King City American Family Insurance staff collects blankets for Portland's homeless

James S. Kuri Agency works with Portland Rescue Mission

By Barbara Sherman

The Regal Courier, Nov 25, 2009

Barbara Sherman / Regal Courier

HELPING THE HOMELESS — Getting a good start on the James S. Kuri Agency's blanket drive for the Portland Rescue Mission with their own donations are American Family Insurance representative Violet Marsh (left), owner James Kuri and account representative Kristin Siegrist.

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A King City businessman, touched by the plight of homeless people in Portland, is doing his part to help.

James Kuri, owner of American Family Insurance’s James S. Kuri Agency Inc., has started a blanket drive for the Portland Rescue Mission.

"As we enter into the cold and wet winter months here in Portland, we at American Family are trying to do our part for the many displaced families that have lost jobs and homes due in part to the tough economic conditions our state is experiencing," Kuri wrote in a letter to all his clients.

According to Portland Rescue Mission staff volunteer Tony Williamson, the organization is seeing double the number of homeless families it saw last year and is feeding more than 400 people per night.

"They can only provide shelter to 80 individuals, however," Kuri wrote. "The rest are forced to try and stay warm and dry on the streets… Every night at 9:30 the Portland Rescue Mission gives out its entire supply of blankets, asking that they be returned in the morning to be washed, cleaned and recycled for the next night. They are in desperate need of more blankets."

Kuri said that the idea for the blanket drive came to him after he was in downtown Portland and saw homeless people on the streets.

"It's just disturbing, especially when they have kids," he said. "I'm a dad, so it hit home."

Kuri noted that "Portland's homeless are not just comprised of the mentally ill or drug addicts, but many families like yours and mine that have simply fallen on tough times."

People may drop off blankets at Kuri's office, located at 15405 S.W. 116th Ave., Suite 103, which is across from the Arco service station, or taken directly to Portland Rescue Mission, located at 111 W. Burnside St., Portland.

Kuri also is willing to come and pick up blankets for the drive, which will end Dec. 31.

For more information or to donate one or more blankets, call Kuri at 503-968-9797. People also may e-mail him at jkuri@amfam.com.