island across from St. Helens, Oregon. We spent two nights at Sand Island, exploring the island with the kids and enjoying a couple days without work or the boat demanding projects be done. Monday came and we felt like true digital nomads as we worked our jobs from the boat at a dock we’d never been to before. That afternoon we moved over to the other side of the river and stayed two nights at the St. Helens public dock. We were able to get our first showers-away-from-home there at the city’s waterfront public restrooms and on Wednesday after work we made the short hour and a half jump to the Port of Kalama public dock. My brother and his family, along with my parents, who all live in Woodland, came to visit us there and were eager to hear about our first few days away from the marina. On Thursday, we enjoyed dinner with Brenden’s parents at McMenamin’s Kalama Harbor Lodge and then on Friday at noon we cruised out from Kalama on the longest day-hop all the way down to Cathlamet. We spent only one night in Cathlamet but were lucky to spend it with one of Brenden’s friends who lives there. She and her husband met us at the marina and we ate dinner at the small town brewery right there near the waterfront. The pizza and drinks were fabulous and we were treated like real world travelers. And finally, on Saturday morning, a week after leaving our slip in Portland, we left Cathlamet early and arrived at our Astoria destination shortly after noon.
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Those first little day trips felt big. Moving the boat ten miles was a big deal for us back then. We were so happy and proud to have made it to Astoria. Our first week of nomad working was behind us and it was time to settle in for the week of final preparations in Astoria. We had our eye on a developing weather window that looked promising for our offshore passage leaving on the morning of May 19. We wouldn’t be bringing the kids with us for that leg. Instead, we were bringing on extra crew and a professional captain. We wanted to do everything we could to stack the deck in our favor for a safe crossing of the Columbia River bar and hopefully uneventful passage up the wild Washington coast toward our next destination: Puget Sound.
Rachel Messerschmidt and her family are Clark County natives currently living and cruising full time aboard their sailboat, Mosaic, in the Pacific Northwest. Rachel blogs about her life and journey at www. mosaicvoyage.com and shares her family’s adventures in a monthly column in Vancouver Family Magazine.
A sunrise view from Mosaic's bow looking toward the famous Astoria-Megler bridge--a fitting reward for all the hard work that it took to reach that point in the journey, and a promise of many more gorgeous sunrises and sunsets to come.
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
9
Feature: Pivot Point: Creative Fundraising During COVID
By Nikki Klock
Creative Fundraising during COVID
The venue was booked, the flowers were ordered, the menu was prepared, the auction prizes were arranged, the master of ceremonies was ready to go. Hundreds of tickets holders looked forward to enjoying an evening of entertainment and giving at Warehouse ’23 to benefit Rocksolid Community Teen Center, a nonprofit organization that provides a safe and engaging place in Brush Prairie for teens to go after school. A team of 8-10 volunteers had been working for a year to produce the 19th annual Lucky Shamrock Auction, the organization’s largest fundraising event of the year, and it was all about to come alive. The problem? The 2020 Lucky Shamrock Auction was scheduled for what turned out to be a most unlucky date: March 14.
