Help-Portrait sessions offer free professional portraits to those in need in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - Nearly 120 volunteers, including professional studio photographers, photo assistants, photo editors and makeup artists, are coming together Saturday to help make the holidays picture perfect for more than 360 families and individuals in need.

The fifth annual Greater Cedar Rapids Area Help-Portrait event takes place at three locations:

- First Presbyterian Church, 310 Fifth St. SE, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

- Evergreen Estates III, 2204 Johnson Ave. NW, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

- UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital Living Centers West, 1050 Fourth Ave. SE, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those who participate will have their images professional taken and edited. They'll be able to pick up a framed 8-by-10-inch photo and a thumb drive of their images on Saturday, Dec. 9.

All services are free.

For the first time this year, the event is expanding to reach two new demographics - senior citizens living at residential care facilities and high school seniors who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford senior pictures.

In years past, the event has reached out to veterans and those who are homeless.

According to Help-Portrait officials, 100 senior citizens from St. Luke's Living Center West and Evergreen Estates III will be photographed before and during the facilities' holiday parties. Family members in attendance will have the opportunity to be photographed for free with their loved ones.

'Many senior citizens at these facilities have limited mobility and can feel lonely,” said Help-Portrait leadership team member Rick Young. 'The Help Portrait team looks forward to visiting with them, making them feel special and giving them memories to cherish.”

This year, the Greater Cedar Rapids Area Help-Portrait team partnered with Arc of East Central Iowa, Area Substance Abuse Council, Bridgehaven, Catherine McAuley Center, Catholic Worker House, Cedar Rapids Veterans Center, Four Oaks, HACAP, His Hands Free Clinic, Helping Hands Ministry, Horizons, Jane Boyd, Loaves and Fishes, Mission of Hope, Power of Women and Children, Sunday Evening Meal Program, Tanager Place, Waypoint, Willis Dady, Young Parents Network and area schools to find those in need of photography services.

'Our goal is to expand into the community as much as possible, so we partnered with several new agencies this year to reach more people who could benefit from this service,” said Young. 'The reception among agency clientele is exciting and overwhelming. All time slots are booked for this year and we are taking names for 2018.”

Since Greater Cedar Rapids Area Help-Portrait began in 2013, volunteers have photographed more than 2,400 individuals.

'There are a lot of people who have limited resources who would like to have nice studio quality photographs to send to loved ones or display on their wall,” said Young. 'The pure excitement and joy on the faces of people getting their pictures taken inspires me and all the volunteers to be a part of this worldwide movement.”

Greater Cedar Rapids Area Help-Portrait is made possible thanks to local professional studio photographers, area photographers, Linn Area Photo Club, Photo Pro, The Gazette, Alliant Energy and the volunteers.

For more information on getting involved as a volunteer, contributor or a community service agency whose families could benefit from this annual event, go to gcrahelpportrait.com.