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Jenn Louis aids homeless for Common Good

After cooking meals and deliv- and they work hard. They are
ering basic needs to homeless very thorough. It is hard work,
camps since November 2020, and they do a great job.”
local cookbook author and chef Jenn connected with Laura and
Jenn Louis has expanded her Trash for Peace through Havu-
efforts to include trash cleanup. rah Shalom. A member of Havu-
“I still do my outreach work, rah, Jenn said she mentioned her
which is the basic needs and hot desire to launch the trash project
meals and all that stuff I have been doing,” says Jenn. “We also during a meeting of a Havurah committee she serves on. A relative
started a separate trash program, which is why I was looking for a of Laura’s on the same committee connected the two women.
financial sponsor.” The Jewish community has been very supportive of her efforts,
Jenn has branded her program The Common Good Project under says Jenn. “It’s been a really good backbone for this project, and
the auspices of Trash for Peace, a nonprofit founded by Portland I’m really grateful.”
native Laura Kutner in 2012. As a program of the nonprofit, The The public funding does not extend to her outreach work.
Common Good Project is eligible for public funding and grants. A “You all were so generous when I first started my homeless relief
grant from the Joint Office of Homeless Services has allowed Jenn to project, and I need funds to continue,” wrote Jenn in an email an-
employ homeless individuals to collect trash from Portland streets. nouncing her trash project. “I can contribute my time, but I need
“We pay them $20 an hour,” says Jenn, adding that the trash pro- your contributions, too.”
gram has been funded by Metro and the Joint Office of Homeless She continues to need volunteers and donations including cloth-
Services. “We have two crews, one with six people and one five, ing, food, etc. for those efforts. She has attracted a score of volun-
and a few others who help sometimes.” teers from Havurah Shalom, Congregation Beth Israel and individ-
The crews work three to four days per week, depending on fund- uals concerned with the homeless crisis. Information on cooking,
ing. Workdays are four hours, with a hot lunch after two hours. volunteering and donating (including an Amazon wish list) is
“I want to make sure folks are successful and feel good about available on her website – click on the Homeless Relief Initiative
what they are doing,” says Jenn. “Folks on the street like the work, bar at the top of jennlouis.com or email hello@jennlouis.com.

Annette Gerard: Selling it like it is

BY SYDNEY CLEVENGER sells and then goes out to shop. The follow-
Need some candy or a card? Forget to buy ing Monday, she brings in new items, puts
laundry detergent? Or need Judaica for a on a price and then it’s out for sale.”
Jewish holiday? Two volunteers – Barbara Rudolph (Tues-
Rose Schnitzer Manor’s Stop N’ Shop has days) and Marilyn Soulas (Wednesdays) –
you covered (though access for nonresi- had mothers living at Rose Schnitzer Man-
dents is limited during the pandemic). or and volunteered to help Annette even
“We have a tremendous number of items after their family members passed. Elaine
for sale, including jewelry,” says Annette Salburg is a friend of Marilyn and Mar-
Gerard, 96, who has managed the Stop N’ garet and tackles Thursdays. Annette fills
Shop with the help of volunteers for the in on the days her volunteers have timing
past five years, and who volunteered at the conflicts. All monies raised go to the Cedar
store for seven years prior. “We have a few Sinai Park Foundation.
connections of people who donate items or “The four volunteers are wonderful,” says
give us stuff at cost, and we have a good Annette. “We wouldn’t be open without
amount of stock now.” them.”
No one can quite remember when the Stop Annette and her husband, Melvin, lived in
N’ Shop officially opened. But Facilities Queens, N.Y., for 60 years. Melvin was an
Manager Tammy Heard believes the store engineer and started a business designing
began around 20 years ago. The space used equipment in 1965. The pair worked out of Margaret Gotesman and Annette Gerard.
to house a coffee bar for residents. the family home, and Annette became the hat or scarf. (Annette has donated nearly
Today, the Stop N’ Shop is open Monday bookkeeper and secretary. 4,600 hats and scarves to charity, including
through Thursday, 2 -3:30 pm. Each day, When Melvin died, Annette moved to Or- Ukraine support groups.)
different volunteers help residents and their egon after a few years and selected Rose “I make a hat every day while I watch
families ring up their purchases. Schnitzer Manor because she has four television,” says Annette.
“It’s hard to know what might sell on any grandchildren and five great-grandchildren With her 97th birthday coming up in a few
given day,” says Annette. “Sometimes, peo- in Portland. months, Annette has been training her heir
ple will come in and see candy in the front of “I like it here,” says Annette. “They take apparent to coordinate the Stop N’ Shop
the display that reminds them of their child- good care of us. They really do. The staff is books. There is no firm date on when the
hood. It can be weeks before I sell laundry wonderful. And the residents are very nice. transition will be official, but store proce-
detergent, and then three people will come And there’s a lot of activities.” dures have been drafted and systems al-
in on the same day and clear out the shelf.” The walls in Annette’s apartment are ready passed on.
Monday volunteer Margaret Gotesman is filled with art creations, including 3-dimen- “Somebody needs to do the bookkeep-
the store buyer. “She comes in on Monday, sional pictures and others with intricately ing,” says Annette. “I like the socializing
looks around, takes inventory and sees what glued watch parts. Yarn is draped on the with the customers. So, I’ll be here until
we need,” says Annette. “She knows what sofa, waiting for Annette to turn it into a I’m not needed any more.”
Jewish Review July 6, 2022 9