As the holiday season ramps up, the cannabis community has stepped up to help those less fortunate, too. We have certainly mainstreamed as can be evidenced by the charities that are willing to work with us. Not that long ago, at least here in the Portland area, this was not the case.

Early in my first term on the board for Oregon NORML, I remember trying to work with our local food bank and blues society. Neither of them wanted to accept our help because we were a “marijuana group.” Fortunately, as we get closer to legalization, this opinion has changed. As opinions change about cannabis and its use, the community is more visible and accepted as a valuable part of society as a whole.

Take a look around, and if you find a local cannabis group making a difference, please help them. It changes the perspective of the general public; they get to learn that Weedists are just like them! Here are some highlights of what I see in my neighborhood.

Parents4Pot, a new group in our community is having an online holiday shopping event for families of prisoners of the drug war via Amazon. This hard working team is off to a great start. This event was pulled together very quickly; Parents4Pot has only been around for about a month! According to the Parents4Pot Facebook page:

“Very cool stuff happening here. With the $250 donation we just received we are over $700 in donations and many items have been purchased directly by others to send as well!!! So very cool #P4P peoples. You are awesome humans. If you do not want to pick specific families and gifts you can just click on the donate link on our page and put “holiday drive” in the payment note.”

The World Famous Cannabis Cafe is collecting Toys for Tots, a program that is sponsored by the US Marines. With notable participants like Michelle Obama, the cafe is in excellent company. All you need to do to participate is drop off a new, unwrapped toy in the bin provided.

“We are proud to be a part of this prestigious toy drive. It gives us an excellent opportunity to help our local kids,” beams Madeline Martinez, owner of the cafe. For more information about how you can help, please visit the WFCC’s website or call them at 503-208-3395.

Dwayne, a volunteer at Alternative Wellness Center had a specific group he wanted to help for this holiday season and beyond. As a single father who has been personally involved with Oregon’s Department of Human Services, Dwayne has experienced first hand the need and lack of help provided to families that are struggling.

Dwayne contacted the Department of Human Services to find out how Alternative Wellness could help fill the gap. The Department of Human Services Child Welfare Division had to meet to decide if they would take assistance from a medical cannabis safe access point.

They decided to accept the help, and referred Dwayne to their Independent Living Program. It serves older foster children and helps them prepare to live independently. “According to statistics, foster children over the age of thirteen are not adopted as readily as younger children.

This is where our help is most needed,” Dwayne reported. For information about how you can help, please call 971-888-4392.

Brightside started their canned food drive before Thanksgiving. According to their blog, they have already surpassed their goal.

Brightside continues to work with the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church right in their neighborhood. They are also collecting new, unopened toys for a local TV station’s toy drive. “Everyone has been grateful for our help, says Kaliko Castillo of Brightside. “We can see the difference we are making right here in the neighborhood. It’s a great feeling!” To help with their food and toy drive, please call 503-206-8726.

Multnomah Wellness Center has been feeding the homeless in downtown Portland since they opened in 2012. At the end of their long days managing the center, Chad, Tony and Jojo actually cook hot meals and take to the streets. They sit and talk to the people they serve, and they don’t go home until the food is gone. Their “Cans for Dabs” event has been a huge hit.

And, with Portland experiencing a colder winter than usual, the Multnomah Wellness team has ramped up their Winter Clothes Drive.

“Working downtown puts our homeless in such clear focus. I feel it is my responsibility to help our community as directly as possible. That’s why we go hand out the food ourselves instead of giving it to another organization to dispense. We want to get to know the people we serve. The experience has been so rewarding,” says Chad from Multnomah Wellness Center. You can find out how to help by calling them at 503-241-2808.

Look around in your community. If you have a cannabis center in your neighborhood, please consider making your holiday donations through them. Encourage your local NORML chapters to have food drives, coat drives, blanket drives to help out those who need it. It’ll make you feel good, and it makes our cannabis community look like who we are — proud contributors and supporters of those less fortunate.