On Saturday May 6, both before and immediately after the Thorns match, we will be accepting donations to help folks “beat the heat”!

When people think of houseless neighbors dying from exposure, the first thought is usually of freezing temperatures. In reality, the summer temperatures are far more deadly. Sun exposure and dehydration- either alone, or due to a reaction with medications/pre-existing conditions- are incredibly dangerous, and the source of countless lives lost each year.

Non-customers are often barred from entering retail establishments, and that makes access to water as needed difficult. Providing durable, shatter-proof water bottles, particularly the insulated variety, can go a long way to helping someone stay cool and hydrated. With limited public places to get out of direct sunlight, a quality sunblock is an absolute necessity as well. Sunglasses and visors can also be incredibly helpful. Cooling neck wraps and towels can also provide comfort in extreme temperatures.

Thank you in advance for your life-saving gifts to these friends and neighbors in our community- we know you’ll come through! And thank you again for helping out with last week’s drive, too.

Final note- As we head into these warmer months, please keep in mind that what may appear to be an intoxicated person could possibly be someone struggling with heat exhaustion. Don’t be afraid to call 911.

Our match day drive for Saturday is for feminine hygiene products, such as tampons and pads.

This drive is being organized by Mya Kimberly, who is a senior at Forest Grove High School, and is doing this as a part of her senior project. Feminine hygiene products are a necessity that is often overlooked, and having access to these products should be a right and not a privilege. Tampons are preferred, but any and all feminine hygiene products are welcome. Half of the products raised will be donated to Janus Youth, and the other half will be donated to Portland Homeless Family Solutions.

Bring your donations to the Fanladen before Saturday’s match- and thanks in advance!

Make a positive impact in the lives of kids and families on the west side of Portland, and represent Rose City Riveters at the same time!

The 107 Independent Supporters’ Trust, along with Embrace Oregon and other west side friends, are coming together to complete TWO major family visitation room remodels at the Beaverton DHS offices (foster care system) this June.

One family visitation room will have a Portland Thorns theme. Rose City Riveters will design the room, which will include a Thorns and Riveters-themed mural.

The room’s purpose is to provide a safe, comfortable space for children & teens who are in foster care to spend their average of one hour weekly with a birth parent. This is an intimate, critical point of connection for both the children whose lives have been turned upside down, and for the biological parents who are working hard to get their kids back. A room that is homey and warm speaks value and worth to both the children and their families.

The rooms are also utilized when children are removed from their home and are sitting in the child welfare office, awaiting placement. Volunteers will play with kids for an average of 5-7 hours while the caseworker tries to find a foster placement. Having an inviting space with activities is very helpful in this instance as well. These rooms will be a reminder to kids, teens, parents, guardians, and DHS staff that they are valued, and will also leave a lasting legacy of love from the Timbers, Thorns, TA, and Riveters.

The total budget for both rooms is $10,000, but with the generous in-kind support of local businesses and the 107ist (Timbers Army & RCR) directly, we are already halfway there! The money raised will all go to the direct expenses of furniture not donated, new flat screen TVs and game systems, paint and paint supplies, shelving and wall mounts, etc.

The makeover itself will take place over the first two weeks of June, so the sooner we can complete the fundraising, the better! To donate, click here.

The travel page on rosecityriveters.org has been updated with information for many of the upcoming Away matches. Please refer to this before buying tickets. You’ll get the group pricing, and get to sit (stand, jump, clap, chant + root for the Girls in Red) with fellow Riveters! Also, please use the links there to navigate to specific forum topics. Find the topic for the match you’ll be attending, and post to RSVP and make arrangements with other traveling supporters! The forums are also a great place to ask questions and get recommendations.

The first Away match for the Thorns takes place THIS SATURDAY, 4/22 at Cary, NC with the newly named NC Courage. If you are going to be there to clap & cheer for our Thorns, please let your fellow traveling Riveters know by commenting on the NC Courage Forum topic here.

We’ll see you at Providence Park- or on the road!

Guest post/editorial from Jason Rodgers, Thorns Season Ticket Holder and Supporter

To KPTV,

Yesterday’s double-header at Providence Park was an exciting day for Portland soccer.  The Thorns started their season with a home win over Orlando pride, setting an attendance record for an opening match, followed by a physical and emotional loss by the Timbers to Sporting KC.

While Portland soccer fans spoke with their presence, epic tifos, roaring chants, and general boundless support and love for their teams, former Timbers player Willie Anderson spoke with his foot solidly planted in his mouth.  In the KPTV pregame show, sportscaster Nick Krupke asked Thorns coach Mark Parsons substantive questions about receiving the Supporter’s Shield and starting the season strong.  But then Parsons turns to his left to questions from Anderson about why he coaches “girls,” and if he yells at them and makes them cry!  Really?!  These are the only questions that came to his mind?  Krupke nervously glances at the camera and then is wise to cut the interview short.

