Find out how your gently-used household goods and clothing can help graduating seniors have a fun – and a safe – sendoff after graduation. And, you’ll discover that ‘Boxer Bingo’ is a good thing …
Kari Deardorff, President of DDHS PTSA and Committee Chair for the Senior All Night drug-free & alcohol-free Party, stands ready to receive donations to be sold at their annual Rummage Sale.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The proven way to keep young people safe on the night after they graduate from high school, is to provide an alternative to drunken or drug-infused parties.
“The David Douglas High School (DDHS) Senior All-Night Party is a safe place for kids to have one last big hurrah,” smiles Kari Deardorff, President of DDHS Parent Teacher Student Association – and Chair of the all-night party event.
“There’s no alcohol, no drugs, no peer pressure to do anything they’d later regret,” Deardorff explains. “It’s a big party, with all kinds of activities – like dancing to a DJ’s music, a rock band perforance, a joust, a rock climbing wall, face-painting, henna tattoos, all the food and soft drinks – including an espresso cart – that they could possibly want. One of the favorites is ‘Boxer Bingo’.”
“Boxer Bingo?” we ask.
“Sure. They play bingo to win boxer shorts – it’s huge,” Deardorff says with a grin. “The kids love putting their new boxer shorts on, right over their clothing!”
Annual Rummage Sale funds party
Money for this end-of-school blow-out comes from donors – and from the proceeds of their annual rummage sale.
“We’re looking for donations,” advises Deardorff. “Please bring household goods, furniture, lawn mowers, clothing, books, records, photographic gear – all gently used – but please don’t bring junk.”
They’re not accepting computers or old TV sets, because they don’t have a technical crew to test and fix them, and they must pay to dispose of them. They may take large appliances – if you make special arrangements. Again, having to get rid of non-working donations robs them of money for the party.
“We’re so happy for the use of two 40-foot seagoing containers,” says Deardorff. “They’ve been donated to us by NorLift. And, Gerlock Heavy Hauling donated their transportation charges – $100 per container, each way. We really appreciate these donations.”
Look for these containers – and this banner, being installed by Dan Deardorff and son Jeff – when you stop by during their attended collection times and days.
Now accepting donations
Through mid-March, volunteers are on hand to accept donations on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
The rummage sale will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 11th and 12th, and again on the following Friday and Saturday, March 18th and 19th.
“Then, we’ll start accepting donations again, because we’ll also be at ‘Portland’s Largest Garage Sale’ at the Portland Exhibition Center on April 23 and 24th,” reports Deardorff. “All of the funds we make at these sales will be going to the Senior All-night Party.”
The “Donation Center” is located in the south parking lot of DDHS next to the auto shop, off SE 130th Avenue – just west of Palermini Field. These dedicated volunteers ask you to bring goods only during their attended collection times – do not just leave items in or near the containers at other times.
For more information, contact Kari Deardorff at ddhsptsa@gmail.com – or see their website: CLICK HERE to open it.
© 2011 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News