Salem-News.com Volunteer articles Page 5

Two Oregon State Police Teams Take The `Plunge` to Raise Money for Special Olympics

The nine-person Oregon State Police team, "Team Copcicles", raised $5,011 to date.

(BEND, Ore.) - Oregon State Police teams from central Oregon and St. Helens' areas took the "plunge" helping to raise over $6,200 for Special Olympics Oregon when they participated in this year's "Polar Plunge" events in Bend and Portland.

The "Polar Plunge" is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, and businesses to support Special Olympics Oregon athletes.

Battle Ground Police arrest Graduation Committee Volunteer for Theft of Funds

Police say the suspect collected money from fundraisers to support the graduation party of the senior class, and also collected from the sale of tickets to the Battle Ground High School Senior graduation event.

(BATTLE GROUND, Wash.) - Battle Ground Police Detectives arrested 41-year old Dee Ann Brede of Battle Ground today for embezzling over $11,000.

Brede was the treasurer of the 2009 Battle Ground High School Grad Night Committee. The position is volunteer and not affiliated with the school district.

Willamette Tenth in Nation for Peace Corps Volunteers (PHOTO SERIES)

Throughout the last 47 years, 281 Willamette alumni have joined the Peace Corps ranks.

(SALEM, Ore..) - Willamette University ranks No. 10 in the nation this year on the Peace Corps’ list of small undergraduate schools producing Peace Corps volunteers.

FBI Increases Reward for `Operation Backfire` Fugitives

The feds say animal rights activists are "terrorists" and responsible for at least 25 domestic terrorism criminal actions totaling over $48 million in damages.

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced an increased reward for information about fugitives being sought for their role in a domestic terrorism cell.

Specifically, the FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Josephine Sunshine Overaker, Joseph Mahmoud Dibee, Justin Franchi Solondz, and Rebecca Rubin. These individuals were members of the domestic terrorism cell, referred to as “The Family,” the FBI says, adding that their criminal actions included vandalism, animal releases, arsons and attempted arsons across Oregon, Washington, California, Wyoming and Colorado.

“We depend on the assistance of our domestic and international law enforcement partners in this ongoing fugitive search,” said Executive Assistant Director Arthur M. Cummings, II, FBI National Security Branch.

Boy Crushed by Truck Continues to Inspire Disabled Veterans (VIDEO)

"Big Evan" is a 'Boy Wonder' whose good deeds would compete with Superman any day.

(MARION, Ill.) - Few stories give my heart strings the workout that this one does. A 4-year boy who spends his extra time cheering up wounded and disabled vets with his grandmother in Illinois, narrowly survived being crushed by a pick-up truck. The story involves gritted teeth, forgiveness, perseverance, recovery, and a really unforgettable airplane ride.

On October 8th 2008, Susan Tackitt's youngest grandson was run over by a 3/4 ton pickup. Both wheels went over this tiny child who has been a VA Volunteer for more than half of his life. When "Big Evan" was hit by the truck, he was seriously injured, according to Tackitt.

"His femor and pelvis were broken, he had lacerations on his liver and spline and is in a full body cast," Tackitt said, adding that, "For four days he wouldn't eat."

Peace Corps Analyzes Volunteer Production State by State

Oregon, Montana and Washington on List of Top 10 Producers Per Capita.

(SEATTLE) - Oregon, Montana and Washington have made the Peace Corps’ list of top 10 producers per capita. Oregon ranked No. 3 per capita with around six Peace Corps volunteers currently serving for every 100,000 Oregonians.


Montana ranked No. 5 per capita with around five Peace Corps volunteers currently serving for every 100,000 Montanans. Washington ranked No. 7 per capita with around five Peace Corps volunteers currently serving for every 100,000 Washingtonians.


Vermont achieved the highest per capita numbers of Peace Corps volunteers in the field, with close to 10 Peace Corps volunteers currently serving for every 100,000 Vermont residents.

Local Groups Lose Over 5,200 Pounds to Help Fight Hunger

The group was inspired to take action when they learned startling statistics; more than 1.6 BILLION adults worldwide are overweight; and 862 million people went underfed in 2007.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Weight Watchers groups from Salem and Keizer have teamed together to join the fight against two global epidemics – hunger and obesity – by participating in the Lose for Good Campaign.

According to Feeding America, 99% of food banks surveyed experienced an increase in the number of low-income American’s turning to soup kitchens and food pantries for assistance this year. Even the nation's most affluent areas have been affected; thirty-nine percent of the adults requesting emergency food assistance in the last year were gainfully employed.

As part of Lose for Good, the Weight Watchers groups coordinated food drives – donating food for each time members lost weight - to support the Marion Polk Food Share. The food share collects, sorts, stores and distributes over 4.8 million pounds of food each year to a network of 73 local service providers who distribute food to hungry people in their neighborhoods.

Independence Students` Race for Hope Will Benefit Medical Teams (VIDEO)

A positive and inspirational video story about Oregon youth from Salem-News.com reporter Tim King.

(INDEPENDENCE, Ore.) - Five high school students from Central High in Independence were inspired recently by a display they saw in Tigard, Oregon, from Medical Teams International called the Real. Life. Exhibit.

The five girls said they were highly impacted by the experience and now they are doing what they can to raise money for the medical teams.

Oregon Community Foundation Celebrates New Regional Office Opening

OCF is celebrating the opening of its newest regional office with an open house at the Dye House, Mission Mill Museum.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon Community Foundation is celebrating two new beginnings this week. They have a new office, located at 707 13th Street SE in downtown Salem.

And, they have a new Regional Director, Maureen Thomas. She was appointed as the new Director, North Willamette Valley, for OCF in January of 2008.

Local Red Cross Volunteer Deployed to Floods in Washington

"...I do like the idea of helping people – so that’s why I am going.”

(SALEM) - American Red Cross volunteer Dan Androes of Monmouth is preparing for a three week assignment in Bellingham, Washington.

Androes will be working in a Red Cross warehouse used to stock shelters and to provide people with items they will need to respond to severe flooding and the clean-up effort once flood waters reced.

Androes has been a Disaster Service volunteer with the Willamette Chapter of the American Red Cross for over two years. In 2004 he reposnded to Huricanes Charles and Frances and was in Ft. Pierce, Florida when Hurricane Gene made landfall.