New Video! LifeChange Stories: Renee Fisher

See Renee's story of terrible losses, self-destructive behavior and healing at Union Gospel Mission's LifeChange community

Congrats Dani and Dan T.!

Last weekend the LifeChange recovery community honored two outstanding residents, Dani Nay and Dan Torgeson (aka "Dan T.") Dani completed the Cabinet (or third level) of LifeChange and is going on to study to be a nurse.

Dan T. is moving up to the Council (or 4th level) in LifeChange. Council members agree to serve as leaders of the LifeChange community to teach and mentor other residents.

Dani (center) receives a completion certificate from Women's Ministry Director Crisanne, and LifeChange Council members Renee (left) and Mary (far right)

Dan T. at left is welcomed to the Council level by Council member Larry.

First ever "Beat the Heat" event!

Our first ever "Beat the Heat" event is happening today!


Even before the event kicked off, a large line formed in front of the Mission

Our friends from Cafe Delirium in Gresham made specialty coffee drinks for our guests

In addition to coffee, pastries and ice cream were served. Guests could also receive free summer clothing.

Thanks to all who helped make the first ever "Beat the Heat" event a success!

Mother and Son find recovery in LifeChange

Last Saturday, Union Gospel Mission's LifeChange recovery residents, staff and friends gathered for a barbeque to celebrate Thomas Ek's completion of LifeChange. What made the event extra special was Kim, Thomas' mother, was there. It was almost 8 years ago to the day that Kim herself graduated from LifeChange. (Kim and Thomas are pictured at left)

Kim came to the Mission in the late 90s, after years of alcohol and meth abuse. She was separated from her children, and hospitalized and sneaking in vodka to drink. From the hospital, Kim came to Union Gospel Mission's LifeChange addiction recovery community. She worked hard to re-build her life and re-connect with her children. She graduated in June of 2002. (Kim, when she entered LifeChange, pictured at left)

After a turbulent childhood, Thomas started using meth at age 17. Thomas was bounced around from place to place as a child, and experienced a lot of instability. After moving to Oregon from Utah, Thomas reconnected with his mom, Kim. Seeing that his mom was progressing through recovery, she became his role model. Thomas entered LifeChange in February of 2006. (Tom, the day he entered LifeChange, pictured at right)

Thomas completed LifeChange and is now enrolled a Portland Community College. He is looking forward to a career in healthcare technology.

Kim has moved to California and looks after her mother and works in food service at a hospital. She stays in touch with LifeChange, and is an inspiration to residents and staff.

Kim and Thomas are truly an example of breaking the cycle of addiction and transformation and restoration of a family.

Learn more about LifeChange.

Help the homeless "Beat the Heat"

While the weather in Portland has been cloudy and rainy, summer will officially begin on June 21. While many welcome the warmer temperatures, for the homeless, summertime can be difficult.

For the first time, Union Gospel Mission is launching "Beat the Heat" a special one day event on Friday June 25 to help supply those on the street with summer clothing- t-shirts and shorts, baseball caps, and bottled water.

Our friends at Cafe Delirium have agreed to provide specialty coffee drinks for our guests to enjoy when they pick up these items.

We need your help. Here are two ways you can help the homeless "Beat the Heat"

1. Collect summer clothing, hats and bottled water and drop them off at Union Gospel Mission (map) or at Cafe Delirium (map)

2. make a secure online donation

If you would like more information, please contact Heidi Hege at 503-274-4483 ex. 513

New Video! LifeChange Stories: Mary Brannen

In our latest installment of LifeChange Stories, meet Mary, who faced a terrible tragedy in her teen years that ultimately led to decades of addiction. She came to LifeChange and turned her life around.



Click here to support LifeChange and help people like Mary change their lives.

Thrift Store Thursday! Dollar Racks are Back!

Looking for a clothing bargain? Visit Union Gospel Mission's Thrift Store located at >11611 SW Pacific Hwy in Tigard (Across from the Tigard Cinemas) Map

Designated racks of clothing are priced at only ONE DOLLAR per item!

New Video! Union Gospel Mission featured on Oregonlive.com

Check out this video from Oregonlive.com featuring Union Gospel Mission:

Old Town Chinatown: LifeChange Union Gospel Mission

New Video! Easter Brunch

Thanks to the donors and volunteers that made the Easter Brunch possible for the homeless and people in need. 621 meals were served, and 432 hygiene kits, called "Hope Totes" were distributed. Check out the video of the Easter event!

New Video! LifeChange Stories: Dave Johnson

Our latest installment of "LifeChange Stories," profiles of individuals in the LifeChange recovery community. Dave shares his heartbreaking story of childhood abuse, drug use, prison and his eventual decision to seek help in Union Gospel Mission's LifeChange recovery community.



To make a donation to support LifeChange, Click here

New Video: Hope Tote collection day!

Some wonderful church youth and others have brought in thousands of hygiene items and assembled them into "hope totes" - hygiene kits to be given away to the homeless and people in need at the Easter Brunch.

Meet Russ Silver!

Union Gospel Mission is pleased to have Russ Silver join the Union Gospel Mission staff. Russ will be the Homeless Services and Outreach Coordinator. Although Russ is a new staff member, he is not new to Union Gospel Mission.

Russ graduated from Union Gospel Mission’s LifeChange addiction recovery program in February 2006. While in LifeChange Russ underwent an amazing transformation- Click here to read about Russ's LifeChange journey. (Russ is pictured at left at his LifeChange graduation, with fellow LifeChange grad turned staff member, Dave White) Shortly after graduating, Russ volunteered and spent a year in Biloxi, Mississippi helping to repair the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. During his volunteer experience he met Barbara, a fellow volunteer from Missouri. They married and are now expecting a baby boy on May 1^st.