A $15,000 Decision in 15 Minutes As the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Clark County earlier that same week, it became clear to Rocksolid’s event team that big decisions would
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need to be made regarding the Saturday event, and fast. Before government mandates were put in place forbidding such gatherings, it was not a decision the team made lightly. Rocksolid’s executive director, Marcy Sprecher, shared with me in a recent email some of the factors that ran through her mind as the week progressed and the pandemic situation became evident: “Should we still move forward, and hope our guests come? What would perception look like? Did we care about our guests or want to risk their safety? Should we cancel or postpone and hope to reschedule? What about all the businesses that would be suffering and shutting down, not able to make good on their donations? What about silent items that had perishables included, or live plants and flowers that would die? Expiration dates needing to be updated . . . the list goes on.” With concerns about health on the one hand and about cancelling prematurely on the other, and with the event’s venue, Warehouse ’23, ready to order all the food, “a $15,000 decision had to be made in 15 minutes.” Rocksolid made the difficult
decision to cancel the live event that had been poised to provide major funding for the organization’s valuable services in the North County community. “This event is our biggest sustaining fundraiser of the year, the one that keeps our doors open year round to the youth in our community,” Sprecher said. “While we have multiple fundraisers throughout the year, our auction sets the financial tone for our program, staff and overhead.” Graciously, Warehouse ’23 was “amazing and supportive. They were so helpful in understanding and making that decision alongside us . . . [and] more than willing to work with us to set a new date thinking we would be able to gather by August, and when that wasn’t going to be possible, they gave us back a full refund of our deposit.” All of the event’s sponsors were similarly supportive, and only 5 guests out of 350 requested a refund on their event tickets. The support from vendors, sponsors and guests was encouraging, but Rocksolid was still left to find a way to secure significant funding for the coming year. And they were not alone. continued on next page
Page 10: A screenshot from Rocksolid Community Teen Center’s virtual Lucky Shamrock Auction event. Photo courtesy of Rocksolid Community Teen Center. Page 11: At Pomeroy Farm's Supper & Socially Distanced Fundraiser on September 12, guests were greeted with a drink, appetizers, auction item pick up, games and dinner to go. Photo by Simeon Muller.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
continued from previous page
Plans Pivot Pomeroy Farm is a nonprofit living history farm in Yacolt that preserves and shares farming and history through educational opportunities and special events. Maura Todd, the farm’s marketing coordinator, shared the experience of facing fundraising disruption early on in the pandemic. “Our first big event of the year is usually our Country Life Fair, the first weekend of May,” she said. “When COVID hit, we held out as long as possible, hoping to be able to continue with it, but ended up canceling a few weeks in advance when we realized it wasn’t going to be possible.” Clark County Food Bank found themselves in an particularly difficult position, as every aspect of their vital service was impacted, at the exact same time it was the most sorely needed due to the economic effect of government-ordered shutdowns. “I think when COVID started, we realized everything changed—how we get food, how we sort food, how we distribute food,”
food bank president Alan Hamilton shared with me. “And then from there within the next several weeks we realized many of the things that we do that are outside of the food specific space, like fundraising, were going to change too. I think it was probably in June that we realized we could not do our September fundraiser in the same way that we were doing it, when we recognized that people don’t want to gather in large groups, or can’t gather in large groups.” With their various missions more important than ever, and money still an essential part of accomplishing them, these and other local nonprofit organizations had to get creative about raising funds in the era of COVID. The dilemma was the same: How can people rally around a cause to raise desperately needed funds without physically gathering together? Because their largest fundraising event of the year happened to fall on the same weekend the world changed, Rocksolid
was among the first to be forced to urgently pivot. Their solution was the same one schools and workplaces implemented last spring: go virtual. In August, the annual Lucky Shamrock Auction transformed into a live, online presentation that was broadcast online to registered guests. Bidding for auction items was also managed online. Although Rocksolid staff, volunteers and families all would have preferred to gather in person, the online event did reduce overhead cost. And event coordinators were surprised at the overall outcome. “Due to COVID we were worried continued on page 12
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
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Feature: Pivot Point: Creative Fundraising During COVID (cont'd) continued from page 11
how our postponed event would compare to our past events,” Sprecher said. “[But] . . . we were pleasantly surprised and very blessed, as donations came in very comparatively to years past!” Pomeroy Farm hoped to have a similar outcome as they navigated constant changes in safe start guidelines. “We had planned our first summer of ‘Farm Days’ events, which were intended to bring back our Living History weekends of the past,” Todd shared. “We canceled the first one, again hoping we’d be able to resume as normal shortly. When we finally realized ‘normal’ wasn’t happening anytime soon, we got to brainstorming and were able to put together . . . . two drive-thru ‘Farm Days’ events . . . These events were free, but accepted donations.” The farm was ultimately forced to hold their large and dedicated fundraising event drive-thrustyle as well. Supper & Socially Distanced Fundraiser Dinner was held September 12. Unfortunately, even that plan was thwarted a bit by wildfire smoke, but supporters did turn up. “Those who did attend were pleased with the experience and gave us positive feedback,” said Todd. “My dad lovingly commented that we’ve been making ‘sparkling blackberry lemonade’ out of the lemons COVID has handed us—a reference to the drink we served guests.” The farm’s beloved Pumpkin Lane was also converted to a drive-thru/socially distanced event last October. Still, Todd said, “unfortunately most [of our drive-thru events] have not drawn nearly the crowds we need to consider them ‘successful’ from a financial viewpoint. All of our 2020
weddings, normally a big revenue source for us, unfortunately had to be canceled or postponed . . . We’re rolling with it for now, and we are thankful we’ve been able to continue to hold events, but we wish we could allow people to fully embrace and experience the farm the same way they always have.” No doubt local families and educators who would typically be bringing children and students to the farm this time of year feel the same.
