The second annual volunteer appreciation party was held Saturday April 29th, 2023 at 503 Distilling Company event space in the Iron Firehouse Collective Building.
In the center of the space, 503 served up complimentary cocktails from their mobile bar (imagine if a VW camper van and a tiki bar had a love child).
Volunteers received new volunteer ID cards, which allow them discounts at participating Brooklyn businesses, as well as a new “Love Your Neighborhood” button.
Volunteers connected with each other and shared their commitment to making Brooklyn “the friendliest neighborhood in Portland”, around a large “Love Your Neighborhood” sign created by Ruby “Biscuits” Dean.
Three Volunteers Singled Out
A trio of volunteers were singled out for how their love for Brooklyn manifested itself.
Josh Hetrick, who is stepping away from the board after several terms, was recognized with a Service Award highlighting his commitment to Land Use and Transportation efforts to restore river access for Brooklyn, bringing bike share to the neighborhood, and making Brooklyn more connected and accessible. As the BAC chair through the rough times of the pandemic, he led both the creation of our code of conduct and updates to our bylaws.
Volunteer of the Year was presented to Stephen Bachhuber for leading the efforts in the SE 9th street overpass reclamation while creating a community of new volunteers dedicated to reclaiming neglected parts of Brooklyn.
A Special Recognition award was awarded to Marie Phillippi for decades of service to Brooklyn, which included such highlights as her assistance bringing the Max to Brooklyn, her 20 year tenure as Newsletter editor, making the Ice Cream Social a Brooklyn tradition, the taming of the McLoughlin Monster, and much, much more. She truly embodies the Brooklyn Action Corps’s informal slogan, Action is our middle name.
503 Distilling and Brooklyn Pharmacy sponsored the event. Partygoers feasted on Meta Pizza and delicacies from The Chomp.
It’s said that a party without cake is just a meeting, so the event was topped off with a cake embellished with a large orange heart 🧡, because the service our volunteers provide is the heart of Brooklyn.
If you would like to volunteer in the neighborhood, please contact us… and you, too, can be part of next year’s festivities!
