Hunger and Homelessness

Hi friends,  I wanted to share with you a project I am involved in and how you can help.  As homelessness expands across the country (including here in Portland), and considering winter is approaching in the middle of a pandemic, our vulnerable homeless populations are experiencing their own crisis.  I work with 5 others at my current internship site offering gloves, socks, water, food, and coffee to the homeless in downtown Portland.  The resources for those living on the streets is woefully inadequate. 

There is someone living on the block where I work, who is around 20 years of age, kind, shy, alone, and vulnerable.  They only have a tarp, a chair, and the clothes on their back.  There are no permanent shelters they can go to.  They have no tent, no sleeping bag, and extremely food insecure, as winter weather sets in. 

I am creating a gofundme.com page to help raise funds to provide a tent and sleeping bag for them as winter approaches.  Any funds that are raised in excess of this needed amount will go towards food and other needed items for the 30 or so folks that me and my friends connect with a couple times per month.  For example, $5 can provide a meal for someone or $20 can be applied to a purchase of a sleeping bag, which I hope to buy in the next week.   

I would be so grateful for any amount you can offer in order to help my neighbors on the streets who desperately need some basic fundamentals.  I have now made two rounds of visits on the streets and it is universal--every time I offer someone food, socks, or a hat, they are extremely thankful for the opportunity to connect and be offered something that is meaningful and valuable to them.  The money goes directly to my account (Stacey) and funds donated will be put to immediate use.