Hope & Bread Church

06/01/2026

Yesterday we served hot dogs with all the trimmings, potato salad, ice cream bars, and lemonade to about 75-80 people. It was quite a crowd of folks!

After our volunteers start serving dinner, we have an area set aside where people can pick up diverse items like wound care kits, hygiene kits, small flashlight, socks, blankets, tarps, etc.

On thing that's always popular and disappears quickly are our coloring pages. We package pages from coloring books along with colored pencils in gallon-size Ziplock-style bags for those who want something creating to do as they while away time.

Many of the items we provide are donated by individuals or area churches, but we've depended on Homeless Services to provide the hygiene kits, blankets, tarps, sleeping bags, socks, and cases of water. Sadly, Homeless Services will soon stop providing these things - largely, I think, because of budget shortfall. Sadder still, the need for provisions only keeps growing.

If you, your church, or any other organization is interested in helping us, please send a message and we'll be in touch with the particulars. The need is great.

Our prayer requests for the past two weeks are in the Comments below.

And I continued to forget to take pictures - but it was a big crowd!

05/19/2026

Almost every week I can count on two things happening with Hope & Bread: One is that I'll forget to take pictures (these are after all of the food has been served and eaten and we're packing up) so there are only these two.

The other thing is that someone will ask, "How many do you think were here today?" The answer usually starts with, "About fifty." Then someone will say, "No, I'm sure there were more - maybe 60." The truth is, we don't know and we forget to count in the midst of serving food, providing hygiene kits, wound care kits, blankets, coloring pages, and listening with open and compassionate hearts.

And the other truth is this: It doesn't matter, really, how many were at Hope & Bread. Those who came were fed. Those who volunteered were blessed to be there. As for pictures, well they're engraved on our hearts and we take them to share with you.

Prayers from last week and this week are in the comments. Thank you for praying for our friends at Hope & Bread.

05/07/2026

Sign the petition at https://forms.gle/iH6ffJkUyUdqR8zc7

Residents of the Montavilla neighborhood are making a new effort to push the City of Portland to prioritize building a new picnic shelter at Montavilla Park.

04/27/2026

Is there anything better than inviting your neighbors for a birthday party in the park? Hope & Bread Church celebrated our second birthday today with about 70 of our closest friends, including several visiting us from out of state.

As usual, the food was delicious and dessert was an amazing birthday cake.

Happy Birthday, Hope & Bread Church - and many more!

Prayer requests are in the comments...

04/23/2026

It's our birthday weekend! - https://mailchi.mp/hopeandbread.org/hope-bread-newsletter-april

04/20/2026

It was glorious to be outside yesterday without the tents! Everyone was able to spread out, use the picnic tables, and relax. It was St. Aidan's turn to provide the meal and every bite was enjoyed. Some of us carry sack lunches for our friends who arrive too late for the hot meal, and several were distributed last night.

Despite all of the difficulties attendant on being unhoused, our friends at Hope & Bread can almost always find something to be thankful for, to laugh about, or ways to remember others. They inspire me in unexpected ways.

This week, we pray:

To live
To find a safe place
Healing for feet
Peaceful days
Smiles
Patience
Chris' mental health
To become unhomeless
For safety at home
Justice for the person who broke into her apartment
For legs to get better
Thanksgiving for being able to walk
For the end of tyranny
For Sherry, who had a stroke
For everything to be good
For mom, who broke a vertebra in an automobile accident, resulting in her second DUI, and for her to have a fresh start.
Housing for a large family

04/13/2026

The rain came and went tonight, as did our friends. A few were there early, some came later - and all were fed! Joe was the cook and hotdogs, baked beans, potato salad, and chips were on the menu, prompting one of our friends to remark on how it reminded him of his childhood summers! Jennifer supplied a delicious variety of desserts, and hot cider, coffee, hot chocolate, milk, and water were all available.

A couple of our friends are having serious health issues and are included in the prayers below. Being the object of a "sweep" is always difficult, made even moreso when one has viral pneumonia. Please hold our friends from Hope & Bread in prayer. God knows their names and their needs.

This week we pray for:

Relief from the pain of toothache
Elvis to get better
The health of our nation
Peace and calm
Tanya's salvation
Safety
Mom's health
The power of God to hold me up
Neck pain
To stay clean and sober
Trevor to be able to walk
Collie (dog) to be healthy
For my health
Housing for everyone
Good health
Jackets
Emma
Healing from pneumonia

03/31/2026

Teeth are on our mind! We have a friend in need of a new set of dentures. Supporting this effort is a way of providing hope as well as dignity. Our friend is on the Oregon Health Plan but cannot get a new set for ten years because they lost their first set to a campground sweep (they were not wearing them because they were waiting to get to running water to clean them). If you are able to donate to this cause--no amount is too small--DM us or venmo . Many thanks!

03/16/2026

We're hoping the rainy days will soon be behind us and we can put the tents away for a while. Last night, though, we definitely needed them! With no available dry table top, one of our musicians generously allowed his conga drum to be used for our altar bread!

The good people of St. Aidan's Episcopal Church provided a tasty meal of chicken casserole, green salad, homemade sourdough bread, and brownies. Our volunteers helped set up and serve dinner, and we collected prayers for this week.

Please pray this week for

Ability to walk without falling
Tammy, who died; a sister who was like a mother
For treatment and healing for a skin infection
Unity for all people
Peace of mind
A good dentist
A new place to live
Reunion and a smooth transition with her dog after a separation
Health
Success in a legal case
Safety for self and family