Last year Portland Rescue Mission served over 330,000 meals to people facing hunger and homelessness. For many, the Burnside Shelter kitchen is not just the source of their next meal. It’s a source of hope for their future. A meal served with a smile restores dignity to hurting individuals, and is often an entry point into programs offering advocacy, recovery support, vocational and life skills training, and sustainable pathways out of homelessness.
And thanks to the support of the William K. Blount Family Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation and the Peter and Suzanne Spitler Thompson Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation, it will continue to be this way for years to come.
Late this summer, the Burnside Shelter kitchen will be closed temporarily for much needed renovations. These include resurfacing, the installation of new walls and floors, and the replacement of several key appliances, among others.
The Oregon Community Foundation has partnered with Portland Rescue Mission by providing a grant to meet this critical need. The mission of The Oregon Community Foundation is to improve lives for all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. OCF works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create charitable funds to support the community causes they care about.
When asked why they chose to support the kitchen renovation project, OCF Program Officer Melissa Hansen said it was an easy call. Citing the critically growing local need and the increase in people calling upon Portland Rescue Mission’s services, Hansen said, “It is long past time the kitchen was up and running at the capacity it needs to be to serve the community.”
Portland Rescue Mission is still seeking local partners in the main community phase of the fundraising campaign, called Rescue the Kitchen. “We strive to invite at least half a dozen businesses to mobilize and join us,” says Rob Anderson, PRM Director of Partnership. “‘Rescue’ has always been at the center of Portland Rescue Mission, and the Burnside Shelter Kitchen has been on the front lines of that mission for decades. Now it’s time to Rescue the Kitchen, setting it up for decades of continually giving hope, one meal at a time.”
Businesses, churches, foundations, and individuals wishing to get involved with this project can find more information at www.PortlandRescueMission.org/RescueTheKitchen, or by directly contacting Rob Anderson, Director of Partnership at rob.anderson@pdxmission.org or at (503) 746-9672.