GIG of Portland

02/02/2026

GIG of Portland's February Meeting is a Valentine's Cookie Decorating Event🩷❤️💜
Saturday February 7th
12:30-2:30
Petunia's Pies and Pastries
610 SW 12th Ave
Portland OR
Street parking or in the lot under the church across the street.

Come join GIG and other members of the gluten-free community and decorate your own Valentine's Day sugar cookie.
Petunia's is vegan so there are no eggs or dairy at their dedicated gluten-free bakery.
Our Christmas cookie decorating event was a hit and sold out.
Limited seating. Families and littles welcome in this all-ages event.
See graphics for details.

RSVP by 5pm Monday 2/2/26.
Email Lisa Shaver at GIG.Portland@gluten.org with # of people, names and menu item for lunch/brunch.

No meeting on the 2nd Saturday (2/14) as it’s my mom’s 98th birthday & I’ll be out of town with her.🥰

02/02/2026

Smiles for your Monday.

01/02/2026

Celiac Disease School Support

Having a structured 504 Plan in place is crucial for all students with celiac disease, especially those attending public schools or those that receive federal funding.

The Celiac Disease Foundation School Support Sessions represent the first ever national celiac disease education partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital, the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, Mayo Clinic, Children’s National Hospital, and MassGeneral Hospital for Children.

The sessions will be held monthly and be open to all parents of a child with celiac disease in the United States. Each session will be led by an expert on setting up 504 plans specific to celiac disease and will cover federal laws and regulations that govern this autoimmune disease, the appropriate type of plan to set up, reasonable accommodations, and how to get individual support for your family.

This meeting is appropriate for families with a child of any age including early childhood through college.

The session will last for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.

Use link in comments to register.

Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 at 12:30 PM PT/ 3:30 PM ET

Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 at 12:30 PM PT/ 3:30 PM ET

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 at 9:30 AM PT/ 12:30 PM ET

Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 at 12:30 PM PT/ 3:30 PM ET

Tuesday, May 5th, 2026 at 9:30 AM PT/ 12:30 PM ET

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 at 12:30 PM PT/ 3:30 PM ET

Tuesday, July 7th, 2026 at 9:30 AM PT/ 12:30 PM ET

Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 at 12:30 PM PT/ 3:30 PM ET

Tuesday, September 1st, 2026 at 9:30 AM PT/ 12:30 PM ET

Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 at 12:30 PM PT/ 3:30 PM ET

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026 at 9:30 AM PT/ 12:30 PM ET

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2026 at 12:30 PM PT/ 3:30 PM ET

01/02/2026

A series of breakthroughs are fueling hope for curing autoimmune diseases long considered incurable, Sarah Zhang reported in 2024.

More than 40 people with lupus have now undergone new CAR-T cell therapy, and most have gone into drug-free remission. It is too early to declare any of these patients cured for life, but that now seems within the realm of possibility.

“The disease causes the immune system to go rogue in a way that can strike virtually any organ in the body, but when and where is maddeningly elusive,” Zhang continued. Doctors have long believed that Lupus—like other autoimmune diseases—cannot be cured. But two years ago a German study rocked these assumptions: “Five patients with uncontrolled lupus went into complete remission after undergoing a repurposed cancer treatment called CAR-T-cell therapy, which largely wiped out their rogue immune cells,” Zhang wrote. The first patient to receive this treatment has been symptom-free for almost four years.

“CAR-T-cell therapy was originally developed as a way to kill malignant cells in blood cancer,” Zhang continued. But now doctors have hope that it could offer a bigger breakthrough for autoimmune diseases beyond just lupus, including multiple sclerosis, myositis, and myasthenia gravis. “The success of CAR-T has inspired researchers to borrow other—cheaper and simpler—strategies from cancer therapy to kill immune cells gone awry,” Zhang continued. “Not all of these ideas will pan out, but if any do, the next few years could bring an inflection point in treating some of the most frustrating and intractable diseases of our modern era.”

For now, CAR-T for lupus and other autoimmune diseases is mostly available in the U.S. only through clinical trials, which means the majority of lupus patients cannot access the treatment. CAR-T treatments are also long and expensive. “Because each patient’s own cells are reengineered, it cannot be easily scaled up,” Zhang wrote. Still, “even if CAR-T itself is never widely adopted for autoimmune diseases, it has opened the door to new ideas that could one day revolutionize their treatment.”

🎨: The Atlantic. Sources: Jacopin / BSIP / Getty; Velimir Zeland / Shutterstock.

Article: https://theatln.tc/GGq01P63

31/01/2026

Sale just in time for Valentine’s Day, or any day on February at Missionary Chocolates❣️
New address:
1925 NE 42nd Ave
Ste F
Portland OR

BIRTHDAY SALE!!

6 dollars off all 4 piece heart boxes!

February is our birthday month and we’re turning 18:) so for one day only (February 1st) we are having a sale to celebrate!

It’s for our four piece heart boxes pictured here. Instead of 24 dollars they will be 18 dollars in honor of Missionary Chocolates being 18 years old! :))

Perfect time to grab valentines gifts or just get a little treat! We’re very happy to be here and wouldn’t be without all of you so happy 18, happy valentines and we look forward to all the wonderful things to come!

