The Sunshine Division has helped my family during times we were most in need. Because I live paycheck to paycheck and I am also a single mother it very hard to create a savings for any kind of emergency needs. When the time has come for an emergency need, the Sunshine Division staff has always made me feel welcomed and has always made me feel like there is hope during my time of need. Without the Sunshine Division's support, I don't know what I would do. Hopefully one day when times are better for myself and my son, we will return our thanks by giving our time back or by donating to those in need that go to the Sunshine Division for emergency services.
I've been involved in a number of nonprofits as a volunteer, donor, and consultant and few are like the Sunshine Division. As a donor, I focus my gifts on organizations who directly serve the local community in a tangible way. Sunshine Division has a variety of programs that help families in MY community. Their connection to the police is unique and I believe adds a perspective other food relief organizations do not have. They also follow my guidelines of what "charity" is, as they don't charge clients or other organizations who receive food from them, unlike the Oregon Food Bank.
As a consultant, I've helped other nonprofits plan fundraising events and can tell you that many thousands of dollars are spent to put on these fundraisers. The Sunshine Division spends virtually nothing to hold fundraising events. It's pretty much unheard of to have so many sponsors underwriting almost 100% of their fundraising event costs. It's a real testament of how local businesses feel about them in Portland.