from the USDA, so the Washington State Department of Agriculture in our case provides some funding through their EFAP [Emergency Food Assistance Program]. But for the most part, we have a budget of about $2.7 million for this fiscal year and we have to raise all of that. We do that mostly through private donors, through corporations, fundraising events, pretty much all the standard ways that nonprofits raise money.”
Same Mission, Different Look
But of course, 2020 has changed many of those standards. This year, Clark County Food Bank opted for something truly atypical: their 2020 fall gala, called Taste and See, was not a fundraiser at all. Instead, “it was a ‘no fundraise’ fundraiser,” Hamilton said. “This year we didn’t do any fundraising, so it’s not going to be about the dollar amount we gained in income—we didn’t have any. We really just used the event as a way to say here’s what happened, and then to thank the people who generously gave. They gave without the event, they gave in the months prior because COVID hit and many people realized that they can help and they did. It was honestly very inspiring for us to see donors step up, new donors, as well as people who had never volunteered all of the sudden said, ‘Hey I can volunteer.’ We were able to see a lot of new people in both of those arenas. So in one sense it turned out better, because we were able to highlight and touch the sort of unsolicited generosity of people that was very inspiring for us as a staff team here, as well as a board of directors and all of the stakeholders that are part of the food bank.” The non-fundraising event was also held online. “I have to say, it’s very odd for us to do a fundraiser that we’re used to doing in our warehouse to 300 wonderful people of Clark County, and instead, to do it in our warehouse, staring at food and camera equipment, with no other people there. And that’s really what we did.
Clark County Food Bank simply cannot halt their efforts, which are actually twofold. “Our mission is very clear,” Hamilton told me. “It’s to alleviate hunger and its root causes. The first half of that mission talks about getting food to people who need it today. That’s what most people think of when they think of a food bank, and for us it’s about 8 million pounds of food to people in our community—about 100,000 people who, sometime during the year, need food assistance. Some of those get it once, some get it more than once . . . The second half of our mission to alleviate root causes talks about how do we get people out of that system altogether if possible. Can we teach them the skills and help them figure out how to make their life work in such a way that they don’t need emergency food. So part of what we do there is lots and lots of collaborations with other organizations that deal with people in poverty whether it be education or healthcare or housing or financial literacy and more, and what we do ourselves is a lot of nutrition education. We teach people how to grocery store shop, how to buy food that they need, how to cook it in a way that their kids will eat it, it’s affordable, it has high nutrition density, and so on.” To continue that mission, Hamilton said, “we have to raise all of our own money. We do get a little bit of federal money through state allocations
continued on page 14 Volunteers at Clark County Food Bank sort, prepare and load food for distribution to local families in need. Photo courtesy Clark County Food Bank.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
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Feature: Pivot Point: Creative Fundraising During COVID (cont'd) continued from page 12
Because it was a live event, interspliced with a whole bunch of videos that were prerecorded, it was very unusual for us to do in that style. That was a big change.” Even though the event wasn’t designed to raise funds, many donors did give generously directly following the event, which, for Hamilton, was the best part. “Clark County Food Bank is the community,” he said. “It’s us, it’s all of us, caring for the people in our community who have needs, who are facing challenges. It’s donating money, it’s helping grow extra food and bringing it into the food bank, it’s volunteering, it’s taking care of your neighbor, it’s advocating for those who do not have, it’s the generosity that really is part of this community in so many ways. And seeing that come together in the event was inspiring and meaningful and special.”
