PORTLAND, Ore. – The club will hit the road to conduct community events and a youth soccer clinic in Newberg, Ore., as part of their seventh-annual Rose City Road Trip presented by Providence Health & Services.
On July 23, Timbers and Portland Thorns FC players will join club mascot Timber Joey for two hospital visits from 9-10 a.m., visiting patients at the Providence Newberg Medical Center and Providence Newberg Rehabilitation. Following the hospital visits, the full day of community events will continue with a midday trip to the Yamhill Community Action Partnership (YCAP) Harvest House, before concluding the Rose City Road Trip with a free youth soccer clinic at George Fox University later in the afternoon.
While visiting the YCAP Harvest House, a shelter for homeless families and children to take steps toward obtaining safe and affordable housing, the Timbers and Thorns FC will join forces with Providence Health & Services on a private community initiative from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon. With Providence Health & Services organizing a toy and book drive to benefit the Harvest House, the Timbers and Thorns will help to enhance those efforts by removing weeds from the backyard, cleaning up the YCAP playhouse and also creating an enjoyable space for the families that pass through the shelter.
Additionally, the club will donate a “buddy bench” to YCAP’s Youth Outreach Center. The “buddy bench,” a project invented by 10-year-old Christian Bucks, gives children a safe, non-judgmental place to retreat.
“We are excited to have the Timbers and Thorns FC come to Newberg for the day,” says Lori Bergen, Providence Newberg Medical Center’s chief executive. “The Rose City Road Trip is a perfect example of building healthier communities, together, and something we are passionate about in Newberg.”
To conclude the seventh-annual Rose City Road Trip, the Timbers and Thorns FC will host a free youth soccer clinic led by the Timbers youth development staff for children ages 5-13. Set to run from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Austin Sports Complex (1953 North Center St., Newberg, OR, 97132) at George Fox University, the clinic will feature a training session and an autograph and Q&A session.
Additionally, the Positive Coaching Alliance, an organization that aims to develop better athletes and people through resources for youth and high school sports coaches, parents, administrators and student athletes, will host a session for the parents in attendance from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
The clinic is free and open to the public, and participants must pre-register online at timbers.com/rosecityroadtrip.
This year’s event marks the seventh consecutive year the Timbers have organized the Rose City Road Trip, previously visiting Klamath Falls, Salem, Eugene/Springfield, Bend, Hood River, Astoria, Medford, Pendleton, Coos Bay, The Dalles, Corvallis, Seaside, Warrenton and Vancouver, Wash.