Tag your friends, tag your loved ones, come try some hearts!

-

31/01/2026

Celiac disease is recognized as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
•How does this impact you?
•What protections does this offer?

Because celiac disease is an impairment affecting the major life activity of eating and major bodily functions like the digestive, immune, and neurological systems, the ADA requires reasonable accommodations in many settings. This recognition helps protect access, safety, and inclusion throughout different stages of life.

Here are just some of the situations that are covered by the ADA:

In grade school: students with celiac disease attending any school has the right to a 504 plan. A 504 plan outlines individualized accommodations to help ensure a child can safely participate in school activities.

In college: students can work with campus disability services or student health offices to address challenges related to dining plans, housing, or access to safe food options.

In hospitals: hospitals are required to provide gluten-free meals during a patient’s stay. This includes following physician-ordered diets and making necessary accommodations to meet medical needs.

In communal living situations like assisted living or correctional facilities: if meals are provided as part of residency, facilities are required to accommodate a gluten-free diet for people with celiac disease, just as they would for other medical conditions.

Knowing your rights can help you advocate for the accommodations you or your loved one need.

The National Celiac Association has a few webinars with attorneys who specialize in disability discrimination.

Find them on National Celiac Association’s YouTube or at nationalceliac.org/nca-webinars/

31/01/2026

Crispy Rice Salad with Asian Tahini Dressing

This salad is a total texture dream: crunchy, creamy, crisp, and fresh all in one bowl. The real magic? That golden, crunchy rice, straight from the oven. It turns your average grain salad into something so much more craveable, especially when paired with a crispy rice salad dressing.

https://glutenfreeandmore.com/crispy-rice-salad-with-asian-tahini-dressing/

30/01/2026

GIG of Portland's February Meeting is a Valentine's Cookie Decorating Event🩷❤️💜
Saturday February 7th
12:30-2:30
Petunia's Pies and Pastries
610 SW 12th Ave
Portland OR
Street parking or in the lot under the church across the street.

Come join GIG and other members of the gluten-free community and decorate your own Valentine's Day sugar cookie.
Petunia's is vegan so there are no eggs or dairy at their dedicated gluten-free bakery.
Our Christmas cookie decorating event was a hit and sold out.
Limited seating. Families and littles welcome in this all-ages event.
See graphics for details.

RSVP by 5pm Monday 2/2/26.
Email Lisa Shaver at GIG.Portland@gluten.org with # of people, names and menu item for lunch/brunch.

No meeting on the 2nd Saturday (2/14) as it’s my mom’s 98th birthday & I’ll be out of town with her.

30/01/2026

Superbowl LX 2026 Watch Party in a dedicated GF sports bar! 🏈🏈🏈
Evasion Brewing's Tasting Room on SE Belmont turns into a Sports Bar on Sunday February 8th to watch the PNW Seattle Seahawks play the NE New England Patriots.
Kickoff is at 3:30PT.
Watch this space for more info. 🏈🏈🏈

30/01/2026

Join us tonight Thursday 1/29! Just show up!
Watch Bridgerton Season 4's first two new episodes while sipping delicious GF beverages at Evasion Brewing's Tasting Room at the Goat Blocks on SE Belmont.

Last minute invitation - do come, won't you? All the Ton will be talking about the season drop!

Join me, Lisa, and Evasion's owner Becky and watch Bridgerton on big TV screens and sip on a delicious beer, cocktail or NA beverage. You can order food there or come after dinner.

Each episode is a bout 60 minutes.

No fee - just support a local Portland GF business and have fun with other folks who can't wait to see what happens in Season 4.

Never watched it? Come and we'll fill you in.

Wear comfy clothes, bring a cushion or blanket if you like.

Tomorrow! Thursday January 29th 6-8pm
Evasion Brewing Tasting Room
1030 SE Belmont St Portland
(behind where Schilling Cider House used to be and directly west of Market of Choice - upstairs!. One block North of Hopscotch).
Lots of street parking in the Goat Blocks neighborhood.

See you there. ✨👸👑

30/01/2026

Join us tonight Thursday 1/29! Just show up!
Watch Bridgerton Season 4's first two new episodes while sipping delicious GF beverages at Evasion Brewing's Tasting Room at the Goat Blocks on SE Belmont.

Last minute invitation - do come, won't you? All the Ton will be talking about the season drop!

Join me, Lisa, and Evasion's owner Becky and watch Bridgerton on big TV screens and sip on a delicious beer, cocktail or NA beverage. You can order food there or come after dinner.

Each episode is a bout 60 minutes.

No fee - just support a local Portland GF business and have fun with other folks who can't wait to see what happens in Season 4.

Never watched it? Come and we'll fill you in.

Wear comfy clothes, bring a cushion or blanket if you like.

Tomorrow! Thursday January 29th 6-8pm
Evasion Brewing Tasting Room
1030 SE Belmont St Portland
(behind where Schilling Cider House used to be and directly west of Market of Choice - upstairs!. One block North of Hopscotch).
Lots of street parking in the Goat Blocks neighborhood.

See you there. ✨👸👑