Thank you to everyone that helped to make the 2015 Proper Thanksgiving Feast happen! So many people shared their time, talent, and resources that it would be impossible to thank them all. But we need to mention a few of the folks we relied on to put this year’s event together.

First, thank you to all of our volunteers! We had a huge, energetic crew this year. We appreciate each one of you.

Thanks also to our individual donors. Many of you wished to remain anonymous, so we can’t reveal just why you are so special – but we are grateful to each of you.

Thank you to our business partners, and all of the local organizations that donated money, time, and in-kind items. This list isn’t exhaustive, but among our awesome 2015 donors are:

Albina Community Bank
Bockman and Sons
Duck Produce
Figureplant
Foster Farms
Fred Meyer
Green Zebra
Hands On Greater Portland
Helser Brothers Transfer
Kenton Businesses
Kenton Neighborhood Association
Little Red Press
OnPoint Community Credit Union
Portland Roasting
Po’Shines Cafe de la Soul
Premiere Press
QFC
The Kenton Club
Triple Crown Food Market
United Grocers
Wells Fargo

Thank you to the Celebration Tabernacle Church for hosting the Thanksgiving Feast, and for all you do for our city. You’re living up to Pastor Mondainé’s vision when he said, “If the church isn’t benefiting the neighboring community, it has no reason to exist.”

We’ll see you in August in Kenton Park!

We’re getting ready for the feast! Thanks to our army of volunteers for being ready and willing this morning. This is a community effort, and we couldn’t do it without you.

Hope to see all of our neighbors and friends between noon and 4:00 today for a terrific and FREE Thanksgiving dinner.

On a more serious note, though today is a day of celebration, we observe what is happening to our friends, colleagues, and peers around the nation. Tomorrow is #NotBlackFriday, so join Don’t Shoot Portland and Black Lives Matter tomorrow at 1:00 in Holladay Park.

Thanksgiving 2015 is almost here! Volunteer shifts are full, thanks to an outpouring of community spirit from YOU, our friends and neighbors. Thank you.

If you are looking for a different way to help, consider donating an item from our needs list. Large or small, every donation helps! Please email Robin Gordon: [email protected].

Food Needs List:

• Turkeys 4 more
• Hams 4 more
• Fish 200 lbs
• Corn 4 cases
• Peas 2 cases
• Carrots 5 lbs
• Garlic 10 lbs
• 200 eggs
• Mayonnaise 1 gal
• Paprika, celery salt, pepper
• Mustard 1 qt (dry or prepared)
• Relish 1 gal
• Hot sauce
• Margarine 1 tub
• Onions 100 lbs
• Creamer 1 gal
• Coffee stirrers 1 box
• Pineapple juice 2 gal
• Porcini mushroom powder
• Salt
• Spinach 2 bags
• Arugula or Kale 3 bunches
• Brown sugar 5 lbs
• Cider 3 lbs
• Pies 26 all flavors

Non-food Needs List:

• Black aprons 50
• Aluminum foil 2 large rolls
• To go boxes 1,000
• Baking soda 10 lbs
• Spray bottles 15
• Cloth towels 30
• Dish soap 1 gal
• Carpet cleaner
• Glass cleaner 1 gal
• Degreaser 1 gal
• Pine Sol or other floor cleaner 1 gal
• Bleach 1 gal
• Air freshener, Febreeze plastic cones, 2
• Kitchen hairnets
• Hand sanitizer 4 bottles
• Turkey bags 20

Thanksgiving 2014 was full of great food, company, and entertainment. It’s almost time again – join us November 26, 2015! Photo credit Destiny Tolbert

Proper relies on community support for our programming. We need your help! Proper events are always free of charge and open to the whole community.

If you’re able to make a contribution, please visit our GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/28689yxb

For in-kind donations, such as food supplies, dry storage, grocery store gift cards, or equipment rentals, please contact Robin Gordon at 503-890-5393 or [email protected].

We’ll see you on Thanksgiving Day!

Kenton’s favorite Thanksgiving event is back! Join us for the 2015 Proper Thanksgiving Feast-ival this Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2015, 12:00-4:00 pm. This FREE Thanksgiving community dinner is open to everyone.

We’re pleased to partner with Po’Shines Cafe de la Soul to offer a fresh, high-quality menu featuring traditional Thanksgiving favorites and innovative new dishes. Join us this Thanksgiving, and we think you’ll want to make Proper part of your Thanksgiving tradition, too. All are welcome.