These sexist remarks are unacceptable.  It is clear that Mr. Anderson does not respect or value our women’s soccer league, and thinks Parsons is somehow a lesser coach because he is associated with them.  The challenges that women’s sports face with regards to inequities in pay, facilities, and accommodations – and not just soccer – is frustrating enough without these sorts of small-minded comments from within the athletics and media community.  Julie Foudy was at Providence Park yesterday, and I hope she gets wind of this interview and makes an example of these ignorant statements in a future broadcast.

Please reconsider your relationship with Willie Anderson as a sports commentator.  Whatever his contributions to the Timbers organization of old, he does not represent Portland soccer today. Thank you.

Jason Rodgers

Thorns season ticket holder

Longtime Timbers supporter

RCTID

The 2017 Thorns FC season kicks off this Saturday. As you’ve likely noted, this day is a PTFC double header- Thorns kick at 12:00 noon, Timbers kick at 7:30. Providence Park will be jumping with the best of NWSL and MLS soccer (and the best supporters, too)!

That extraordinary situation brings us to our very first Rose City Riveters — Timbers Army joint match day drive. The drive will support Janus Youth Programs. Since their founding in 1972 for the purpose of providing residential care for adolescents struggling with homelessness and drug abuse, Janus Youth Programs has provided a second chance for at-risk youth with few resources, and no place to turn for help. Every year, 6,000 youth are assisted through their 40 programs in Oregon and Washington. This includes youth who have runaway or are homeless, or who have been trafficked for sex. Janus also serves teen parents and youth living in low-income neighborhoods as well.

We encourage you to stop off at a department or variety store over the next few days, and pick up some new socks. The most needed kind are the athletic style, as many of the people Janus serves spend a good deal of their day on their feet. As we approach the warmer weather, ankle socks and other lower cut socks are especially welcome. Thick, boot-style socks are always in need, too. While it might seem like such a little thing, good clean socks are greatly appreciated by the young people Janus serves.

Socks can be dropped off at Fanladen, 1633 SW Alder.

See you Saturday!

We’re very fortunate to have some amazing photographers in our midst.

If you’d like to vividly relive Saturday’s Thorns match:

Click here for photos from Ray Terrill

Click here for photos from Darren Lloyd

And thank you to all who share your excellent photos with the masses!

If more public photo galleries come available, we will update here.

As the season nears, we are going to get the gang back together!

Please come to Lightening Will (305 NW 21st Ave) on Sunday, March 19th from 4-6pm for some snacks and drinks as we discuss ways to get more people involved in Rose City Riveters activities!

Please RSVP via Facebook or leave a comment on this post so we have a general headcount to give our gracious host!

We have different areas where we are looking for more volunteers, some require experience and others do not. We want to share those opportunities with everyone during the first part of the get-together, so please plan on being prompt! We will also have time for a Q&A in case you have any questions or ideas for the upcoming season of activities.

See you soon!

The preseason tournament is nearly here! Supporters with season tickets will have the preseason matches provided as part of their package. GA tickets are still available through the front office for $8.00. Also, don’t forget the Timbers/Thorns Ticket Exchange for affordable and fair ticketing needs.

• Dash vs the U.S. U-23s Sunday, March 26 at 2:30 p.m.
• Thorns vs Red Stars Sunday, March 26 at 5:00 p.m.
• Red Stars vs Dash Wednesday, March 29 at 5:00 p.m.
• Thorns vs U.S. U-23s Wednesday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m.
• Red Stars vs U.S. U-23s Saturday, April 1, at 5:00 p.m.

The preseason tourney closes with Thorns vs Dash on Saturday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m.

What: TOMBOY Symposium – Elevating the Conversation About Gender Equity in Sports

Symposium features partial documentary screening along with panel discussion surrounding the topics at hand.

When: Monday, March 6, 6:00-8:00 pm (doors open at 5pm)

Where: McMenamins Mission Theater – 1624 NW Glisan St, Portland

Panel:

Nadine Angerer, Portland Thorns goalkeeping coach; two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion; 2013 FIFA World Player of the Year

Erin Hubert, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland; former EVP/COO of the Portland Trail Blazers

Emily Menges, Portland Thorns defender and 2016 team MVP

Anne Peterson, Associated Press sportswriter

Documentary: NBC Sports Regional Networks recently announced the launch of TOMBOY, a multi-platform documentary project that aims to elevate the conversation about gender in sports told through the voices of many of the world’s most prominent female athletes, broadcasters and sports executives. The initiative culminates with a special one-hour documentary. TOMBOY will debut on Sunday, March 12 at 9:30pm on CSNNW. The documentary includes interviews with four-time World Cup champion Lindsey Vonn, Little League World Series pitching sensation Mo’ne Davis, Basketball Hall of Famer Ann Meyers-Drysdale, and many more. TOMBOY will air across all NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBCSN, and select NBC Owned Television Stations in March – during Women’s History Month. Join the conversation using #CSNTOMBOY.