Tigard Life July-Aug 2025 edition
In 2021, I was driving up Powell Boulevard when I saw something that stopped me in my tracks.
A mom who was living in a van with her three little kids. One of the windows in the van was broken and covered with plastic and duct tape. The kids were in footy pajamas, the feet cut out so they’d still fit; they were barefoot in the parking lot. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow across everything. The kids were moving in and out of the light, dancing and playing as if nothing around them was out of the ordinary.
Their mom had a bucket of water out, trying to help them wash up before bed.
It was one of those hot summer evenings where the heat hangs heavy in the air. I remember thinking how unbearable it must have been inside that van & how terrifying it must be to sleep in that parking lot with your children at night.
I had spent decades parking at my studio under the east side of the Burnside Bridge and thought I had seen just about everything. But I had never seen children that visible, that vulnerable, right in front of me.
A few months later, I started volunteering at Good Neighbor Center. What began as a two-mornings-a-week commitment evolved into a full-time role in development and communications, supporting a mission I believe in with my whole heart.
Good Neighbor Center empowers families experiencing housing insecurity by providing shelter, resources, and support for lasting stability.
Every day, I have the privilege of working alongside a team that leads with compassion and walks alongside families as they move from crisis to stability.
Recently, I had the opportunity to combine my writing, photography, and deep love for people in a piece for Tigard Life. The article shares the story of one of the many families we’ve served.
I had the opportunity to sit with this family and was honored to hear their story and take their photo.
If this speaks to you and your desire to make a difference in some way,
I hope you’ll stop by:
We’re hosting a Community Open House at Good Neighbor Center.
🗓 Wednesday, August 6th
🕓 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.
📍 11130 SW Greenburg Rd, Tigard
This is a casual, drop-in event. Please feel free to come whenever it works for you.
Take a tour, meet our staff, ask questions, and see how your support can make a real impact for families with children in our community.
