High School Students Design and Build Charging Stations for Homeless Portlanders in the Lloyd District

Volunteers, including junior Solomon Olshin and some of his classmates, built 11 rechargeable battery stations and donated 80 sleeping bags for homeless individuals

(WW Staff)
By Katie Shepherd

A high school junior at Catlin Gabel School designed a rechargeable battery and light that will provide power for homeless Portlanders to charge their phones and see at night.

Volunteers, including junior Solomon Olshin and some of his classmates, built 11 rechargeable battery stations and donated 80 sleeping bags for homeless people who visit the Right 2 Dream Too rest area in the Lloyd District. The stations, called "juiceboxes," are made of repurposed materials.

The effort sprang from a fundraising effort by eBay employees in Portland, who raised $11,000 in September to purchase the materials for the batteries and the 80 sleeping bags.

The Lloyd District rest area provides services to find housing and employment and emergency services for homeless individuals, as well as access to some basic necessities like power sources and safe sleeping areas.

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