p:ear builds positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth, ages 15 to 23, through education, art and recreation to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful and healthier lives. Each year our programs serve more than 350 homeless and transitional young people.
To truly exit homelessness, kids must develop the internal strength, skills and foresight to make healthy choices. p:ear provides a safe, non-judgmental environment in which youth are trusted to outgrow unproductive and harmful behaviors. We offer individualized mentoring and education programs in a safe, reliable and intimate setting designed to foster trust, build self-esteem and to teach homeless and transitional kids – who all too often are regarded by society as disposable, "hopeless cases" – that they are valuable individuals with a future who have something vital to contribute to this community.
p:ear staff and volunteers serve as mentors, friends, and role models, while p:ear's unique programs create opportunities for young people to grow intellectually, express themselves constructively, communicate in positive ways and engage in meaningful interactions with the larger community of Portland. This is not work that can be accomplished in the short-term. These are relationships based on trust that take years to cultivate and require enormous dedication to sustain.
We are committed to being there for p:ear youth over the long-haul to share failures and successes, mundane events as well as life-altering milestones.
www.pearmentor.org
“A typical day volunteering at P:EAR keeps a volunteer busy and excited about the relationships being built with homeless and transitional youth.
In the course of an 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift, the young people are given two nutritious and much needed meals. At 8 a.m. breakfast is set out and coffee is made. 8:30 a.m. the doors open to maybe a dozen homeless and transitional youth. As the hour rolls on, more and more enter in and the room fills up. Myself or another volunteer will walk down the block to a bakery that is generously donating muffins and bread to P:EAR. Friendships between P:EAR and the community, both downtown and beyond, are always being fostered. Later, near lunch time, a volunteer or two will go out into the community again to pick up donated food, or begin preparing food kept in refrigerators on site. Volunteers are actively replenishing the food table as the meals and coffee are rapidly consumed. After the meal, what can be recycled or put into compost goes into appropriate bins.
Volunteers are kept busy setting out art materials amongst the several large tables and engaging the youth in relationship. The young people are encouraged to use time creatively. A wide eyed kid plays wildly on the piano; several others are doing crosswords, writing poetry, or play acoustic guitars decked in band stickers. Whether painting, printing, coloring, creating collage, or whatever else there is rarely a dull moment. All the young people are colorful and interesting; I always enjoy talking with them about their life up to where they are now, maybe while coloring designs or playing chess. I’m continually amazed by some of the talents this group possesses which are allowed to surface through the P:EAR program.
Other opportunities to get involved are plentiful. We often need to organize and upkeep the art materials. When not actively engaged with the youth, volunteers are putting away and organizing newly donated materials. At the beginning of each month, a volunteer may be involved in helping several of these homeless youth to put together an art show for an upcoming First Thursday downtown. Last month there was a trip out of the city for skiing. This week several of the youth were able to go to a play downtown, such a treat.
Creativity, working toward a cause that provides immense opportunity, and the community created between staff and the youth are just a few reasons I have enjoyed my volunteer time with P:EAR.” Donny Kunzer (Imago Dei Volunteer at P:EAR)
p:ear needs volunteers to help with all sorts of different needs including:
Mentors: a once a week commitment to hanging out with young people, learning alongside them and being an ongoing positive influence in their lives.
Mailings: This is both a monthly commitment and a bi-annual event helping p:ear to address and mail their newsletters, fundraiser invitations and information about their monthly art shows.
Receptionist work: Once a year p:ear requires people who can call their sponsors and supporters to remind them about the annual p:ear blossoms fundraiser event.
p:ear blossoms:p:ear needs a number of volunteers to help in a variety of different roles at their annual fundraising event.
Chaperones:p:ear needs a call list of about 4-5 people who would be willing to go to concerts, plays, events in the community with youth on a "last minute" basis.
Donating supplies: p:ear require a constant supply of art materials and basic items such as socks and writing materials for the young people who use their facilities.
Skilled people as needed: Such as photographers, graphic designers, carpenters, plumbers, etc who would be willing to help on individual specific projects.
To get involved with p:ear or find out more information please get in touch with Imago Dei’s p:ear coordinator Donny Kunzer at kunzmeister@yahoo.com.
