Soroptimist Members along with Purple Hands Bear Mascot accepted the Proclamation.

Yamhill County Oregon Commissioners Lindsay Berschauer, Kit Johnston, and Mary Starrett approve the 26th Annual Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Week Proclamation.

Our Annual Hands Week Street Banner displayed over 3rd Street in McMinnville, OR. Special Thank you to Soroptimist Int'l of McMinnville!

"Bonnie Voight, center, Doreen Lybeck-Pitman and Debbie Nixon, both in the background, and other members of the service club plan to bring back the anti-violence program, which features the Pledge, "I Will Not Use My Hands Or My Words For Hurting Myself Or Others."' - News Register/McMinnville, Oregon

"Purple Hands Bear (Hermie Kann) tells baby Marshall Gehring, held by Faith Howard, and Maria Trotter, right, about the Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting program at the Soroptimist booth during the Cruising McMinnville car show Saturday." - News Register/McMinnville, Oregon

Soroptimist of McMinnville host an informational booth in the Kid Zone. All visitors were encouraged to take the Purple Hands Pledge®

"Soroptimist President Hermie Kann said she wants to see schools use the program to deter violence. "If we are going to change society's ways, we have to start with the children," she said." - News Register/McMinnville, Oregon

Everyone was given the opportunity to enter their raffle to win a Purple Hands Bear!

Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting® Booth at Juliettes House: Child Abuse Intervention Center's Safe Kids Fair Event

Soroptimist Volunteers prepare for Visitors

Everyone Loves Purple Hands Bear Mascot!

Parents and Children learn about the Purple Hands Pledge®

Volunteers set up the Hands & Words Booth

Children and Parents take the Purple Hands Pledge®

Volunteers hang up official Posters.

Hands & Words Event for April: Child Abuse Prevention Month

Pup the Fire Dog takes the Purple Hands Pledge®

Pup the Fire Dog tracing 'his' hand (actually a 6th grade Girl Scout)

Juliette's House Executive Director, Hayley Collins, shows off the Soroptimist donation of the Hands Project 3-piece wall set. A visual message that our three non-profits share the same goal -- to provide a safe environment for children to grow and thrive.

Soroptimists visit Yamhill Community Action Partnership(YCAP). Club members spent an hour sorting donated food, then enjoyed catered dinner from Harvest Fresh, a presentation from executive director Lee Means, and a tour.

For people struggling in poverty or living one emergency away from crisis, YCAP offers services that restore hope and change lives through the county food bank, heating assistance, short-term shelter and much more.

For more than three decades, YCAP has successfully reached thousands of low-income, senior, and disabled residents in Yamhill County, OR through critical social service and transportation programs.

Soroptimist volunteers posed for pictures alongside their recently donated Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting® 3-piece sign sets.

Gretchen Olson along with Soroptimist Volunteers visit with Yamhill County Sherif Crabtree.

Purple Hands Bear Mascot gave Marybeth a gift of a smaller version of Hands Bear, which Marybeth's trainer said would be treated with gentle care.

Soroptimist Volunteers visit the Yamhill County Oregon Commissioners. Purple Hands Bear Mascot got to meet the resident Courthouse Companion Dog, Marybeth.

The Yamhill County Crime Victims Services director, Debra Bridges, allowed Marybeth to wear a Purple Hands pin for the day!

Serendipity Ice Cream Parlor in McMinnville, Oregon, celebrated the Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting® Project's 10th year locally and 18th year nationally, with a birthday party complete with balloons and dollar-off ice cream!

Purple Hands Bear greeted everyone with hugs and high-fives

Serendipity's Counter Display

Guests recited the Purple Hands Pledge® and traced their hands onto purple paper.

Purple Hands Bear greeted KLYC station manager Dave Adams and a great group of Halloween trick-or-treaters.

Purple Hands Bear poses with Soroptimist Club Member Doreen Pittman

KLCY's Dave Adams takes the Purple Hands Pledge® with Soroptimist Volunteer

Serendipity Hands & Words Party Poster

Grace Lord-Garrettson, 3, meets Purple Hands Bear during McMinnville, Oregon's Hands & Words 10th anniversary celebration. Her mother, Molly, is a volunteer with the Yamhill County Chapter Hands & Words Are Not for Hurting Project®

Grace Lord-Garrettson, 3, enjoys a special Hands cookie during McMinnville, Oregon's Hands & Words 10th anniversary celebration.

