Timbers, MLS Donating 10,000 Books To Portland Children

PORTLAND, OR —The Portland Timbers are hoping to bring an MLS Cup title to Portland on Saturday. A day earlier, the organization will be delivering something else to the community: books.

The Timbers have announced they will be teaming with MLS Works, the league's social responsibility platform, to donate 10,000 books through the Children's Book Bank (CBB) of Portland.

The Timbers said the books donated will align with CBB's program A Story Like Mine, which prioritizes books with diverse representation to better meet the needs of the children the organization serves.

On Friday, Timbers owner Merritt Paulson and MLS Commissioner Don Garber will join other Timbers representatives —including former player and current announcer Liam Ridgewell — at Children's Book Bank, 915 NE 7th Ave., for a book-donation event.

During the event, volunteers from the Timbers and MLS will be packing gift bags filled with books, while performing virtual readings.

Meanwhile, Timber Joey, the team's popular chainsaw wielding mascot, will personally build ten little libraries, which will then be painted by club staff. The libraries will be placed in high poverty areas of Portland, so children have access to books in their own neighborhood.

The Timbers have committed to restocking the libraries annually.