The following email was received from Love Makes a Family moments ago–unfortunately too late in the day to get into tomorrow’s print edition of Just Out.

From the press release:

Love Makes A Family, Inc. – Advocating and Educating for Family Equality, Social Justice, and Peace

It’s State Fair Time!

Summer 2009

Dear friends,

Once again, Love Makes A Family, Inc. invites you to volunteer at the Oregon State Fair (August 28 – September 7). We are continuing our tradition of sponsoring booths at the fair where we will engage in meaningful conversations with Oregonians about our values and vision for society. Bonnie Tinker’s death has left us dazed and overwhelmed, but it is vital that we honor her life and work by making this event happen. Please read the following, and if you are willing to help, respond by e-mail or phone to:

lovemakesafamily@gmail.com

503 228-3892

If you or a group with which you are affiliated would like to make a donation for the fair, please send your check to:

Love Makes a Family

PO Box 5163

Portland, OR 97208

Additional information can be found at the Love Makes a Family Web site.

Details of what volunteers can expect from their stint at the fair can be found after the jump.

Attn: State Fair

We will have two booths for 11 days. At both the “Family Equality” and “Peace” booths we hand out stickers that say “Peace is a family value” and “Love makes a family” and invite children to paint a picture of peace or family with our tempera paints. The focus for the “Family Equality” booth is talking with parents, and encouraging people to sign our petition which asks for lawmakers to make all family laws apply to all families equally without regard to the sex or gender of the adults heading the family.

The focus for the “Peace” booth is concrete action to stop war and foreign occupation. Last year we asked Oregon lawmakers to take steps to keep the Oregon National Guard home in Oregon. We hand out stickers, “Peace is a family value” and peace charm necklaces, and offer support for military families, and information on recruitment alternatives.

Volunteers are asked to sign up for as many shifts as possible! We would like two volunteers per shift per table, so if you can partner with someone it helps a lot. We also encourage volunteers to attend an orientation/training Saturday, August 22, 2009 from 2 – 4:30 at Multnomah Friends Meeting House at 4312 SE Start Street in Portland. All volunteers will receive free tickets for the fair.

Fair hours are 10 am to 10 pm Sunday – Thursday; 10 am to 11 pm Friday and Saturday

Shifts are: 9:30 – 1:30 (opening the booth), 1 – 5:00, 4:30 – 8:30, and 8 – 10:30 Sunday – Thursday, 8 – 11:30 Friday and Saturday. Closing the booth requires securing tarps to secure equipment and materials.

Military Families Speak Out will be operating the Peace booth August 28, 29, and 30. All other days and shifts are open at this point. Please ask your friends to help out – a community effort makes it work for everyone.

Sharon Streeter

Volunteer

Love Makes A Family

lovemakesafamily@gmail.com

503 228-3892

Love Makes A Family is a membership organization supported by the donations and volunteer contributions of many individuals.