Soroptimist member and Grocery Outlet owner, Sheryl Ryker, supported our 10th local (18th National) Hands & Words Are Not for Hurting® birthday by raising $1,188.62 through employee competitions and customer donations.

Grocery Outlet owners Ed & Sheryl Ryker pose with Purple Hands Bear

Our own Purple Hands Bear (aka Vickie Gross) dropped by to accept the funds and thank everyone

Grocery Outlet Employee, Anna displays her wristband in honor of learning the Pledge as a youngster in Arizona and repeating it as an adult upon entering a local shelter. She thinks it's a "terrific message."

Grocery Outlet Supports our Mission Statement

School Board Chair & Soroptimist Barbara Carter reads the Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Week Proclamation. Everyone stood to recite the Purple Hands Pledge®.

Superintendent Dr. Maryalice Russell receives Purple Hands Pledge Ambassador Certificate and flowers. L to R, Kathy Robinson, Melody Gibson, Dr. Russell, Purple Hands Pledge Bear, Gretchen Olson, Pamela Berkery, & former Yamhill Co. Sheriff Jack Crabtree.

Purple Hands Pledge Bear and Superintendent Russell share purple happiness!

Soroptimists greet school board meeting attendees. (L to R) Melody Gibson, Purple Hands Pledge Bear, Kathy Robinson, Pamela Berkery

Official Framed Certificate given to Superintendent Maryalice Russel

Principal Bruce Waltz (back right) supported the students' presentation.

Memorial Elementary Students presenting an overview of the Hands & Words program at their school during the McMinnville School Board Meeting.

Soroptimist Int'l of McMinnville hosts an annual elephant ear booth at Mcminnville's Turkey Rama

Children and Families learn about the Purple Hands Pledge®

Poster Display

Kids Take the Purple Hands Pledge®

Henderson House's observance of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

The Observance was held at Linfield College in McMinnville

Purple Pail Project with Door Prizes donated by Local Businesses in Yamhill Co.

Honest Chocolates in McMinnville Supports the Purple Pail Project!

Board Members Keith and Linda Farrow donated a 3 night stay in Lincoln City, OR as the Grand Prize

Soroptimists Gretchen Olson & Mary Baker pose with Purple Hands Pledge Bear at the Annual Soroptimist Wine Country Holiday Home Tour

Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting and Soroptimist Int'l of McMinnville were official sponsors of the event.

Purple Hands Pledge Bear visited Cherrywood Memory Care Center in McMinnville, fulfilling the Wine Country Holiday Home Tour Auction Winner’s Request

Soroptimist, Vickie Gross, receives the Purple Hands Pledge® Ambassador Award for distinguished service as the Purple Hands Bear Mascot.

McMinnville and Newberg Soroptimists, Catherine Emrani & Mary Baker visit Gretchen Olson's Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting® table at the 3rd Annual McMinnville Soroptimist Sex Trafficking Awareness Workshop.

Duniway Middle School encourages their students & community members to take the Purple Hands Pledge®

Amity High School encourages their students & community members to take the Purple Hands Pledge®

Columbia Bank Teller, Donna Davis, receives the Purple Hands Pledge® Ambassador Award for sharing the Hands Message & Pledge with her drive-up window customers.

One of six Yamhill County DHS doors displaying Purple Hands Pledge posters. These are covering the viewing windows into visitation rooms where parents meet with their child or children who have been placed into foster care. This is part of the remodeling project by the International Soroptimist Club of McMinnville (2015-2016)

Clown taking the Purple Hands Pledge® at McMinnville's Annual Safety Fair held at Patton Middle School.

Mid-Valley Advancements Presentation - McMinnville, OR

7th Annual Peace Walk & Fair – Interfaith Advocates for Peace & Justice

Local florist, Incahoots, provided a banner for their customers to take the Purple Hands Pledge®

McMinnville Albertsons Hands booth & donation station. 75 shoppers stopped to learn about & take the Purple Hands Pledge®

Donation jars were place at each checkout station. $148.84 was raised after just one day. Thank you Albertsons!

Purple Hands Bear makes an appearance at the Soroptimist meeting!

Purple Hands Bear leads Soroptimist's in taking the Purple Hands Pledge®