Virtual Fundraising an Overall Success Furry Friends, a no-kill cat shelter in Vancouver, also experienced something special when this year’s “Hairy Pawter”themed fundraiser went online. “This year we made $64,000 which we thought was great,” said Diane Stevens, Furry Friends board member and publicity director. “There were a lot of donations and sponsorships as well as people bidding on the items. I think that people that were in a position to give were more generous because of the hardships caused by the pandemic. Last year we made $75,000
Go to VancouverFamilyMagazine.com to learn more about the missions, efforts and programs of all of the organizations mentioned in this article. which was our biggest year ever. But previous years we did not make over $58,000.” Other organizations experienced a mixed result from shifts in fundraising efforts. Police Activities League (PAL) promotes positive relationships between youth and law enforcement through community-based recreational and educational opportunities. “We offer mentoring, sports, and literacy programs to youth throughout Southwest Washington at little to no cost,” executive director, Jenny Thompson, shared with me. “Prepandemic our major fundraiser was an in person gala for about 250 people. It included dinner, drinks, storytelling, silent and live auction items, as well as some raffles.” The event was scheduled for October, and the decision to move to an online event was made in July. “We chose to encourage small house parties that aligned with Inslee’s orders and then offered the entire event program piece online instead of in person.” Results of the event were mixed. “Our reach was the biggest positive change,” Thompson said. “We were able to reach over 600 people by going online, when usually we are limited to only the 250 people in the room.” On the other hand, the organization raised fewer funds than in previous years, which did not surprise PAL team members.
“We anticipated that,” Thompson said. “We believe we raised less partially due to virtual event fatigue.” Thankfully, the organization did receive a hefty matching gift during September’s GiveMore24! event, and PAL is still delivering programs to youth who are still participating (online and socially distant, in accordance with state guidelines). Thompson, like most nonprofit executives I spoke with, assumes fundraising will look different for some time, but, also like the others, she is optimistic. “We have some fun ideas . . . We are continuing to grow and challenge ourselves, being as creative as possible to still live out our mission on a daily basis.”
Nikki Klock has been the editor of Vancouver Family Magazine since 2006, and loves to learn about the innovative and compassionate things happening in the Southwest Washington community. She is an obsessive reader and loves exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two teenage daughters.
Top: Behind the scenes of PAL’s “The Heart Behind the Badge” virtual fundraising event. Photo courtesy PAL of SWWA.
Bottom: A photo of a kitten up for adoption during Furry Friends’ Hairy Pawter virtual fundraising event. Photo courtesy Furry Friends.
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
HERE COMES SANTA
A CHRISTMAS STORY and all related characters and elements © & ™ Turner Entertainment Co (s20)
PHOTOS WITH SANTA November 27–*December 24 Daily 11am–7pm Break from 3pm–4pm Lower Level, Center Court near H&M *December 24th Hours 9am-5pm (Break from 1pm-2pm)
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15
Feature: The Gift of a New Life: Receivers Become Givers
The Gift of a
New Life:
Receivers Become Givers By Kristen Flowers
A
t night, Melissa often found herself huddled in dark street corners or in one of many Portland tent cities. Addicted to heroin, the opportunities to turn her life around were dwindling, and she was running out of time. Something major was happening, and if she didn’t find help, it wouldn’t just be her life on the line. Melissa was pregnant. “It was a lot of fear,” she told me. “And guilt and shame and broken. I was so broken.” Melissa’s life went from bad to worse when she landed on the cold, hard floor of a prison cell. With all options stripped away, she made a decision that this was the moment to turn everything around, not only for herself but for the life of her unborn baby. She successfully completed an addiction recovery program, which
allowed her to transition from prison to a small studio room at Open House Ministries, a family shelter in Vancouver. It was the first chapter in her new life, a victory to celebrate, but something still didn’t feel right—until she met with a chaplain at Open House Ministries. He heard her concerns and fears, and she credits that conversation to the moment when everything clicked for her. “What was missing was Jesus, that’s always what was missing, this whole time,” she said. “That’s why I couldn’t get clean and stay clean.” Shortly after embracing her newfound faith, she saw love materialize before her eyes through Open House Ministries’ Christmas Adoption program. The program has been a tradition for several years at the shelter. It’s an opportunity for church organizations, companies, and families to adopt a family who is staying at Open House Ministries. The members staying at the shelter put together a list of items that they want and need for themselves and for their children and spouses. Most lists include shampoo and conditioner, soap, cleaning supplies, and gifts for their kids. Although the items aren’t what some would consider luxurious, for Melissa, the experience was all the proof she needed that she was on the right path in her new life.
