ReBuilding Center Classes Spring Schedule

Learn a new skill or hone some old ones! Join us in the ReFind Furniture workshop for the following classes this spring. Questions? You can email Emily Krafft, Education Assistant at education@rebuildingcenter.org or call 503-542-5061. And as always, check out the website for more information or to register.

Spring Schedule 2009

Introduction to Carpentry for Women
This hands-on carpentry workshop covers power tools, safety, construction lingo and basic principles of carpentry. Students will build their own tool box from recycled materials to take home!

Sunday, March 15, 10am-5pm
Tuition: $45
Instructed by Gillian Davis
Register Now

Creative Shelving and Storage

Learn to design and build a box, shelving system, or storage unit from reclaimed material that is both artistic and utilitarian. This three day workshop will incorporate the use of hand and power tools and introduce practical construction techniques.

Wedensday March 25, 6-8pm, Saturday March 28 and Sunday March 29, 10-4pm
Tuition: $85
Instructed by Dan Anderson
Register Now

Woodcut: The Hand Pulled Print
Create woodblock prints with recycled pine using both hand and power carving tools. Participants will learn how to print by hand and leave the class ready to continue printing in their own studio or kitchen!

Wedensday April 1st, 6-9pm and Saturday April 4th 10-3:30pm
Tuition: $70
$10 Materials fee paid to instructor on 1st day of class
Instructed by Ken Walker
Register Now


Adirondack Chair Workshop
Build an Adirondack Chair from recycled wood. In this three day workshop students will use the bandsaw, chopsaw and drills to craft their own classic Adirondack chair. Class time will focus on techniques and simple joinery, with extensive cutting and assembly time.
Pre-requisite: Have taken previous Rebuilding Center workshop or woodworking class elsewhere or instructor approval.

Thursday April 15, 6:30-8:30pm, Saturday April 18 and Sunday April 19, 10-5pm
Tuition: $115
Instructed by Randi Selleck
Register Now

Tile it Workshop
Learn to install recycled ceramic floor tiles in this two part workshop - a sustainable option for kitchens, bathrooms, and more. In this hands-on course you will gain measuring, cutting, layout, mortar/grout mixing, and installation skills.

Tuesday May 5, 6-9pm and Tuesday May 7, 6-7:30pm
Tuition: $35
Instructed by Holly Huntley
Register Now

How to Hang a Door Demonstration
Demonstration on how to select a door from The ReBuilding Center warehouse, resize it and hang it. Will also cover replacing basic door hardware.

Sunday May 17, 10am-12pm
Sliding Scale $5-15 suggested donation
Instructed by Jonah Ferber
Please RSVP by emailing education@rebuildingcenter.org

Fence Building Demonstration
Build your fence out of recycled wood. Come learn how to set fence posts sturdy and straight and explore creative ways fill in the rest.

Sunday May 17, 2-4pm
Tuition: $15
Instructed by Jonah Ferber
Register Now

Change is Good!

A recent new addition to the warehouse is bringing smiles to the faces of visitors and salvage specialists alike--but one face in particular is beaming with joy. Ella Rose is absolutely radiant behind our brand new cash registers! We are so very grateful and proud of this new addition to the OUV family and we invite you to come meet the new registers yourself! They're quite sophisticated and oh-so stylish.

Ella Rose helping a visitor behind our new cash register.

We want to extend our sincere gratitude to Jim Gerow and all the folks at Positive Technologies, Inc. who patiently guided us through the process and were an absolute joy to work with. Thank you!

The Gift of Volunteers!

Our United Villages has been very fortunate this month in receiving record numbers of volunteers! They come from many groups and some from across the state, but they all have one thing in common: being wonderful examples of energy, inspiration and generosity!

The volunteer program of Our United Villages is thriving thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who make this operation possible. We had a record high turn out to our bi-monthly after hours event this month. We had nearly thirty attendees and we needed every one! Thank you so much to these folks from the community who believe in our work. If you are interested in attending one of these events, you can sign up on the Hands-On Portland website by clicking here.

In addition, we would like to recognize the monumental presence of the Portland Youth Builders. Over 60 PYB students and staff joined The ReBuilding Center today for several hours to help with a wide variety of projects. They sorted tile, built racking for the lumber yard, organized the miscellaneous section and mounted pictures of ReUse genius for the Community Resource Area--among many other tasks of course. We are truly grateful for their energy, spirit and willingness to lend a hand! What a great group!