The Proper Thanksgiving Feast-ival features music, entertainment, kids’ activities, an inclusive community experience, and great food. We offer vegetarian options, too. Hosted in a wheelchair-accessible space.

The Thanksgiving feast is held at Celebration Tabernacle, 8131 N Denver Ave. (at Kilpatrick St.), Portland, OR, 97217. Join us anytime between noon and 4:00 pm.

We still have room for more entertainers and volunteers! Please contact us if you are interested in performing or volunteering with us.

The mission of Proper USA is to unite community across all lines. That means the Proper Thanksgiving Feast-ival is a safe space for all community members, regardless of race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, ability, nation of origin, age, or religion.

GENERAL CONTACT: Robin Gordon 503-890-5393, [email protected]
TALENT:  Robin Gordon 503-890-5393, [email protected]
VOLUNTEERS: Kehli Bradley [email protected]
FOOD, donations: Robin Gordon 503-890-5393, [email protected]

North Portland Cooperative Thanksgiving Effort to Feed the Community

North Portland community enhancement organization, PROPER, and non-profit soul food cafe, Po’Shines, and the Kenton community are teaming up to host a free Thanksgiving Feed on Thursday, November 27th, from noon to 4pm. The dinner is open to the greater community and encourages volunteer participation and community contributions.

The event marks the 14th annual Kenton Thanksgiving dinner that PROPER has hosted for the North Portland Community. Over the years the event has gained continual support from the community, through food donations – with previous dinners serving as over 500 people. The PROPER organization also puts on an annual community festival. The festival is comprised of and ultimately organized by local artists, associations, businesses and invested residents. In all of the community events that they host, PROPER strives to gather maximum community involvement and support. For instance, this marks the 7th year that PROPER has chosen Po’Shines Cafe as the partnering organization for the Thanksgiving Feed.

“We jump at opportunities like this,” says Chef James Bradley, “The more we can get people working together, talking together…and even eating together, the stronger we are as a community. The PROPER Thanksgiving Feed is a great example of how to build community.”

We have 2 goals for this event:

* Treat 1000 people to a home away from home experience! Meaning delicious dinners made with skill and love, live music from the community, and a welcoming attitude of humble service!

* Provide the the absolute finest Thanksgiving dinner experience of its kind!

This year, the organizations hope to reach more community members than ever before. This year will feature a full Thanksgiving dinner with vegetarian options and live music.

Address is 8131 N. Denver  Portland, OR  97217

You can help! Donations of goods, as well as monetary donations, are welcome – please contact Robin at 503.890-5393 – [email protected].

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We’ve been providing grassroots celebrations of global, community and personal restoration since 1990: PROPER’s popular “good” FREE FOOD | Music & Performing Arts ENTERTAINMENT | “PROPER” Resources and Engaging Kid’s and Family Activities with prizes: COMMUNITY. As usual, expect a fun time by all from 12-4pm Saturday, August 16th at Kenton Park.

This is our 23nd annual PROPER Festival with live music and performing arts entertainment (poets, dancers, African drummers, Native drummers, jazz, soul and Gospel music), Live Paint Show, PROPER (People Reaching Other People Expecting Restoration) One-on-Ones (financial, entrepreneurial, health/wellness, relational, ecological, and more resources) with Health screenings including Hepatitis, Note: Diabetes requires 3 hour pre-fast, Children’s area, Family relays, games and prizes, Free Food! It’s all in the name of “uniting community across all lines.”

See you there!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Reach out to your community while strengthening your natural talents Various pre, during, post festival positions– Flyer Distribution | Set up/Tear down | Children’s Activities & Prizes | Family Activities, Relays & Prizes | Stage Performers | Live Paint Artists | Live Art Coordinator | Office | Resource Booths | Health Screening booth | Free Food Booth -donations

GENERAL CONTACT: Robin Gordon 503-890-5393, [email protected]
CULTURAL, PERFORMANCE ARTISTS:  Robin Gordon 503-890-5393, [email protected]
VOLUNTEERS: Kehli Bradley (503) 488-0391, [email protected]
BOOTHS: Robin Gordon 503-890-5393, [email protected]
FOOD, donations: Robin Gordon 503-890-5393, [email protected]