Timbers, Thorns Stand Together for unique volunteer effort

AP

While World Cup qualifying grabs the headlines, players from the Timbers and Thorns are going to work — wielding paint brushes and shovels.

For the past six years, the Timbers organization has staged Stand Together Week, a massive volunteer effort — recognized by the city of Portland — that involves players, front office staff, supporters and anyone else who wants to join in.

Partnered with Hands on Greater Portland, the team identifies nonprofits that need help then unleashes volunteers. Scores of projects are lined up on any given day. Even Timbers organization owner Merritt Paulson helped clean and weed a park this week.

Most professional sports teams and athletes do charitable work, but it's unusual for an entire team to collectively devote an entire week and help dozens of organizations all at once. The team says that since 2012, Stand Together volunteers have devoted 12,631 hours of service at more than 163 events benefiting kids and the environment.

Paulson said the Timbers get inquiries from other pro sports teams about how it works.

"A weeklong, city-endorsed celebration with over 1,000 volunteers, and players from all three of our teams — the Timbers, Thorns and T2 — engaged in the community, it's just unbelievably special," Paulson said. "And it's a huge undertaking. When we first did it I remember pushing back on my staff and asking 'Are we spreading ourselves too thin?' and 'Do you think people will really turn out?' The answer was yes, and then some. Each of these events gets filled to the brim with volunteers."

The Timbers enjoy a unique relationship with the city that dates back to 1975, which the team joined the NASL. The Timbers have sold out 114 matches, and the Thorns have the highest average attendance (by far) in the National Women's Soccer League.

"We didn't do it to build a brand, we did it because it's who we are," Paulson said. "We take our responsibility to shine a light on areas that could use a little more help extremely seriously, as I think any sports team should. But there's no question I think that what we're doing and the way we're doing it is unique."

On Tuesday, Timbers players Diego Chara and Victor Arboleda helped out at a development being built by Willamette West Habitat for Humanity.

Chara was charged with clearing out invasive berry bushes near the home.

"I think for me it's spending time in the community, for me that's the key part," Chara said. "It's a different project (than soccer), and I think every player enjoys that."

Later in the evening, Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri and Thorns coach Mark Parsons were among those who helped paint two visiting rooms at the Beaverton, Oregon, offices of the Department of Human Services.

As Parsons detailed a mural, a fellow volunteer asked him if he was an artist.

"Quite the opposite. I'm horrendous," Parsons said, laughing. "But I try."

GAME (S) OF THE WEEK: The U.S. national team plays in a pair of World Cup qualifying matches this week. First up is a match Thursday night against Trinidad and Tobago in Colorado. Then the Americans travel for a match against Mexico in Mexico City.

The United States is in fourth place in its six-team group with four points, while Trinidad and Tobago is last with three points. Mexico leads the standings with 10 points. The top three teams from the group qualify, with the fourth-place squad going to a playoff against Asia's No. 5 nation.

Because of qualifying games, many regular MLS players are currently with their national teams.

OTHER GAMES OF INTEREST: There are only three games up this weekend, all on Saturday: Atlanta plays at the Chicago Fire, FC Dallas visits the Timbers, and Sporting Kansas City hosts Montreal.

HONORS: FC Dallas winger Roland Lamah was named the Player of the Week for his three goals in a 6-2 victory over Real Salt Lake last Saturday. It was his first pro hat trick.

Meanwhile, Chicago Fire forward Nemanja Nikolic was voted Player of the Month by the media. He had six goals and an assist in May, while the Fire went 4-0-1.

Nikolic leads the league with 11 goals this season.

CANADIAN PRIDE: Sixteen-year-old Vancouver midfielder Alphonso Davies had a big Tuesday. Not only did his become a Canadian citizen, he got called up to the Canadian national team.

"Not many people can say they're a Canadian citizen, knowing that it's one of the best countries in the world. I'm very proud that I'm one of those people," he said in a statement after passing the test. "I'm also extremely thankful to my parents for everything they've done throughout the years, carrying the family to this safe environment. This is our home. This is where I grew up. And now to have the opportunity to represent the men's national team is a great honor."

Davies will join the Canadian team for a training camp in Montreal in advance of an exhibition match against Curacao.

Davies, whose parents fled Liberia, was born in Buduburam refugee camp in Ghana. The family moved to Canada when he was 5 years old.