PDX - Portland, OR

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Ronald McDonald Houses 2021

Last updated 1 week ago

Hello Everyone,

I want to thank everyone in advance for all your help with this year's Pilots For Kids event and I hope you will be happy with the opportunities we have created to give everyone a chance to be involved.

Attached is a detailed letter and flyer about this year's event but here is a short summary of what we have planned.

Like last year, we are still unable to do a holiday party for the Ronald McDonald House so they have asked if we would be willing to do the same thing we did in 2020. As you will recall we built aviation themed activity packets that kids could work on in their rooms and Grandma June cooked and individually packaged a meal for every family.

So this year we will be building activity packets at my hangar in Scappoose for all the kids. Everyone is invited to help in the assembly and wrapping of these packets. (Note: Hot chocolate, candy canes, and a warm fire pit will be provided for all of Santa’s helpers). I am planning on doing this the first week of December. I will have a date for everyone on November 18th when my bid comes out and I will do my best to work with as many of your schedules as I can.

Next will be the holiday meal. Grandma June has agreed to cook for us again this year and one pleasant change is that we can do this at the Ronald McDonald House’s (East & South Waterfront). They are allowing 4 members to come and prepare a meal for the families. The families will be allowed to come to the kitchen, one family at a time, to get their meal and take it back to their room. Granma June will have her co-chief Shannon McKinzie-Scott with her so that will mean that we have room for 2 more volunteers, per event, who want to help. Also we will be cooking twice this year, one meal for the East house and the other for the South Waterfront house. So I will be looking for volunteers for the two cooking events. The dates are TBD but will be on the week of December 20th.

Another thing we were able to create was a PFK Portland Amazon Gift Registry for items we need for this events:
· Crayons
· Balsa wood airplane models
· Wrapping paper
· Tape
· Plush toys

https://www.amazon.com/registries/custom/313V3JKEG24PM/guest-view

We would like to create care packages for other people staying at RMH, such as new mothers whose infant’s are having complications, etc. So there are also a couple of other items that were ideas for their care packages. The idea was to get an assortment of items in our stock and then customize the care packages based on the needs of the individuals. I am open to any ideas you might have as to what to put in these care packages.

Lastly they are looking for a volunteer to be Santa. They (RMH) will section off a space in the common area and allow one family at a time to come in and meet with Santa. They would like to do this the week of December 20th. If you are interested please let me know, we have the Santa suit.

Thank you again for all your generosity and help with this year's event. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely
Clayton Eveland
(610) 509-7062

To PDX Cadre from your Coordinator Chris Dunning - Introduction of new PFKD's PDX Coordinator

Last updated 1 month ago

Hello Everyone, I hope all is well with you and your families...
So excited to report that plans are in full swing for another amazing PDX PFKD's "Trip to the North Pole" adventure week for our Ronald McDonald House kids and families...
After many decades of work with Pilots for Kids, many serving as Coordinator, I have officially handed over the Helm October 1st to a new PDX PFKD's Coordinator...
I would like to introduce to you Clayton Eveland. Most of you already know him and his awesome creative wife Eve, as they have been with the PDX Cadre for over 4 years and have greatly augmented our successful events!
Clayton has shadowed me during every event and knows the Ronald McDonald staff and Coordinators & the other PDX/Vancouver area Coordinators we support, as well..
Clayton and his wife Eve both fly for OMNI and live in Scappoose, OR. They enjoy flying GA as well, including fly-out camping getaways and exploring the Great North West and beyond.
I could not be more excited to hand over the reins to your amazing new Coordinator, his passion is extraordinary for our special kids and families and for you as PFKD's Cadre Members. I feel Clayton will carry this group forward in awesome ways!
There aren't enough words as your coordinator to thank you for your amazing support, trust in our vision, donations and awesome giving of your hearts for so many years!
I am Honored to have been at the helm for so long and will continue to support Clayton and PFKD's where I can....

Clayton will be in touch with you in the coming days to share the plans in place for this year!
Until then, his contact information is:
Cell: 610-509-7062 - Email - clayton.eveland@gmail.com

As always, I appreciate you all and thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to bring smiles and happiness to so many special kids and families!

All the best,
Captain Chris Dunning
Your past PDX/Vancouver Area
Pilots for Kids Coordinator

2020-2021 PDX Ronald McDonald House Pilots for Kids events

Last updated 7 months ago

Hello Comrades! I am hoping you and your families are well and continuing to endure these challenging times.....

I can confidently say, this year we accomplished "OVER THE TOP SUCCESS"!
"The Journey this year has been one of the most Challenging ever, the outcome one of the most Successful"!

