New socks and underwear needed

Union Gospel Mission REALLY needs new socks and underwear to give to the homeless or people in need who come to the door of the Mission seeking clothing on a daily basis.

Union Gospel Mission has a "community clothing closet" that has all types of clothing: pants, shirts, jackets, blankets, and new socks and underwear. People in need of these items can come to the door and receive them. However, over the past week or two there just hasn't been enough socks and underwear to meet demand. As many as 30 requests for these items per day have been turned down.

Why? There are a couple of reasons: clothing donations have dropped off, and this spring has been unseasonably cool and wet increasing demand for these items.

Marc, who is a member of the LifeChange recovery community here at Union Gospel Mission, has the role of meeting the needs of people who come to the door of the Mission. His observation was that many of the people who rely on the Mission for clothing don't have a place to store clothes, nor do they have a way to wash their clothing.

So if you can drop off some new socks and underwear at 15 NW Third Avenue in Portland that would be greatly appreciated! You can make a donation online http://www.ugmportland.org/donate.html to help purchase these items. Another option is to organize a sock and underwear clothing drive at your place of business, school, church, civic group or club. Any questions -call Union Gospel Mission at 503-274-4483.

Easter Highlight video

We're very excited! We have started taking video of various events and we're able to share them with our friends online.

Here is our first effort, a look at highlights from our Easter event:

LifeChange Graduates: They've come a long way

Here's a photo of our 5 LifeChange grads with our Executive Director Bill Russell (far right in the pic) It was a very exciting, emotional time at the graduation celebration in March. All the graduates are awesome guys who worked very hard in LifeChange. You can read their stories and see their "before" and "after" LifeChange photos at:

http://www.ugmportland.org/lifechange.html

In addition to the stories on the LifeChange page, is an application for the LifeChange addiction recovery program. Most of our residents heard about LifeChange from a family member or friend. If you know someone who is addicted and feeling hopeless, please let them know about LifeChange.

Easter re-cap

Easter Sunday was a soggy one, but it didn't stop Union Gospel Mission's Easter Brunch! 650 meals were served.

The crowd was steady throughout the day....

Over 200 volunteers helped prepare and serve the meal. We received a great donation of ham from Carlton Farms, and many Easter donations through the mail to support the meal. Thanks to volunteers and donors people who might have spent the holiday alone in the rain instead enjoyed a wonderful Easter meal at Union Gospel Mission.

Easter Eggs needed...

We don't need these pretty, colorful kind (though they are nice!) What Union Gospel Mission needs are 1,500 regular eggs (yes, over a thousand!) to provide an Easter Sunday brunch to people who are homeless or in need.

The menu for the Easter brunch is ham, eggs, biscuits and country gravy, mixed fruit, juice and coffee. Plastic forks and spoons are also needed.

What Union Gospel Mission, and over a hundred wonderful volunteers, want to do this Easter Sunday is to provide a special brunch, and a welcoming place for people who are homeless, in need of food or otherwise would spend the holiday alone. Typically, Union Gospel Mission provides between 600 and 700 meals on Easter Sunday.

If you want to donate eggs or plastic forks and spoons those can be dropped off at 15 NW Third Avenue in Portland, or call 503-274-4483. Donations online accepted at http://www.ugmportland.org/

LifeChange Graduation

Preparations are underway for a wonderful celebration on March 9. Five residents of the LifeChange addiction recovery program are graduating! Each has spent an average of about four years in recovery. Four of them used meth and one used prescription drugs as well as heroin. They all had some pretty awful experiences in the midsts of their addiction. But today they have completely re-built their lives through some very serious and hard work in LifeChange. They've come very far...




So, congratulations Doug, Brian, Daniel, Brek and Kurt! Stay tuned to hear more about their amazing stories of recovery.

Our group of graduates demostrate that recovery is possible. If you or someone you know needs help, an application for LifeChange is online at http://www.ugmportland.org/lifechange.html

Learning to have fun- clean and sober

The LifeChange addiction recovery residents took to the slopes on February 4, for the annual "snow day."

In LifeChange, the focus is on comprehensive recovery. Not only do residents learn job skills, computer skills, and other valuable life skills, they also learn a new way to have fun. In the past, many associated "fun" or "partying" with the use of drugs and alcohol.

During community recreational events, LifeChange residents get a break from their busy schedules and have a chance to see that fun doesn't need to involve drugs or alcohol.

Multi-tasking: skiing, snowboarding and posing...

Taking a break- LifeChange residents set up a tent in the ski-area parking lot, a place to eat and warm-up.

A beautiful day for skiing- lots of snow!