Holiday News December 2023

Events and Activities

Cedar Mill Holiday Tree Lighting!

Saturday, December 9, 4:30-5:30, lighting at 4:45, plaza next to Insomnia Coffee in the Milltowner Center, 12535 NW Cornell

A portion of the parking lot will be roped off to allow folks to enjoy the lighting safely. In that area there will be a booth for donating to the BSD Clothes Closet, a booth for the Library, and a refreshment booth. Refreshments include cookies donated by Safeway and hot beverages donated by Insomnia and Wildwood Taphouse. Quantities are limited.

Additional parking is available in the upper lot of the center, in the library lot, and in various lots in the vicinity. You are encouraged to carpool with neighbors or take transit if available. Be careful crossing the busy streets!

Beaverton Winter Lights

Through January 4, 2024, 4 pm to 8 am, Beaverton City Park, SW 5th St. and SW Hall Blvd. and The Round, 12655 SW Millikan Way

All displays are wheelchair accessible and can be enjoyed from paved paths.

Hillsboro Lightopia

holiday lights at night

December 5-December 30: 5-8 pm Monday-Thursday, 5-9 pm Friday-Sunday, Gordon Faber Recreation Complex, 4450 NE Century Boulevard), (Closed Christmas Day), free, but reservations are required.

Drive through a glimmering landscape of dazzling lights. The half-mile loop features fun and festive displays. 

Ways to Give

Adopt-a-bike

washco bikes logo featuring blue bike on yellow circle

Our Adopt-a-bike program has given close to 5,000 bicycles away this year and we’re working with more partners than ever before! Any gift you make will be matched up to $15,000! Thanks to a grant from Outride, the gift you make today will have twice the impact! 

children on bicycles

What started out years ago giving bikes to kids during the holidays, has now grown to include our veterans, refugees, victims of human trafficking, and homeless individuals. Most of these people have little to nothing but still need to have a way to get around. A bicycle offers a simple, effective way to do it without the added expense of a vehicle, fuel, and insurance. Your donation to the Adopt-a-Bike program will help us distribute bikes to these groups and give them the freedom and independence they deserve.

You might be saying “but you have all the bikes already”. Yes, we do have bicycles. And we have a tremendous team of volunteers who clean, sort, and make minor repairs. But we also have some hard costs associated with our program – a truck for delivery and pickups, parts for repairs, mechanics for more experienced work, bike safety gear, event costs to run safety clinics—our team wants every bike to be as safe as it can. 

Donate now! A donation of any size is appreciated but please make your gift today and help us reach our $30,000 by the end of the year! All gifts are tax deductible under EIN #20-2557070

Light The World Giving Machines

girl standing in front of giving machine

Tuesday, December 19-Sunday, January 7, Washington Square mall near The Cheesecake Factory,

Light the World, an annual Christmas initiative, invites all people to celebrate the meaning and spirit of the holiday season by serving others. One component of this initiative is the unique red vending machines, called Giving Machines that provide a fun, memorable, and in-person experience for the public to give to those in need. The Giving Machine is a gift to the community from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Giving Machines will be here in Oregon for the first time this holiday season.

Giving Machines allow people to purchase an item for someone else—across town or around the world. After the payment process completes, a card representing the item drops into an enclosed display bin. The donor then leaves with a digital receipt. They offer a variety of essential items to assist those in need here in our community or in other parts of the world, including food (meals and groceries), shelter, personal hygiene kits, toys, robes and slippers for seniors, warm coats, hoodies for children, vegetable seeds to start a garden, chickens, goats and so much more.

All operational costs are underwritten by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Participating organizations receive 100% of the collected funds and an itemized list of donor purchases. These organizations then acquire and deliver the goods and services to those in need. 

Tree recycling information

Boy Scout Troop 728

January 6, 7, & 14, 9 am-1 pm, Terra Linda Elementary School, (east of) 1998 NW 143rd

Flyers are distributed in the Oak Hills area and trees are picked up from those areas. Just leave the tree at your curb on the first weekend in January. If you don’t get a flyer, bring trees to Terra Linda Elementary. 

The trees are chipped and the boys apply it as mulch around the landscaping of parks in our neighborhood.  If you elect to attach a check as a tax-deductible donation, those funds send boys to scout camp in the summer. Visit the website for more information and how to prepare trees.

Scout Troop 618/5618

Saturday December 30 and Saturday & Sunday January 6 & 7, 2-4 pm, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 14175 NW Cornell Rd, suggested donation $20/tree, $10/wreath or swag

Scout Troop 618/5618 is raising funds in partnership with Bartlett Tree Experts. Deposit cans and bottles also gratefully accepted.

Scout Troop 198 (Cedar Hills) and Cub Scout Pack 198 (West TV Elementary) 

January 6-7

Folks in the West TV and Forest Heights areas can send an email to treerecycle198@gmail.com requesting pickup, or to confirm drop-off locations. Donations appreciated!