I don't have enough words as a Coordinator to describe my appreciation for the amazing donations, support and trust in our vision received, for what so many thought due to Covid would be impossible!

To begin with, the families were all quarantined to their rooms and since we couldn't even enter the buildings, we wondered, could we really pull this off? Once we drafted a plan, working closely with our RMH Coordinators, "Mission Make it Happen" was on! Creativity coupled with Flexibility became sometimes a daily challenge!
In the end, we held 2 events consisting of deliveries to every child and family in both the Ronald McDonald East House and for the very first time the new South Waterfront House.
"PFKD's North Pole Adventures Week" was held Dec 15th-Dec 22nd....
"PFKD's Hope for 2021" was held January 8th....
These events consisted of coordinated deliveries of "Aviation Adventure Packages" with activities and prizes, Holiday trees with special PFKD's ornaments, Cozy North Pole themed animals, "Grandma June's Special Cooked Dinners", Huge gift bags filled with goodies, and even a 5 minute "Virtual Santa Visit" direct from the North Pole for each child.
I know the cliche' of " It takes a Village" is used a lot, but looking back on this year's events, it was never more accurate! As promised, I have attached some great photos of our "Journey" this year.....
A "Huge Thanks" to our Clark County Saddle Club for the use of their Professional Kitchen! Due to a last minute Covid-Guideline change, we could not cook at the Ronald McDonald House kitchens. When presented with our dilemma, the Saddle Club board stepped up to help and quickly approved our request for this use, "Without Charge"! This quick approval allowed us to keep our tradition of providing every Child and Family "Grandma June's" famous Ronald McDonald House dinners! Getting the word out was ever so important to raise funds. In addition to our Crewmember's, their families and friends and local FBO's, I want to thank my good friends, pilot Laureano Mier and Melincko of Melincko's Air Museum and Cafe, for doing a big promo on our mission, then Pilot Laurel Johnson of Angel Flight West connected with her friend Pilot and Aviation Author Karlene Petitt, who both in extremely short order put together an overview of what we were doing this year on Karlene's Blog and Twitter. In just a few hours there were over 4,300 views! It made a difference! Also, thank you to Kelly of "Go! Calendars" for your awesome donation of dozens of Cozy Teddy Bears for our "Hope for 2021" events. Finally, my heartfelt thanks to Crewmember's Clayton Eveland and Eve Love, Grandma June and Shannon McKinzie-Scott for your tireless work during the ever changing Covid Guidelines and for continuing to help me think outside the box at every turn!
I can say with complete confidence due to the great Village we had, combined with the amazingly positive, post event response from our RMH Coordinators,
"Mission Accomplished"!
As always, I appreciate you and thank you all!
Have a Safe and Healthy 2021!
Your PDX PFKD's Coordinator
Capt Christine Dunning

2020 PDX Ronald McDonald House Holiday "PFKDS North Pole Adventures" Week

Last updated 12 months ago

Hello Everyone !

First, none of us could have ever imagined how this year has unfolded upon us. Our thoughts are with you and your families and our hopes are that you are all well and enduring what a difficult year this continues to be.
With great joy I can say a " Very Creative" plan has been coordinated to safely bring, smiles, joy and even full bellies to our special kids and families at PDX Ronald McDonald East and for the very first time, the new South Waterfront House as well! Due to the Covid Restrictions in place, there will not be an in-person event this year, however, each of you will have an opportunity to contribute monetarily with no Covid worries! I think our Creative plan will put a smile on your faces as well!
Essentially, each family is restricted to their rooms, so we will bring our Holiday party to them!! During the week of Dec 15-22nd, each room will receive a " North Pole Aviation Adventure" package which includes: A Nasa Activity book, A PFKD's color book, crayons, Balsa wood airplanes to build and design, Challenges and Prizes. In addition, each room receives, A Holiday Tree, A fully cooked meal, North Pole themed stuffed animals and even " A 5 minute Virtual visit from Santa" direct from the North Pole for each child! All "Pfkd's Adventures Week" items and meals will be delivered to each room by the amazing Elf Staff" of Ronald McDonald!
I have emailed the PDX Cadre a letter and flyer explaining "PFKDS North Pole Adventures" week. Please see the flyer below. Contact me if you have any questions. As always, I will keep you updated here with additional information...

I "Appreciate You All" and thank you in advance for your donations, to once again bring Love, Joy and Smiles for these very special Kids and Families during a most Challenging year!!

All the best and Merry Christmas 2020!

Capt Christine Dunning
PDX/Vancouver Area Coordinator
Cell-360-921-2266/Email-11drvr@comcast.net

2020 PDX Events Flyer

Last updated 12 months ago

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