The day she received Christmas presents from her “adopters” forever changed her. She saw it as a sign that someone was watching over her. One of the simple gifts she received was her very own shelf. It was not something she had asked for, and it was not even something she thought she needed. But after moving into her new apartment, it helped keep her daughter’s items off the floor, and it supported the nightlight that helped illuminate their room, turning the small space into a home. Melissa laughs when she thinks about the other life-changing items she received— among them, a new Bible in her favorite color: light pink. The Open House Ministries Christmas Adoption program also gave her the ability to do something she never thought she could do: give her daughter something for Christmas. While filling out the Christmas Adoption sheet, she specified that her daughter loved unicorns and princess stuff. And that’s what her little one got. Now, a year later, her daughter plays in the background, and you can hear the smile in Melissa’s voice as she recalls watching her daughter open her presents that Christmas. “Opening a gift, any gift, being able to give that to your kid, just makes a huge difference,” she told me. “I could get so emotional just thinking about it.” continued on page 18
Melissa and her daughter enjoy a Christmas event at Open House Ministries in 2019. Photo courtesy Open House Ministries.
16
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
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Feature: The Gift of a New Life: Receivers Become Givers (cont'd) continued from page 16
That’s how Katie Fessel, who now is a case manager at Open House Ministries, felt when a tray of presents was rolled into her small room when she was staying at Open House Ministries. There were gifts for her, but also for her husband and, most importantly, for her kids. “It’s an awesome feeling to know that someone who you don’t know, cares about you to want you to have a great Christmas and to know that you are wanted and needed,” she said. “It’s awesome.” A short seven years ago, Fessel’s story mirrored Melissa’s life. In fact, she sees her story in the face of every woman who walks into Open House Ministries. She had lost custody of her kids and found herself behind bars while lost in the vast sea of addiction. When she got out of prison, Reneé Stevens, the current executive director for the shelter, was the person who picked her up at the train station, forever changing her life. “I just remember thinking that this is where God wanted me to be,” Fessel said. In less than a decade, she was able to get her children back and finish her recovery program, her husband found employment, and they moved all together into a house. She credits her recovery to the same teachings that helped Melissa fill the empty void inside her. “When you’re coming out of addiction,” Fessel shared, “and you have all this trauma and heartache in your life, but you learn that God loves you
Above: Katie Fessel and her family. Photo by Creative Captures by Jen.
Right: Open House Ministries executive director, Reneé Stevens, and her granddaughter Eleanor, at a Christmas event. Photo courtesy Open House Ministries.
18
anyway? Like he knows everything you’ve ever done, and he loves you anyway— that’s huge.” As Fessel got stable, she knew she needed to share her story and give back. Since Open House Ministries had changed her life so much, she wanted to be a part of other people’s stories. But with her background, she worried she wasn’t up for the responsibility. “I didn’t feel qualified, but God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.” Fessel was able to step in to help other families and be a source of inspiration to them. Christmas remains a special time at Open House Ministries, but, due to the pandemic, the Christmas Adoption program will look a little different this year. Last year, Santa arrived with gifts for the children, and the families staying in the shelter got to meet the people who adopted them. This year, adopters won’t be able to meet their adoptees, but help is still needed. Thirtyfour families are up for adoption this year, and Open House Ministries is looking for more adopters to serve these families. As in years prior, Open House Ministries will provide those who wish to adopt a family with a list of the wants and needs of those staying in the shelter, including sizes, ages and interests of the children. Of special concern is older children in need. Children ranging from newborns to age 16 stay at the shelter, but kids ages 10 and older often get missed. “People want to buy things for babies,” Fessel says. Gift cards and toys under $30 make great gifts for older ages. Another element that often gets missed for families at the shelter is Christmas dinner. While other families celebrate the holidays around glowing fireplaces inside
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
If you would like to adopt a family this year, call Claudia Merritt at Open House Ministries at 360-737-0300. The last donation drop-off date is December 21. homes smelling of cinnamon and freshly made Christmas cookies, the families at Open House Ministries will use their communal kitchen to recreate some family traditions. That’s why Fessell reminds us that a great gift for a family is a Winco gift card to spend on a Christmas dinner. To sit together and eat a delicious and beautiful meal is a luxury these families have not had in a long time. Melissa never actually got to meet the people who adopted her and changed her life last Christmas, but she did get to tell them in a card how much their kindness and generosity meant to her. “I needed that so bad,” she told me. “You never choose to be addicted,” Melissa reminded me. Addiction or homelessness is a bigger piece of the puzzle, a symptom of untreated trauma. “Nobody ever chooses that life for themselves.” You never know whose life you are about to change.
