CCA Blog

A few years ago I started to dream about how to take a passion for motorcycles and combine it with an idea for a fundraiser for CCA's Caring Cabin.  The vision was to have a ride from Portland to the Cabin in Pacific City.  After sharing the idea with the CCA staff, our Board and various community motorcycle enthusiasts, I knew right away that this could be another successful event and a great way to share the Caring Cabin and CCA's mission with many new friends.

The dream came true on June 5^th as we had over 100 bikes, starting at Paradise Harley-Davidson, roar their way to Pacific City.  The Caring Cabin grounds were full of bikers who enjoyed a beautiful sunny day, lunch and tours of the Cabin and the path to Lake Dylan. 

At the end of the day we raised over $25,000 and people are already asking about the details for Joyride II.  Be sure to check out the photos from the event at CCAJoyRide.org and start making plans to come ride with us next year!

Cheers,

Cliff Ellis, CCA Co-founder & Caring Cabin Site Coordinator

One of my favorite things about visiting CCA’s Caring Cabin is reading the guestbook.

The words remind me of why families need this wonderful vacation home.  They need a place to escape to and create precious memories together. Time is so easily lost in the day to day struggle of fighting their child’s life threatening battle.  The Cabin is a place where time slows down. A place where laughter, smiles and hugs last longer and moments shared with family and friends are not soon forgotten. 

For a moment during my last trip to the cabin, I started feeling sad about the change in weather and how that would affect family visits.  And then I remembered the guestbook.  It doesn’t matter what time of year it is or what the weather is doing during a family’s stay, the entries in the guestbook still talk about the amazing time that was shared. During the winter months, families sit by the huge fireplace in the great room, singing karaoke, playing air hockey or pool. In the summer months, families go boating, play on the lake, build fires and roast ‘smores.

The memories shared at the Caring Cabin are not affected by what Mother Nature is doing outside.  The weather may change, but the guestbook tells the story of how time at the Caring Cabin gives families memories that last well beyond the change of seasons.

Check out the Caring Cabin Guestbook...

Thanks for reading,

Cliff Ellis, CCA Co-founder & Caring Cabin Site Coordinator

Every Tuesday, a great group of women gather at the Kiwanda Community Center in Pacific City to work on their latest quilt creations.  When these generous and talented people heard that CCA would be building the Caring Cabin in their town, they decided every child who visits the Cabin should have their very own quilt.

With the inspiration from family and friends who have battled or were in the midst of fighting cancer, these amazing folks started making quilts for the Caring Cabin.  Before we even opened the doors to the first family, there were over 300 quilts completed and donated to CCA.

Whenever I visit the Community Center, I am greeted with many warm hugs, smiles and laughter.  I know that all of the time, talent and efforts that are put into each and every stitch of every quilt feels the same way for the Caring Cabin families that share in the gifts from the Tuesday Stitchers.

We are so grateful to this group who continue to create and donate unique and amazing works of art for all of the deserving kids who visit the Cabin each year.

Thank you Tuesday Stitchers!

Sincerely,

Cliff Ellis, CCA's Co-founder & Caring Cabin Site Coordinator

As one of the Board leaders who helped bring CCA's Caring Cabin in Pacific City, Oregon, to life many years ago - I had quite a good time this past weekend working with some fantastic volunteers as we pulled hundreds of weeds and added beautiful plantings throughout the 24 acres of our cabin's coast property.  Throughout the year, volunteers help us with many projects and much needed landscaping at the Caring Cabin - we couldn't keep things as beauitful and maintained without their efforts like donations of tree trimming, window cleaning, wildflower seeds, bird baths and butterfly houses installed, new plantings, landscaping, bark dust hauled and many other good things!

Ron Clark from TruGreen Landscaping and Charles George and Teresa Chenney from Nike's Facilities Management team helped lead and organize 8 volunteers to work this last Friday and Saturday planting beauitful grasses and flowers and revitalizing the Cabin's lake path, walkways, arbors and property. They were inspiring. 

After cleaning up and admiring the end result of our efforts, I headed a few minutes away to the Pelican Pub and Brewery.  Some more of CCA’s wonderful volunteers and staff had spent the day at the Pelican’s annual Brewers Summer Games.  The folks at the Pub have been supporters of CCA for many years and they generously donate a portion of the proceeds from the Games to the Caring Cabin situated right in their costal town.

Driving back to Portland where I live, I couldn’t help think about the next family  with a kid struggling with a serious illness that was soon to arrive at the Cabin and how our incredible volunteers, staff and donors came together to help build memories that will last longer than they could ever imagine. To read more about the Caring Cabin check out our website - please share your ideas or ways you might help us at the Caring Cabin.

Until next time,

Cliff Ellis, CCA's Co-founder & Caring Cabin Site Coordinator