Aloha United Methodist Church

Family Bridge  - 

Family Bridge is a program for homeless families.  Approx every 9 weeks, Aloha UMC and Westside UMC co-host a week at the Aloha site.

During the day, clients spend their time at the day house in Hillsboro, but the evenings are spent in local churches, where they receive dinner and a place to sleep.  Volunteers from the two church supply dinner and serve as overnight host. 

Family Bridge recently received a grant and has purchased a new washer/dryer for the day house.  However, they need to replace the tile on the floor before they can have the appliances delivered.  If anyone has expertise to offer, they are open to suggestions and having you lead the way.  Please give the day house office a call at 503-844-2919 if you can help.

The Lord’s Cupboard

The Lord’s Cupboard continues to experience all the fallout from reduced donations at the Oregon Food Bank.  This means we are having to buy many more supplies and food products at higher cost.  I guess we all know what that looks like in our own food budgets at home.   We have “tightened our belts” a bit in the distributions we are allotting to our clients but trying NOT to deprive already strapped families who are referred to us.

 In my absence over the past six weeks your dollars and “in kind” donations have been put to good use.  They will continue to be put to good use for as long as we can.  Our “sticky notes” in the Narthex are some of our lifeblood.  With dollar donations we buy foods and supplies but the sticky notes let you know what our greatest needs are.  Some foods are in plentiful supply – green beans, tomato soup, pork and beans and hot cereals at the moment. 

 We are in constant need of condensed soups – other than tomato.  We continue to always needs the paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoos and conditioners, toothbrushes, and feminine hygiene products that we can rarely or never get from the Food Bank. 

Our volunteers are our lifeblood as well – few in number but reliable and loved by our clientele and me.  We are spread thin and can use more volunteers for a variety of roles, including servers.  As always, I would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to know more about this mission, as well as about opportunities to serve.  I can be reached by e-mail at smithder@teleport.com or by cellphone (503-860-6696) or home phone (503-649-8977).

Thank you for all you have given and continue to give to this local mission.

 Linda Smith, Coordinator