Portland Youth Builders at work.

Finally, we want to extend a huge thank you to the students of George Fox University from Newberg, Oregon. They generously chose to have an alternative winter break and spent it volunteering at The Rebuilding Center. The students worked tirelessly for four days organizing and salvaging materials in the warehouse. They left inspired to continue re-using and educating others in their own community about re-use.

George Fox University students in the offices of OUV.

Volunteering is a wonderful gift. Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts. If you are interested in volunteering either as an individual or a group please contact the Volunteer Coordinator of Our United Villages at volunteer@ourunitedvillages.org or at 503.467.4985.

Videos About Our United Villages

For your viewing pleasure--a selection of videos featuring Our United Villages and its services.*










*Please note that these videos were created, edited and posted by individuals outside of this organization.

Share Your Story: Snow Angel

Community Outreach believes that neighborhoods that recognize the strengths, talents, and resources of each individual create a healthier, more vibrant community. We share inspirational stories and experiences of people working together to inspire others. If you have an inspirational story that you would like to submit, please email it to info@ourunitedvillages.org for consideration. Please enjoy the following story, submitted anonymously to Community Outreach of Our United Villages.

Snow Angel

We are from the Midwest, so when the snow came, it was no big thing to us. We still got out of the house everyday and though the roads were slippery, we had them mostly to ourselves. Our next door neighbors are elders and we hadn’t seen their car move in days. We checked in with them and it turned out that they were almost out of food. They drafted a detailed shopping list: “…the generic brand of breakfast cereal bars, 2% milk, the pepperoni pizza that comes in the yellow box.” They were grateful for the help, but more than that, we were excited for the opportunity to contribute. When we got back, we thought about ways that we could help some of our other elderly neighbors.

The woman kiddy-corner from us just wanted to know if she should bother getting her garbage out to the corner. Seeing as though the garbage vehicles weren’t out and about, we asked if there was anything else that she needed. “Why don’t you stop by later for tea.” Wanting companionship is the easiest need to fill. We swapped a few stories and devoured the delicious cornbread she had whipped up.

Back in the Midwest you can be fined for not removing the snow in a timely manner—so we were on it. We threw on our snowpants and gloves, and armed with leaf rake and dirt shovel we started clearing our neighbors’ walkways, steps, and driveways. As we were finishing the next door neighbor’s driveway, he opened the door wearing a cozy fleece robe, spicy hot chocolate in hand. Then we moved onto the neighbor who lives kiddy-corner. After laying salt on her very icy steps, she opened the door and said “I think I might have a shovel in the attic- wanna take a look?” When we were equipped with the proper tool, we were rearing to go. We asked if it would be alright to go down to Mary’s house, who lives about a block down. She responded “Please do…last I heard her furnace was out and she hasn’t answered the phone. Find out if the repair man has come.”

As we had started shoveling Mary’s walkway and steps, she peeked her towel-wrapped head out the door, saying “No…no…please don’t do that…what are you doing?” I let her know that it was just a neighborly thing to do and we would stop if she wanted us to, but were happy to help. “Well, I just…well you don’t have to do such a good job.” Mary has a rough exterior about her, like she has survived through harsher days. The furnace had been repaired and she had a space heater. We finished up at her house, and moved onto the next neighbor.

About two weeks later, when the snow had melted and the garbage was being picked up again, I opened the front door to bring the bins back up to the house, and who was standing there? Mary. “Well thank god you are home. This is the 4th time I have been over here and if you weren’t home this time, I would have just croaked! I wanted to give you this. If the names are wrong, don’t blame me, blame your neighbor…I didn’t even ask your names.” She started moving back to her daughter’s car, who apparently had driven her down to our house 4 times to try and give us a card. She said, “I want you to know that in the 53 years that I have lived here, no one has ever shoveled, racked, or swept my walk. I just couldn’t believe that. You have to come meet my daughter.” After we talked a while, and said goodbye, I went inside to read the card. The first thing I noticed was how beautiful her hand-writing was. “It is so reassuring to know that I have such kind and thoughtful neighbors. Thank you so much for checking on me and for shoveling my walk. It was such a nice surprise to see you two out there, working so hard for me. I wanted you to know how much that touched by heart. Mary”

It was such a lesson to me. I have the desire to help all the time. Sometimes I don’t know what to do. Sometimes I don’t know if the help will be welcomed. Mary’s letter reminded me how simple it is to reach out to those who are around us and the joy that comes in connecting to one another.