Find out how this unique dinner and auction provides positive activities in outer East Portland schools …
After dining on a wide selection of foods provided by area restaurants, guests at the 2023 Taste of Rose City & Auction learn more about the Portland East Young Life programs.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
In the very southeast corner of outer East Portland, at Cedarville Lodge, the 2023 Taste of Rose City & Auction “sold out” the evening of April 22. It’s a benefit event.
Portland East Young Life (PEYL) supporters found an amazing selection of foods, provided by Portland restaurants on a buffet, proffering multiple food, wine and beer vendors, offering tastes to please every palate.
Guests come for second helpings of food, provided in abundance.
PEYL mentor Chad Reeves (center) warms up the audience with two other mentors.
While leaders of Portland East Young Life provided a short introduction to their programs, Chad Reeves, a PEYL leader at David Douglas High School – as well as being a sports coach and teacher – told East Portland News about the program.
“As I have continued to be a mentor with Young Life for the past 27 years, I keep on seeing that this is a way for kids to learn to have positive relationships with adults,” Reeves explained.
“All of the kids in our family have been involved; but, there are a lot of kids who don’t have positive, wholesome relationships with adults – and that’s what we do through PEYL,” he continued. “Additionally, we feel that every youth should have the chance to hear who Jesus Christ is – after they hear it, to do what they want with this Good News,” elucidated Reeves.
PEYL Area Director Julie Reeves interviews David, Nelson, and Andrew – three club participants – about what they enjoy most about being part of the organization.
It’s important, Reeves emphasized, to point out that the club is nondenominational. “We accept every young person who wants to come to the club and to make it the most welcoming environment that we can.”
In addition to the ticket sales, that evening also featured silent and live auctions. Proceeds go to help support the needs of many under-resourced kids in the outer East Portland community, Reeves said – including providing outside-of-school meals, and also paying for attending special events and subsidizing summer camp fees, during the year.
Picking up Silent Auction tickets is PEYL Administrative Assistant Kim Satterthwite.
“There are Young Life camps all over the world; but we usually take our club members to events at the Washington Family Ranch Young Life Camp in Central Oregon,” said Reeves.
After the event, Portland East Young Life Administrative Assistant Kim Satterthwite said they were jubilant about the event’s outcome. “The funds we raised from our generous guests will be enough to help subsidize more than 50 students in PEYL as they go to camp this summer.
With his table having won an “early selection” slot, guest Jesse picks up the goodies in the Dessert Dash fundraiser.
“Also, a good chunk of money came in to provide on-going support for weekly club meetings and events throughout the year in which students are welcomed by mentors with dinner, and given a safe space to have some energetic fun and to learn about God’s love for them at the same time,” Satterthwite remarked. “We are so grateful for this financial stability for our area’s budget for the coming year, she added.”
Volunteer Rich Ellerd serves as auctioneer, and quickly gets the bidding going.
Here’s a list of companies who donated food and drinks to the 2023 Taste of Rose City & Auction:
Safeway 122nd/Powell ~ Stark Street Pizza
Wooden Chicken Pub ~ Laurelwood Brewing
Rogue Brewing ~ Reininger Winery
Big Guy Clatskanie ~ Pointblank Distributing
Columbia Distributing ~ Gateway Brewing Co.
Maletis Beverage ~ Resers ~ Sugar Cubed Cakes
To learn more about Portland East Young Life, see their official website: CLICK HERE.
© 2023 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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