—by Roger Anthony

With a little help from the Timbers Army, the Portland-area’s second TOPSoccer program opened during the last week of September at Beverly Cleary School on Northeast 33rd Avenue.

TOPSoccer is a year-round program for young players with disabilities. It’s designed to let kids from 4-19 feel the joy of playing soccer. Any boy or girl with special needs is welcome to play. A similar program has been taking place on the west side at Mittleman Jewish Community Center. (By the way, TOPSoccer is short for The Outreach Program for Soccer.)

At the outset, players must register through the West Hills Soccer Club (www.westhillssoccer.com/Registration). Participation is free; the program depends on volunteers to do the organizing and coaching.

To help raise money for the program, 107ist will be selling strings of beads at the merch trailer Friday night. As is often the case, this fundraising idea originated with Timber Jim: At the 107ist Annual Meeting at the Bagdad in February, he told a moving story on the origins of Mardi Gras-style soccer beads he’s worn.

Jim charged us to create something for the new generation of Timbers fans that would continue the history of our beloved club. From there, capo extraordinaire Justin Doty picked up the ball and ran with it.

In keeping with civic and local mission of the 107ist, we have worked diligently to keep every part of this project within Oregon borders. Most supplies came from Grants Pass-based Fire Mountain Gems and Beads (www.firemountaingems.com); for production, we partnered with Coast Rehabilitation Services (www.coastrehab.org), a private non-profit organization that supports more than 120 individuals with developmental disabilities in Clatsop and Multnomah counties as well as Pacific County in Washington. These gleaming green-and-gold necklaces come from Oregon and are made in Oregon, supporting Oregonians in need of work – all for this great community fostered in the love of our fair PTFC.

This run of beads will be available in sets of five (for $25) so that you can spread the love from shoulder to shoulder – and you don't even have to take your top off.