![Reaching out. Christopher Lesh, student at Central Catholic High School, serves ice cream during the event on March 2, 2025, at the Portland waterfront. Central Catholic was just one of the schools that sent student volunteers out to cook, prepare, dish, and serve food. Interact club’s co-president Rachel Gerber, junior, plated the food during the event. “I like how direct the contact is,” Gerber said. “You’re there [and] you’re just doing something good. It’s simple, it’s easy, you can feel good about it.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/interact-1-edited-1200x744.jpg)
Providence Park had a packed stadium on April 19 while hosting the annual match between the Portland Timbers and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). The close game was enjoyed by fans and eventually ended in a 3-3 draw, extending the Timbers’ unbeaten run to six games.
However, there was another reason for the stadium’s impressive ticket sales. The Timbers held a ticket promotion fundraiser in collaboration with the Oregon Humane Society (OHS) to support their mission to care for local animals in need.
Tickets to the match were being offered at the OHS, and it was advertised in the weeks prior to the game that each ticket purchased at their storefront would result in a $5 donation to the organization. Gavin Sorenson, senior, was at the game where Timbers fans and animal lovers alike came to show their support.
“I will say there was a huge turnout,” Sorenson said. “Sure, it was partially for LAFC, but a good amount was for [the] Oregon Humane Society’s cause.”
Sorenson is currently working his second season as an In-House Security employee at Providence Park. His job includes escorting the Portland Timbers team owner, working with guest security teams, ensuring that all employees are checked in, and securing private areas of the stadium. Although he is not an avid Timbers fan, Sorenson attends nearly every game and the many fundraisers that they host.
“There have been a lot [of fundraisers] the last two seasons,” Sorenson said. “The turnout can even be three times what we expect.”
Similar to Providence Park, OHS has also participated in a large variety of fundraisers to raise money to care for animals in their facility and find them foster parents. These opportunities are made possible through the work of their volunteers, including Sienna Dripps, eighth grader, who volunteers roughly once a week to help feed, clean, and care for a variety of animals.
“[I’ve been volunteering] ever since the third grade,” Dripps said. “One of my camp counselors convinced me to sign up, and I’m so glad I did.”
According to Dripps, there are many more events to expect throughout the year. OHS will be hosting events like a Kitten Shower later in 2025 and Doggy Dash, which happened on May 10, and also offers countless opportunities open to the community throughout the year. Children may attend summer camps, adults and teenagers age 12 and up can apply to volunteer regularly, and donations and interested pet foster parents are always welcome.
