On October 15, the children of Silver Rail Elementary lived through something no child should ever face. Four weeks later, our kids made it through their first week back. That is a big deal, and so is everything it took to get here.

Behind every child is a parent who has been carrying a lot. Many Silver Rail parents missed a month of work to stay home, hold their kids close, and get them to therapy and appointments. Some still haven't been able to go back, because their children aren't ready to walk through those halls again just yet. Rent, gas and groceries didn't stop while they did.

Why we're filling tanks

The Silver Rail Children's Fund holds gatherings, events and therapeutic support for families of October 15. Over the past few weeks, family after family told us they didn't have enough gas in the car to get to them.

We listened. Today, Saturday, from 4 to 7 pm, we're filling every family's gas tank in full and feeding them. There will be therapy dogs, tie-dye and bracelet making, so we can come together after a very hard first week back.

We planned for 100 people. 303 signed up. The need was too great to say no, and we need your help to cover it.

If you can give, please give. Every gift goes straight to gas and meals for Silver Rail families.
If you can't give, please share this page.
If you can be there, come volunteer today from 4 to 7 pm.

This Saturday, and every week after

On Saturday, November 14, the Silver Rail Children's Fund is filling gas tanks for Silver Rail families and covering a warm meal right next door, so parents can take a breath and sit down together after the first week back.

But one Saturday isn't enough. Our goal is to keep families supported through the end of the year, with gas to get to appointments and events, groceries, and warm meals, for as long as families need it.

How it works

Silver Rail families only. Every family registers, and we check them against Silver Rail enrollment before they're served.
The fund pays businesses directly. We pay the gas station, the restaurant or the grocery store. No cash changes hands.
With dignity. No long applications, and no family has to explain why they need help.

What your gift does

$50 helps fill one family's gas tank
$100 covers a tank of gas and a warm dinner for a family
$250 helps a family with gas and groceries for a week
$500 carries a family whose parent can't work yet through a hard stretch

The Silver Rail Children's Fund is a parent-led, all-volunteer Oregon nonprofit. Nobody here is paid. Your gift goes to Silver Rail families: the children who were there on October 15, their families, and the teachers and staff who stood with them.

Thank you for helping families keep going while their kids heal.

No Silver Rail child heals alone.

Learn more at silverrailchildrensfund.org

Fill Their Tanks, Feed Their Families

Gas, warm meals and groceries for Silver Rail families through the end of the year