Greetings Neighbors!
2025 was an awesome year!
First, Time Out Magazine rated the Kerns Neighborhood-the neighborhood
where you live and/or work is the fifth coolest neighborhood in the world and the coolest
in the United States!
Second, we had one of the best neighborhood picnics ever! What made it so
awesome is that the generous businesses, energetic nonprofits, supportive faith
communities, and enthusiastic residents of the Kerns community worked together to
create a very special evening!
This year, the Kerns Neighborhood Picnic will take place on Tuesday, August 4 th ,
from 6:00 pm to 8:45 pm at Oregon Park, NE Oregon & NE 30th . There will be food, live
music, children’s activities, and a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses and
nonprofits!
Also, at this year’s picnic, we will support two outstanding neighborhood
nonprofits by gathering enough school supplies and nonperishable food for Friends of
Seasonal and Service Workers (FSSW) and clothing, linens, hygiene products, and
other items for Transition Projects to go from the 29th side of the park to the 30th side!
More information about the drive on the other side of this letter.
There are so many ways that you can help make the annual picnic a huge
success! You can volunteer, donate money to help defray the costs of the picnic,
contribute something for the raffle (benefitting the Kerns Neighborhood Association), or
staff an Information Table promoting your organization! Please see the enclosed
document for more information.
Please contact me at 971-284-4175 or kernspicnic@gmail.com if you have any
questions, concerns or want to help! I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing
you at the picnic on Tuesday, August 4th ! Thank you for helping make the annual picnic
one of the best neighborhood celebrations in Portland and for helping make Kerns one
of the coolest neighborhoods in the world!
In Community,
David Champion
Kerns Neighborhood Picnic Coordinator
This year, we are gathering donations for Transition Projects and
Friends of Seasonal and Service Workers at the Kerns picnic!
Transition Projects
Transition Projects welcomes the donation of new and gently-
used clothing, linens/towels, and NEW hygiene items. Please
donate mindfully: Clothing and goods are used by our clients, so
we ask that that all items are clean, from a non-smoking
household, and ready-to-use by another person. Linens and
clothing must be free of stains, tears, and pet hair.
Transition Projects Accepts the items below.
Clothing: For adult men and women; new or gently used and
clean • Clothing (seasonal only) • Coats • Underwear • Shoes &
shoelaces • Belts • Hats • Gloves • Sweatshirts & sweatpants
Hygiene Products: Any size, NEW and UNUSED ONLY •
Deodorant • Toothpaste & toothbrushes • Razors & shaving
cream Linens: New or gently used and clean • Sleeping pillows —
without stains and tears • Blankets — without stains, tears, or excessive wear
Other Items: New or gently used • Camping gear – tents, tarps,
sleeping bags, packaged food items, etc. • Arts & crafts supplies •
Toilet paper, paper towels, tissues • Lotion • Shampoo &
conditioner • Feminine hygiene products • Towels & washcloths
— without stains, tears, fraying • Twin & full-sized sheets —
without stains, tears • Books – fiction, non-fiction, general interest
(no textbooks or reference books)
Friends of Service and Seasonal Workers (FSSW)
For Friends of Seasonal and Service Workers we are gathering
school supplies and nonperishable food items.
Please keep donations for FSSW & Transition Projects separate!
Kerns Neighborhood Picnic Help
Tuesday, August 4th , 2026
6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Oregon Park (corner of NE 30th and Oregon St.)
We are grateful that with your help, year after year the Kerns Neighborhood Association has
been able to run a spectacular Party On, Portland community picnic for hundreds of neighbors.
The all-ages evening includes live music, a delicious free dinner, and a very special raffle.
The picnic is made possible by the generous contributions of neighborhood businesses and
organizations like yours. Several Kerns businesses regularly participate through donations of
cash, food, raffle prize donations, tabling, or attending. Your help means the world to our
neighborhood!
Please take a moment to let us know how you could help us this year by answering a few
simple questions below.
With our warmth and gratitude,
Your Kerns Picnic Planning Team
Questions? Contact David 971-284-4175 or kernspicnic@gmail.com.
HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS!!!
Bamboo Sushi Mountain Shop Wooptido
Bark: Defend & Restore Mt Hood Music Millenium
Bennett’s Best Bites Noble Rot
Bitar Bros. Robert A Bitar Corp Oregonians Credit Union
ChildRoots Center for Young Children Pairings Portland
The Circuit Bouldering Gym Pambiche
City Bikes Paydirt
City of Portland Neighborhood Emergency Team Polliwog Portland
Clay Lauren Walsh Real Estate Company Portland Rock Gym
Coca-Cola Company Providore Fine Foods
DoTERRA Sol Essential Oils, Kathryn Langstaff ReRack
Dove Vivi Pizza Rubinette Produce Market
Everett House of Healing Screen Door
Flanders House Sons of Norway-Grieg Lodge
Franks-A-Lot Staccato Gelato
Friends of Seasonal and Service Workers Stammtisch
Girls & Roses Tattoo Studio Stone Tower SDA Church
Goodfoot The Goodfoot
Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels The Pie Spot
Illume Day Spa Tight Tacos
Jazzercise Tiny Digs/Tiny Houses Hotel
Ken’s Artisan Pizza Transitional Projects-Jean’s Place
Laurelhurst Chiropractic Tiny Digs/Tiny Houses Hotel
Laurelhurst Theater Trinity Church of Portland
Laurelthirst Public House Voodoo Donut
Level Beer: Level 3 Buckman Kerns Whole Body Fitness
Mandala Medicine and Wellness Whole Foods
Mattress Lot Whole 9 Yards
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church First Church of Christ Scientist
Thank you for your help!
