Portland Timbers stand together

SEPETEMBER 12, 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Stand Together Week at Trillium Family Center by Diego G Diaz.

The Portland Timbers, T2 players, coaching staff, and fans came together this week to volunteer in the community through the club’s Stand Together initiative. This was the 13th year the Timbers have partnered with local charities and community partners as a way to give back at the local level and work side by side with the fans. 

Erik Miller and a fan help place new mulch by Diego G Diaz.

This year’s events were held all over the Portland metro area. Diego and I decided to join the team on Thursday for their event at Trillium Family Services, located on SE Powell near Cleveland High School. Trillium offers mental and behavioral help to youth and their families through comprehensive care plans and residential and community programs.  I asked the staff what lasting impact a day like this has on the youth. “We have had some kids that have been super motivated after (meeting with the players) and have even changed their day-to-day outlook and goals. They hung up pictures on their walls afterward and talked about it for days.” 

Signing balls for the kids during Stand Together Week at Trillium Family Center by Diego G Diaz.

For full disclosure, I have the pleasure of occasionally working with Trillium Family Services in my non-profit work serving youth in foster care, and know from my professional experience, what a valuable service they provide to their youth. 

Keeper James Pantemis said about the experience, “Having moved her to Portland and seeing what this week means, not only coming here to Trillium but the other places our other teammates are helping at… I think it’s a testament of giving back. Sometimes you don’t realize how fortunate you may be and then you come to an environment like this and realize that people out there need help. The more and more we can give them this opportunity, and it only benefits them, everybody’s happy at the end of the day, you know, that’s all you want.”

Timbers and T2 with the autographs: Stand Together Week at Trillium Family Center by Diego G Diaz.

Eryk Williamson has participated in Stand Together for 5 or 6 seasons now (neither he nor I could remember). “Coming out here, I knew we were able to choose where we wanted to volunteer, we came out last year and loved it because I saw their garden and repairing it and seeing everything they could grow (I thought) Ok, let me see what I can grow. Being hurt, a big part of my mental health was gardening… and it just grew my love.”

Stand Together Week at Trillium Family Center by Diego G Diaz.

This was the team’s second year working in the gardens on the Trillium campus. After a long day of pulling weeds, trimming shrubs, pulling ivy, and laying mulch, head coach Phil Neville led the kids in a few rounds of penalty kicks. Blue Adirondack chairs were used as goal posts. Once everyone had a chance to shoot, they played a scrimmage mixing the kids with the players. The excitement and joy were palpable as the kids tried their best moves against the pros.