A Couple of Days with Our Peeps
Just a listing of some efforts that have been made in the last 3 days—
Tuesday hot lunch by Pat
Wednesday hot lunch by Portland Assembly
Thursday sack lunch by mother and daughter team of volunteers
Friday sack lunch from another faithful volunteer
Commitment for ongoing Monday lunches from that same group of faithful volunteers
(Each of these lunches feeds 10-30 people depending on weather and who shows up and who is taking some back to a camp for others—but we have come to know that these meals are stopping people from stealing food when they are hungry)
Volunteers purchased and donated two cases of hand and toe warmers and handed them off
Distributed lots of sweaters, hoodies, dry socks, tarps, rain gear to individuals
Took 2 guys to get replacement IDs at the DMV (one hadn’t had one for 3 years but needed to cash a pay check, the other needed his ID to get his beloved dogs back from the shelter)
Got 1 friend to get said dogs
Got 1 friend started on referral process for shelter housing with Navigation Center
Visited friend at Blackburn center, checked on new friend on Hawthorne that one of our volunteers witnessed in need, checked on groups in 3 parks to say hi, give hugs, and offer support
Triangulating care for an aging houseless man and his dog…getting him support with TPI towards housing
Got food stamp benefits reestablished for 2 people
Participated in Girl Scout meeting with Q and A about our work
Leading cohort of 8th graders interested in action project around homelessness in Portland
Talked to lawyer and developer about next steps for our organization
received $424.30 in cash donations (just the last 5 days!) and lots of warm clothing donations
volunteers helping to organize donations at Peace House and SE Uplift for easy distribution
Helped get chronically homeless man on a bus to Arizona where he is seeking ongoing mental health supports from a doctor he trusts. His dream come true!
Got a few guys to Peace House for showers
Continue talking to a variety of churches and community leaders in hopes of finding space for a Winter Emergency Shelter for the coldest of nights.
There’s probably more that I don’t even know about or have let slip to the back of my mind…but with very little, we are doing lots! Join us once, twice, always—or tell me how you are supporting your neighbors in all of the quiet ways you do.