PORTLAND, OR — One dollar and a handwritten note signed by a man known only as Oscar may not seem like a big deal.
However, in a city ravaged with protests, violence, and constant destruction, this simple act of kindness has become a priceless treasure.
Last Sunday night’s riots ravaged the worn out city…again. On Monday morning, Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society, Kerry Tymchuk, never expected to obtain a “new” priceless artifact. It was a shred of kindness in what must feel like the midst of a war zone.
Tymchuk found a napkin dropped off at the front desk of the Oregon Historical Society. On the napkin was a one dollar bill and a handwritten note that said:
“Hello, I’m homeless, so I don’t have much to give you. Just some of my bottle collecting money. But, I saw your windows got broken and I wanted to help. You once gave me a free tour before the pandemic. So, this is a thank you. – OSCAR”
The executive director says a homeless man named Oscar left this note early this morning and donated a dollar to help with the cleanup. Out of all the donations, he says this one means the most. pic.twitter.com/pqedj02vOS
— Lindsay Nadrich (@LindsayNadrich) October 12, 2020
Tymchuk spoke about the generous gift. He said that though the Oregon Historical Society had received several donations in the aftermath of the damage, Oscar’s gesture was priceless.
Tymchuk said:
“We’ve been fortunate to receive many generous donations to OHS over the years–some upwards to a million or more dollars. No donation means more to me and the society than this dollar donation from Oscar.”
Sunday night was a hellacious time for those in Portland. Protesters overturned statues of former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln in Downtown.
Ahead of Sunday’s protest-turned-riot, the event had been promoted on social media as an “Indigenous Peoples Day of Rage.” It was a demonstration against centuries of violence against indigenous populations.
The event quickly unraveled from demonstration to destructive protest to another riot. The Portland Police Bureau determined it to be one of the most damaging of nightly unrests in the past five months.
Soon after, some people in the crowd began breaking windows at the Oregon Historical Society building. At least three lit flares were thrown into the structure in an apparent attempt to start fires, according to police, but the flares went out before causing any significant damage.
You made everyone’s day by donating! Such a great gesture! The museum said they plan to frame your note and display it.
— Lindsay Nadrich (@LindsayNadrich) October 12, 2020
Tymchuk said though a majority of the collection of artifacts and other historical heirlooms were not damaged, an African-American heritage bicentennial quilt was taken and later found several blocks away.
Although the quilt was pretty wet, Tymchuk felt optimistic that this “priceless piece of history” would be displayed again.
You can read more about the Afro-American Heritage Bicentennial Commemorative Quilt, sewn by 15 Black women from Portland to honor the heritage and contributions of the Black community in U.S. history. https://t.co/t9a883S9Uz
— E. Brasell (@BrasilliantLady) October 12, 2020
Despite the damage done, the heartwarming gift of Oscar’s keeps on giving. Bottledrop, Oregon’s bottle and can return program, said it is planning to contribute to rebuilding efforts.
Bottledrop says it is teaming up with the Oregon Historical Society to contribute money from donated cans.
Community Relations Manager for BottleDrop Joel Schoening said:
“Oscar made such a kind gift. That gift inspired us to put our program to work to help OHS.”
Bottledrop said whoever wishes to donate and stop into any of their 25 locations. The staff will give them special bags to place heir bottles and cans, then drop off at any center when they are ready. All contributions will go directly to the historical society.
Schoening said:
“The first $5,000 in donations will be matched.”
This method of fundraising has been used by the residents of Oregon on prior occasions. Bottledrop mentioned that in recent months, customers have donated approximately $260,000 to local causes.
Schoening continued:
“Oregonians understand the power of the can drive. With the Bottledrop emergency donation program, we’re taking that concept and using it to respond to crises in the communities we serve.”
Let’s build on Oscar’s heartfelt donation to @OrHist. Support OHS by…
• taking your empty deposit containers to a BottleDrop and tell staff you want to donate them.
– or –
• transferring funds from your BottleDrop account: https://t.co/vFRdIH2bO7 @KATUNews pic.twitter.com/dp2nuBkOOF— Oregon BottleDrop (@ORBottleDrop) October 14, 2020
The Oregon Historical Society posted a moving statement on Facebook by Tymchuk about Oscar, the homeless man.
Some expressed how the vandalism of the museum made them sad:
“This is unbelievable. I love this place and hope they can quickly get everything repaired.”
Another comment read:
“This is the house that Oregon’s history built. What happened last night at the OHS building (along with the damage done to the Portland Art Museum across the street and the toppling of the Lincoln and Roosevelt statues nearby) last night was an insult to Oregon’s history and people that can only be expressed in R-rated language.
“This act of cowardice shows total ignorance and disrespect on the part of those who committed this brazen and astonishingly stupid act. The people responsible for this deserve to be prosecuted to the fullest possible extent of the law. We should be better than this.”
Someone angered at OHS because there was no mention of the other artifacts wrote:
“Downplaying all the looted cultural artifacts lost forever and only mentioning the quilt. How many families who donated Irreplaceable-heirlooms over the last century will receive apologies? Instead, you bow down to the angry mob and put out a letter of “understanding” and then try to deflect with a feel-good homeless man story.”
Grateful to see Oscar embody Oregon’s community spirit of helping out others, and we’re pumped to see our community step up for @OrHist in the coming weeks. https://t.co/lcYdeSZFVV
— Oregon BottleDrop (@ORBottleDrop) October 14, 2020
And then, someone who claimed to be the same Oscar who left the famous note said:
“I wish I could give more, but I hope my dollar inspires others to give, too.”
We at Law Enforcement Today believe he is the real deal as the Facebook handle on the napkin matches the post.
How did Oscar become homeless? He stated on his Facebook blog:
“I have a non-cancerous tumor. My immune system attacks with a severe, debilitating cognitive dysfunction and fatigue that makes it impossible for me to consistently perform a job.”
He lost his job a year ago, ran out of money and became homeless. He has been working with doctors to get his symptoms under control so he can get back to work again.
Thank you, Oscar, for being a good guy. Thank you for showing America that not everyone in Portland wants to burn it down and destroy it.
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