Al's Outreach Outtakes

Last week I mentioned that I would be meeting with student leaders from Beaverton High Schools Club Hope to review and discuss gift bags for 23 graduating homeless seniors. The student leaders had solicited input from previous BHS homeless graduates to determine what items might be of the most benefit. Every item, including the bags themselves, will provide the recipients with useful, practical products. Soap, shampoo, toothpaste and laundry detergent  are just a few examples of what they will receive. So how did we help? Remember all of those homeless teen gift cards you all provided as part of the Giving Tree? I still have some left so each will receive a $15 Subway card and two $15 Starbucks cards. I also used monies so generously donated by you to fund the homeless teens duffel bags to pay for these gift bags. $1500 will provide all that they need to  insure each homeless graduate receives a bag. Your generosity is going a looooong way to helping these kids know that Holy Trinity cares. There is also a glimmer of hope that we still might be able to provide the bar-b-que that I mentioned. Say a little prayer that this can come together for them.
 
One day last week  I was talking with one of our Food Closet clients whom I have seen multiple times. He always has a smile on his face but I had not taken the time to  get to know him. I knew that he took very little food each time that he came, but not much more than that. Turns out he comes a long way to get to us. He walks quite a way after taking a bus, transferring to max, then another bus. He told me it takes him about two hours each way. When I asked where he lived he told me in Portland. I pointed out there are pantries much closer to him and even offered to help locate some for him. He told me that he prefers coming all this way to Holy Trinity. When I asked why he told me, “There are two big reasons. You guys have much better food and food choices than most other pantries. It’s fresh and there  is a great variety. Second, you make me feel so welcome. Your volunteers are so friendly. So many pantries just want you to get the food and get out. You guys always make me feel good. Oh, I also like that I can schedule a time to come see you. Other places it’s a lottery type system and you can be there for hours. Here, I get served quickly.”
 
Nice job everyone. You are making a difference!