Kristen Flowers is a writer and morning show radio talent at 99.5 The Wolf. She loves spending time exploring the Vancouver area with her husband and co-host Nick, and their 2-year-old daughter. When she’s not working, she’s crafting or working on her novel. You can find her on Instagram at @accordingtoKristen.
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20
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
21
CALENDAR OF EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Calendar
December ‘20
S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
of events
activities
Have a community event that you want to share? Go to www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com and click on “Calendar” to submit your event. Deadline for print calendar submissions is the 1st of the month prior to the issue. Events are subject to change. Please contact organization directly to confirm. All library events are free and open to the public.
Check out our website for even mo re local events .
1 TUESDAY
8 TUESDAY
2 WEDNESDAY
Yoga Therapy for Better Sleep virtual program through FVRLibraries. Having trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep? You’re not alone! Rates of insomnia are on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Join Sarah Nelsen, certified yoga therapist and yoga instructor, to learn how Yoga can help with sleep. Learn gentle movements, breath practices and guided relaxation that can be incorporated into your bedtime routine. This class is suitable for all levels and is best practiced lying down, either on the floor or on a bed. Go to fvrl.org to register. 3-4 pm
Yoga Therapy for Mental Health & Well-Being virtual program through FVRLibraries. Are you feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious? Yoga can help! Learn how yoga can impact your nervous system, helping to ease stress and anxiety. Join Sarah Nelsen, certified yoga therapist and yoga instructor, as she introduces breath practices, movements and guided relaxation that can help you feel more grounded and less anxious. This class is suitable for all levels and can be practiced in a chair or on the floor. Go to fvrl.org to register. 3-4 pm
Virtual Storytime Song and Book with Miss Ellen for preschoolers each Wednesday at Camas Public Library’s Facebook page. 9:30 am Craft ‘n’ Chat Online through FVRLibraries. Solo crafting got you down? Drop in weekly on Wednesdays for no-stakes virtual craft sessions through fvrl.org! Meetings are informal and non-instructional, and all projects and skill levels are welcome. 10 am
5 SATURDAY
Vancouver Farmers Market – Fall 2020 – Season Extended in Downtown Vancouver, at 8th St and Esther St. Physical distancing required, masks encouraged, send one person per household. Go to www.vancouverfarmersmarket.com to learn more about safety restrictions to this year’s market, and to access the market’s new online store with curbside pickup. First hour of each day is reserved for seniors and individuals with underlying medical conditions. Saturdays through December 19. 9 am-2 pm Walk & Knock 2020 – Drive & Drop. During these challenging times, Walk & Knock will continue supporting those in need in our community. Instead of sending out bags and having thousands of volunteers collect them on Dec. 5, the community is invited to bring donations of non-perishable groceries or toiletries to one of eight drop-off sites throughout Clark County. Volunteers will unload them from your vehicle to reduce risk. Locations include: View Ridge Middle School, Ridgefield; Lewisville Middle School, Battle Ground; Chuck’s Produce, Salmon Creek; Clark County Food Bank, Vancouver; Hudson’s Bay, Downtown Vancouver; Walmart, Orchards; Parkrose Hardware, Fisher’s Landing; ERS Rental Group, Camas. More information at walkandknock.org. 9 am-2 pm
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Repair Clark County Goes Remote at Columbia Springs, 12208 SE Evergreen Highway, Vancouver. Free drop-off repair program on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. Bring your broken household items to be repaired, for free, by volunteer “fixers.” All items must be pre-registered before drop-off. Visit repairclarkcounty.org for more information. 4-6 pm
12 SATURDAY
Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Dec. 5) 9 am-2 pm
14 MONDAY
