Working with People who are Homeless/Hungry

Blanchet House of Hospitality

Founder’s Café at Blanchet House is a soup kitchen that serves over 700 meals each day at breakfast (6:30 – 7:30 am), lunch (11:30 - 12:30 pm), and dinner (5:00 – 6:00 pm). Volunteers work with the regular staff, who are formerly homeless men living at Blanchet in apartments above the dining room. There is a great spirit of service here, a good chance to learn about homelessness, and an opportunity to break out of your comfort zone. Blanchet House is one of the oldest service programs in Portland and has a large volunteer pool of over 5000 volunteers, so please keep in mind the schedule does fill up very quickly!

UPDATE: During the pandemic, Blanchet House has closed their cafe, but they continue to offer to-go meals, water bottles, care kits, and more for pick up at their window. Volunteers are still needed to prep meals and sort through donations. Safety precautions are in place. In addition, you can sign up to prepare sack lunches or care kits at home and drop off at Blanchet House for distribution.

Faith Cafe

  • Contact: Dave Peterson
  • Phone: 503-226-7391
  • Email: petersd56@hotmail.com
  • Time of year: Saturday Mornings Summer and Year Round 9:30 to 1:30

Faith Cafe provides lunches at St. Matthew Lutheran Church (10390 SW Canyon Rd, Beaverton, OR 97005 (Not to be confused with St. Matthew Catholic Church!). Faith Cafe needs four volunteers per Saturday, starting in mid-June. They would work from 9:30 am until 1:30 pm at St. Matthew Lutheran Church to help in the Faith Café hot meal program.The hours are on Saturdays except the July 4th weekend. The tasks include setting up, serving food to our guests, playing with kids who come, busing tables, cleaning up and whatever else has to be done. Also, volunteers are encouraged  to sit down and have a meal with our guests and talk with them

Last year we served about 2500 meals during the course of the year.  Students need to get a hold of me for advance scheduling as there are a limited number of spots each week for volunteers.  Volunteers need to report to the basement of the church.

Potluck in the Park

Potluck in the Park is an all-volunteer, grassroots organization whose mission is to provide nutritious food and an atmosphere of community to anyone in need. Sign up online through the "Hands on Portland" website.

St. Francis Dining Hall

St. Francis Dining Hall is located in the lower level of St. Francis Church. Hot meals are served Monday through Friday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 3:30 pm. Volunteers help prepare and serve meals to guests, many of whom are families.

Urban Day Immersion (in partnership with St. Andre Catholic Church or JOIN)
 
  • Contact: Ms. Andrea Casey
  • Phone: 503-291-5496
  • Email: acasey@jesuitportland.org
  • Time of year: Summer and Fall

The immersion coordinator leads a group of students and teachers through a day-long, hands-on retreat. Students will assist with morning hospitality, go on a walking tour to learn about agencies that support people living on the streets in Portland, and close the day with reflection.

UPDATE: Fall 2020 urban immersions have been cancelled due to COVID.