The Timbers and Thorns have created a financial assistance fund to help support part-time staff members and are undertaking other initiatives to aid the Portland community in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Timbers and Thorns announced Tuesday that Peregrine Sports LLC, the parent company for the two clubs, had created a financial assistance fund to pay fan experience and merchandise staff, among others, for games missed due to cancelations.

Major League Soccer announced last week that it would suspend its season for a minimum of 30 days amid the coronavirus outbreak, while the National Women’s Soccer League announced that it was canceling all preseason games. With MLS just beginning its season and the NWSL not scheduled to begin play until mid-April, it remains possible that the majority of games could be postponed, rather than canceled.

The clubs will send details of the fund to affected staff members next week.

Arena workers at both Providence Park and the Moda Center told The Oregonian/OregonLive this week that they were concerned about the possibility of going without paychecks as MLS, the NWSL and the NBA remained on hiatus. The Portland Trail Blazers are working on a plan to support part-time employees as well.

“For me, the scariest part is not knowing when everything is going to come back, like how long am I going to be out of a job?” said Jamie Faue, who works as a guest services attendant at the Moda Center and Providence Park.

The Timbers and Thorns are also making a monetary contribution to the Oregon Community Fund’s Oregon COVID-19 Pooled Fund. In partnership with Park Provisions, the clubs will also donate approximately 1,000 pounds of perishable food to Lift UP, a non-profit dedicated to reducing hunger for low-income residents of Northwest and Downtown Portland.

“Hang in there, stay positive and follow public health guidelines and we all will get through this together,” wrote Timbers and Thorns owner Merritt Paulson in a letter to the Portland community Sunday. “We care deeply about all of you and thank you so very much for your continued support. It is more meaningful now to us than ever before.”

The clubs also announced Tuesday that they would be rolling out several other initiatives to connect with the community, including sending notes from staff members to seniors who receive Meals on Wheels and delivering gratitude packages to Providence healthcare workers.

With Oregon schools closed until at least April, Timbers mascot Timber Joey will be hosting virtual children’s reading sessions every Tuesday and Thursday as well. The sessions will be aired on YouTube, the Stand Together Instagram Live feed and both clubs’ Facebook pages.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg

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