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OPINION In "This Modern World," as Tom Tomorrow calls it, there is nothing more joyful or rewarding than helping others. This time of year, when all manner of worthy organizations ask for your support, Willamette Week urges you to give special consideration to a few of our favorite community organizations. Staffers here have been participating in SMART--Start Making A Reader Today--almost from its inception. This year, in Multnomah and Washington counties alone, SMART has 2,000 volunteers reading with kindergartners and first- and second-graders who are lagging in language development. Reading with these kids not only helps build literacy skills but also creates friendships, often across cultural boundaries. The experience brings adults into the public-school system and provides invaluable one-on-one attention. There are all manner of ways to help SMART (in Multnomah County, call 916-2000, ext. 4563; in Washington County, call 833-4838). If you can't contribute your own time, you can send a donation to SMART (in care of the Oregon Children's Foundation, 200 SW Market St., suite 170, Portland 97201). You can also drop off a children's book for SMART at any Noah's Bagels in the area. (From Nov. 30 through Jan. 1, each book contributed to the Noah's drive will get you a free bagel.) Or you can contribute to the Open Books for Children Project at any Portland-area Borders Books & Music; half of your contribution will go to SMART, accompanied by a partial match from Borders. Wallace Medical Concern provides services to homeless street youths and adults and to medically needy families in the Portland area. All services and medications are delivered at no charge by a corps of 175 volunteer health professionals. This past summer WMC, in collaboration with El Programa Hispano, opened a new clinic for Spanish-speaking migrant workers at Townsend Farms in eastern Multnomah County. In the months ahead WMC plans to expand services for Latino residents in this area, few of whom qualify for the Oregon Health Plan. For information about volunteer opportunities (especially if you're a health-care professional or a Spanish interpreter), contact Kathy Hammock, WMC's executive director (274-1277). Contributions to support clinics should be sent to: The Wallace Medical Concern, P.O. Box 6972, Portland 97228. Sisters of the Road Cafe is our favorite organization providing the homeless with food and a safe place to congregate. The Old Town restaurant serves an average of 250 meals a day, 43 percent of which are served in exchange for labor. To help offset the cost of bartered meals, a group of anonymous donors have, for the fifth year in a row, created a substantial pool of money ($16,765 this year) to be used as a match for all individual donations made by Dec. 31. If you're curious about the Sisters of the Road Cafe or wish to donate money or time, contact development manager Brenda Ray Scott or development director Deirdre Atkinson. Both can be reached by phone (222-5694), fax (222-3028) or e-mail (Sisters133@aol.com). Or try stopping by 133 NW 6th Ave. for a low-cost lunch some weekday between 10 am and 3 pm. No local organization has done more for individuals and families affected by HIV and AIDS than the Cascade AIDS Project. One of CAP's more innovative efforts is the Housing Warehouse. Located under the east side of the Morrison Bridge, it makes donated furniture available to individuals and families in their own homes or in living units provided by CAP. Right now dressers, beds and box springs, sofas, love seats, kitchen tables and chairs are in high demand. If you have any of these items and would like to give them to CAP, call Kate Mosca (223-5907, ext. 149) and she'll arrange a pickup. For a complete list of CAP's many programs, call the agency's main number (223-5907). Send contributions to: CAP, 620 SW 5th Ave., suite 300, Portland 97204. All contributions to these organizations are fully tax-deductible.
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