Russ’s role at Union Gospel Mission will include working collaboratively with LifeChange residents to provide services to the homeless more effectively by building relationships, helping the homeless to find resources and helping those on the edge of homelessness. Russ will also be involved in expanding the Mission services beyond the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood.

We are very grateful for Russ and his heart to help LifeChange residents and the homeless!

Help the homeless with a "Hope Tote"

Easter is just a few weeks away, and Union Gospel Mission is planning to host a great Easter brunch for the homeless and anyone in need. The Easter brunch provides a nice hot meal and great fellowship, but this year Union Gospel Mission is doing something more.

Union Gospel Mission would like to provide each guest with a "Hope Tote." What is a "Hope Tote"? It's a simple purple bag that we are asking people to fill with essential toiletries and new socks. We are planning to serve anywhere from 600 to 700 on Easter and want to give each guest a Hope Tote bag filled with needed hygiene items and socks.

If you would like a Hope Tote kit, please contact Heidi Hege at heidih@ugmportland.org or give Heidi a call 503-274-4483 ex 513.

The needed items for the Hope Tote include: new and unopened toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, lip balm, brush, comb, tissues, shoelaces, lotion, disposable razors and socks.

If you fill up a Hope Tote, you may drop them off at 3 NW Third Avenue in Portland on Saturday March 27 between 10:00 am - 3:00 pm and enjoy our Hope Tote drop-off celebration with pizza and tours of the Mission.

LifeChange Graduation: Will and Chris

On Sunday, March 21 we will be holding a LifeChange graduation ceremony for Will and Chris. See the videos to learn about their journey from drug abuse and hopelessness to a transformed life of hope.






If you would like to support Union Gospel Mission, CLICK HERE

Want to volunteer? Come to the "Encounter"

Do you want to volunteer at Union Gospel Mission? We invite you to come to the Union Gospel Mission volunteer orientation, called the Encounter. At the Volunteer Encounter you will learn about the many different volunteer opportunities available, tour the Mission and see firsthand the activities at Union Gospel Mission.

The next volunteer Encounter takes place on Tuesday, March 16 from 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm. Encounter events will take place on the third Tuesday of the month throughout the year.

Interested? Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Heidi Hege at 503-274-4483 ex 513, or email Heidi at heidih@ugmportland.org

To learn more at the Encounter, check out this video!

Thrift Store Thursday: Donate your furniture

Do you have a sofa, chair, love seat, dining table, or desk just collecting dust in your garage or basement? Did you know by donating your furniture you can support Union Gospel Mission?

Furniture is an item that the thrift store could use right now, and the revenue generated by sales at the store support the LifeChange addiction recovery community at Union Gospel Mission.

Also- your furniture can be picked up for FREE! Call the thrift store at 503-639-6488 to schedule a pick up!


Your furniture can help support the LifeChange recovery community! Visit the store at 11611 SW Pacific Hwy in Tigard.

Thrift Store Thursday: Vehicles!

In addition to the great clothes, furnishings, appliances and other items you can purchase at the thrift store, occasionally donated vehicles are for sale. All proceeds from the vehicle sales support the LifeChange addiction recovery community. So, not only do you get a vehicle you are helping a really great group of people.

We have TWO great vehicles currently for sale:

First, is a 1998 Plymouth Voyager Van, clean inside and out, CD Player and 136,036 miles. Asking price is $1,500

The other car is a 1993 Toyota Corolla, with four new tires, looks great inside and out, current tags until 2011 and only 90,962 miles. Asking price is $2,000.

If you are interested in either vehicle, give Dani, our thrift store manager a call at 503-639-6488 or visit the store at 11611 SW Pacific Hwy in Tigard (across from the Tigard Cinemas)

New Video! LifeChange Stories: Chris Smith

Chris, age 24, shares how fast drug addiction can take over your life. Thankfully, Chris has completed four years of recovery at Union Gospel Mission's LifeChange recovery community and is preparing to graduate in March 2010.

Here is his story:



If you would like to make a donation to support LifeChange- CLICK HERE

Thrift Store Thursday: Dollar Day Madness!

Breaking News: $1 per clothing item sale extended to Friday & Saturday!

The Union Gospel Mission Thrift Store was a hive of activity, as customers enjoyed a special "dollar day" where all clothing items were priced at a dollar each. The event also featured free Subway sandwiches and customers had the chance to meet Dani, the new store manager.

Customers look at racks and bins of $1 clothing

Guests enjoyed a six foot Subway sandwich amid the shopping

The action at the cash register was non-stop for Alvin and Dani!

Behind the scenes, LifeChange residents, like Danielle, were busy sorting and racking clothing.

To visit the thrift store, go to 11611 SW Pacific Hwy in Tigard, across from the Tigard Cinemas, or call 503-639-6488.

Thrift Store Thursday: The Next Big Thing!

Everyone- Please mark your calendars for next Thursday, January 14 to attend Union Gospel Mission's thrift store for The Next Big Thing.

We are celebrating the launch of a whole new year at the thrift store. The event features:

- All clothing items for sale for $1- That's right! All clothing $1
- Free Subway sandwich for guests
- Meet the thrift store's new Manager, Dani

So plan to join us at 11611 SW Pacific Hwy in Tigard, across from the Tigard Cinemas, on Thursday January 14 starting 10:00 am. For more information, contact the Thrift Store at 503-639-6488.