Union Gospel Mission kitchen remodel

Union Gospel Mission's kitchen is in need of remodeling so that Union Gospel Mission can continue to serve over 100,000 meals per year to people in need. Take a look at this video to see the kitchen:

What a difference two weeks can make

Just two weeks ago, it was unseasonably chilly, with gray skies and rain. Today, the sun is bright, and there is talk of the weather reaching 90 degrees.

Many people think of donating to or volunteering with Union Gospel Mission during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, which is great, and a huge blessing.

While Union Gospel Mission does provide more special meals and events during the holiday season, the need is year round. We have people coming to our door today for a sack lunch at 6:30 am or for a hot dinner at our chapel service at 7:15 pm. All day people come seeking clothing and maybe a pastry, a cup of coffee or a drink of water.

Our LifeChange addiction recovery program helps men and women living at the Mission everyday. LifeChange residents work at the thrift store and at the Mission, they also work together in recovery everyday.

If you want to volunteer, donate clothing or food or make a financial donation, it is welcome anytime- even on sunny May days!

Visit our website www.ugmportland.org

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/