Homeless Festival

For over three years now we have been doing small deliveries of food and clothes to Portlands homeless.  We have a desire to expand our service and provide more support for the people on the streets.  We have decided to hold a “Festival” type event each year. Our goals in holding an event for the homeless in the area are:

1.  To get volunteers who have not interacted with this people group outside their comfortr zone and grow as individuals.

2.  To meet as many physical and spiritual needs as we can and provide the homeless with a few days a year where they are treated as if they were kings and queens.

3.  To create partnerships with churches, nonprofits and the city to help alleviate the current situation and discover ways to create lasting change.

First Event

December 20th 2009 from 11am-4pmThe First Annual Christmas Festival was held on Sunday, December 20, 2009 under the west side of the Morrison Bridge. For 5 hours over 100 volunteers helped meet the needs of approximately 700 homeless from the Portland area. We were truly blessed with the volunteers and donations of many different individuals and organizations to help make this event a huge success. Medically, the homeless were offered free dental work by Medical Teams International as well as acupuncture help from Stacey Degen, a licensed acupuncturist. Hair M, a salon in downtown Portland, opened up their recently evacuated building just a few blocks away from the Morrison bridge so many volunteers were able to wash, dry, and cut the individuals hair. Having hot water and clean dry hair was a huge blessing to many, some saying it was their favorite part of the day to “be pampered and forget their troubles”. In the salon, free back massages and manicures were available as well. Back under the bridge, there was a lot going on! A large BBQ was able to give everyone there enough food to fill their bellies with warm food on a cold day. Westside Christian High School helped collect over 150 sleeping bags to pass out on Sunday as well as 200 Bibles donated from Athey Creek Christian Fellowship. Clothes, shoes, tarps, bags, blankets and hygiene items were also distributed. We are excited to do this event every year and reach even more people! Thank you to all of the volunteers for collecting donations and coming out to help serve the homeless first hand and spread the Christmas cheer!  .

Next Event:  Sunday December 19th 2010 11am-3pm