Care To Share Agency celebrates 25th anniversary of helping families in need as it moves into new home

By Kat Lynch

The Beaverton Valley Times, Jul 29, 2010

Seven hundred and two.

That’s the number of heat, light and water shut-offs that Care To Share averted in 2009.

That figure also reflects one of the many ways that the nonprofit organization stepped in to help 16,939 families in the Beaverton and Aloha areas last year.

Care To Share celebrated 25 years of service through food boxes, utility assistance and elementary school supplies on Friday at their new facility, 17175 S.W. Tualatin Valley Highway.

“The need has grown,” said operations manager Dorie Horne. “And we’re looking at a 10 percent growth since last year. Everyday we have about 150 calls for food assistance.”

Since the operation opened in 1985, the assistance and referrals that Care to Share volunteers provide have just been keeping step with the need. The Oregon Food Bank reports that the distribution of emergency food in Washington County rose 28 percent during the 2008-09 fiscal year.

“When I got here 10 years ago, we had two phone lines – one was for the fax machine – and we had two computers,” Horne said. The center now relies on five computers and phones, and six people to field calls and respond to requests. “We have room in our new facility for another desk when we need it.”

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