Blanchet House in need of donations as winter weather sets in
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- As winter's chill sets in, the Blanchet House in Portland stands as a beacon of warmth and hope, offering meals and compassion to those in need.
As the need for warmth, shelter and hope are more urgent than ever, during this busy holiday week, Blanchet House is asking for help.
However, regardless of the situation, the nonprofit attempts to meet people's needs with "radical hospitality."
"A hot coffee just goes a really long way to making people feel warm inside and that there's someone who cares, giving them hope," said Julie Showers with Blanchet House.
On average, volunteers dish out roughly 1,000 hot meals a day between breakfast, lunch and dinner. But this week, with Thanksgiving near, the lines at Blanchet House are stretching around the block.
Rising grocery prices, especially for staples like rice, pasta, and eggs, are making it even harder for people to keep up.
"Those items really strain our budget, but they're so essential to our meal services," Showers said.
Blanchet House thrives on the kindness of individuals, with just a small amount of city funding. But without community donations and volunteers, they can't meet the growing need.
"Ten dollars goes a long way at Blanchet House to helping," Showers said.
Volunteers are covered for the holidays, but the real need is keeping Portland's most vulnerable warm in the winter through financial donations or cold-weather items like hats, gloves, coats and socks.
"The people we serve are often forgotten about in the dull drums of winter, when it's the coldest," Showers said.
For those who want to help from home, organizing a cold weather drive or assembling a hygiene kit would provide much-needed help for Blanchet House.