Genealogy Club virtual program through FVRLibraries. Researching ancestry can be challenging. Where do you start? Which of the 60,000 websites will give you the information you want? With the help of the FVRL Virtual Genealogy Club, led by experienced genealogist John Lake, you can join your neighbors in learning how to explore your past. Any level of experience is welcome, from the long-time genealogist to those interested in starting a search. December’s topic: Proving family stories with physical evidence and church records. Go to fvrl.org to register. 2-3:30 pm
15 TUESDAY
Yoga Therapy for Pain Relief virtual program through FVRLibraries. Learn how yoga can help with management of chronic pain. Join Sarah Nelsen, certified yoga therapist and yoga instructor, as she shares breath practices, gentle movements and guided relaxation that can help manage pain. This class is suitable for all levels and can be practiced in a chair. Go to fvrl.org to register. 3-4 pm
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Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
continued on next page
continued from previous page
SANTA’S
DECEMBER
POSSE 5K
Vancouver Farmers Market in Downtown Vancouver. (See Dec. 5) 9 am-2 pm
VI R RA TU CE AL !
December 19–27 5K Run/Walk
22 TUESDAY
Repair Clark County Goes Remote at Columbia Springs, 12208 SE Evergreen Highway, Vancouver. (See Dec. 8) 4-6 pm
28 MONDAY
Make Anything: Handicraft Toolbox (Online through FVRLibraries). Get creative and join others to learn how to make stuff! Monthly project will feature a variety of projects and tools, including recycled crafts, sewing and basic mending, 3D design, fiber arts, paper-making, stamp-carving, watercolor, embroidery, cooking, baking, painting, and more. Projects are suitable for older teens and adults. No experience is necessary. See the monthly program description to learn about that month’s project and the tools you’ll need to create along with us: fvrl. librarymarket.com/make-anything-handicraft-toolbox-2. 6-7:30 pm
COOL SWAG FOR ALL REGISTERED POSSE!
30 WEDNESDAY
Angel Ocasio’s Comedy & Magic Workshop virtual program for ages 10-17 from FVRLibraries. Spend an hour with Comedy Entertainer, Angel Ocasio, on a Zoom Meeting. We’ll be talking and learning about comedy and magic. Angel will teach you a few comedy routines and some silly magic tricks. Go to fvrl.org to register and for a list of props needed. 1-2 pm
31 THURSDAY
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Ball Drop 5K/10K/Half Marathon Virtual Race, benefitting The Caring Closet. Kids age 12 and under race free, ages 13-17 race for 50% off. Register at www.whyracingevents.com.
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advertiser index Events Ball Drop Run.................................................21 Santa's Posse 5k Run....................................23 Why Racing Events........................................21 Health Adventure Dental............................................19 Barnick Chiropractic.......................................19 Child and Adolescent Clinic..............................2 Evergreen Pediatrics......................................13 PeaceHealth.....................................................5 Priority Life Chiropractic and Massage.............9 Storybook Dental............................................17 Tristar Family Chiropractic and Scoliosis Center.............................................................11 Vancouver Clinic.............................................17
Legal Schauermann, Thayer, Jacobs, Staples & Edwards PS.....................................7
Schools, Education & Child Care ESD 112...........................................................2 St. Andrew Preschool.....................................19 Southwest Washington Learning Center........24
Resources Applied Team Insurance.................................13 ESD 112...........................................................2 Gifted Journeys................................................3 Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Seminars...............3 Retail Kazoodles Toys..............................................17 Vancouver Mall...............................................15
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • December 2020
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