Imagine every thing you owned fitting in a backpack...

Your support makes a tremendous difference in the lives of these kids. Support p:ear and our fall campaign p:ear seeds with a donation to help us continue our creative and innovative work with homeless and transitional youth.

Brunch Responsibly

Brunch Responsibly

SUNDAY, Sept 19th 
at p:ear (NW 6th and Flanders)
Espresso bar at 9am, brunch at 10am.
$40/seat includes drinks. 
All proceeds will be donated to p:ear barista school.
SEATING IS VERY LIMITED - RSVP To: beth@pearmentor.org

  

We're celebrating the Grand Opening of p:ear barista school with an extraordinary brunch in conjunction with Whole Foods, House Spirits, Small Vineyards, Medosweet Farms, Broder and Tahoe Jackson.

"Brunch Responsibly" is a four-course meal created by Jason French (Ned Ludd) and provided by Whole Foods to entice your taste buds while you celebrate the grand opening of p:ear barista school. Booze by Broder, House Spirits and Smal l Vineyards. Featuring music by Tahoe Jackson. 

Volunteer!

Our unique approach creates a climate of hope and optimism built on stable, positive relationships between adults and youth. Volunteers are the keystone at p:ear. Volunteers provide the much needed support to the program and the positive relationships that homeless youth lack. p:ear offers a variety of volunteer opportunities:

Level I
Includes activities as diverse as picking up meals to serving on a committee (marketing and development, food co-ordination, events planning, etc.), to "work parties" designed to support First Thursday events or improve the facility.

Level II
Works a specific project for a specified time, i.e., artistic workshops, hosting and tour guides for a First Thursday exhibition, supporting staff during an off-site cultural or recreation event.

Level III
Works directly with youth on a weekly basis providing mentorship, tutoring, meal handling, participating in daily activities.

Volunteers are asked to submit a formal application, and attend the appropriate training for the level of volunteering they are applying for. Trainings are from one to 15 hours and costs range from nothing to $26 for fingerprinting and a food handlers card. Because working with this population is challenging, we have a minimum age requirement of 25.

It's our hope that if you decide to volunteer at p:ear that your experience will be as rich and rewarding for you as it will be for the program and the youth we serve.

If you are interested in becoming a p:ear volunteer, please download this p:ear Volunteer Application.

To Volunteer:
Joy Cartier -- 503-228-6677 or joy@pearmentor.org

Immediate Needs List

Program

• Gift certificates to Rite-Aid, Whole Foods, Fred Meyer and True Value Hardware (to meet daily needs from milk to first-aid supplies to light bulbs!)
• First aid supplies/kits
• Bus tickets (given to youth for travel home, hospital, job-site, treatment or recovery groups)
• Food – donation of meal or supplementary fruit, juice, dairy items on weekly/monthly basis

Education

• Gift certificates to Office Depot and Powell's Books
• Spiral notebooks
• Backpacks
• Calculators, rulers, pens, compasses, etc.
• Financial scholarships for further education, and/or financial support for school supplies and housing for students in school

Art

• Gift certificates to Michael’s, Art Media or Utrecht
• Water-based painting supplies
• Acrylic pints
• Inks/watercolors
• Brushes
• Gesso
• Canvas and frames
• Craft supplies
• Beading supplies
• Sewing supplies
• Scissors, glues, glitters
• Papers
• Markers and gel pens
• 35mm film
• Camera bodies and lenses
• $100 sponsorship of a First Thursday Art Opening at p:ear gallery
• Tickets to cultural outing
• B + W photo paper

Recreation

• Tickets to sports events
• Quality new or barely used recreational equipment or clothing
• New men’s socks
• Black Large Hoodies
• Quality new or barely used recreational equipment / clothing
• $500 sponsorship towards ‘camp p:ear’, ‘winter camp’ and other recreational outings

Kitchen

• Gift certificate to Boxer’s and/or other kitchen supply store
• Fruit
• Produce, from the Farmer's Market, the store, or your backyard!
• Fresh milk and dairy products
• Gift certificate to organic food stores and/or local farmer’s markets
• Quality cookware and utensils

Music

• Quality instruments

The end of summer already?

New canvases for p:ear!

Ok, summer won't officially end until September but most Portlanders woke up this morning, opened their shades and thought it was October. September starts soon, school starts soon and p:ear will re-open on September 7th. Without the kids, p:ear has been very quiet for the past couple weeks. But p:ear seeds has been picking up momentum heading into fall, and as we prepare to head back to school the generosity of p:ear donors means things like new canvases, paints, books and other supplies will be waiting our youth when the doors open next week. If you'd like to contribute and help us reach our goal of $40,000, please click here.

Help p:ear grow through p:ear seeds

A few months ago at p:ear, we planted a mobile garden to help supply our cooking program with fresh herbs and vegetables. And despite the lack of summer weather in Portland, the basil, lettuce, kale, tomatoes and other plants have shown healthy growth. While we're looking forward to enjoying the "fruits" of our labor, the small garden is also a testament to the importance of nourishment and strong roots to weather the cooler days.

Built around those same ideas of nourishment, growth and strong roots, we've just launched our new annual summer campaign, p:ear seeds. We hope to raise $40,000 which will help support our fall programs. As the weather changes and the rain returns, the number of kids coming through our doors will increase. The information you'll receive about p:ear seeds also includes a "state of the p:ear" with more information about the youth we've served in the past year.

We know our donors have already contributed so much this year, and we are so very grateful for your generosity, especially in shaky financial times. But amazingly, the past few years have shown that despite everything people are still investing in their communities perhaps with even tighter bonds. As donors investing in your community's youth, you are p:ear's root both providing the foundation for growth along with anchoring us during difficult times. A firm and supportive base allows p:ear to push through the soil, up towards the sun and blossom. You are our roots, we are the stems, leaves and flowers, and p:ear youth are the harvesters.

If you have any questions, email stephanie@pearmentor.org

NedWater is making a better world

p:ear recently received a donation from NedWater, a local Portland company who donates 5 to 20% of their gross to non-profits. The company delivers by bike, has a "zero waste" policy, and is focused on helping out organizations like p:ear. Check out their website and blog for more information on their philosophy and water program! Thanks again to Car Del Mar and Liene Verzemieks for promoting p:ear for their NedWater donation!