More than 250 Portland Adventist Academy (PAA) students, staff and volunteers joined together for the school's fourth-annual service event, Inside Out. The event further invests in PAA's mission to instill in its students a passion for service.
This year, PAA joined Loaves & Fishes, Love Inc., People of the Street Ministries, Lift Urban, Shepherd's Door, the Portland Rescue Mission, Portland Adventist Community Services and local Adventist churches to serve people in the greater Portland, Ore., area.
Student groups of five to 10 helped with yard work and landscaping, distributed meals, assembled hygiene kits for the homeless, and built and prepared garden beds for a neighboring community garden. When one group had trouble finding homeless people downtown, they took meals to major intersections where people were asking for work, food and money.
"The students made 5,000 meals [for Meals-on-Wheels]," says Stacey Myhrvold, Loaves & Fishes volunteer resources director, "and we hope they'll volunteer again next year."
Sophomore Lanessa Long realized Inside Out helps students be more aware of the world around them. "Inside Out really makes you aware that everyone has a story," she says. "It gives us a chance to hear those stories and help others out in whatever way we can."
Ben Fabian, PAA senior, helps to tame landscaping for a neighbor. (Heidi Woodworth)
Kira Rasmussen (left) and Ellen Bakira, both PAA juniors, helped prepare and package more than 5,000 meals for Meals-on-Wheels during PAA's annual Inside Out service event. (Tamberly Couch)
