Today First Baptist Church of Gresham opens their doors to the homeless and youth that have no place to go for the winter. First Baptist is one of four churches in the East Multnomah County area that open up for a day shelter.
A day shelter is a place for those in the community to go who have no place to go. In our day shelters, we find the homeless, older high school kids, and retirees who don’t have a regular place to go. They come to our day shelters to hang out, to connect with others and to get some basic food and clothes.
A day shelter isn’t like a night shelter—it’s much more busy. There are fewer requirements to begin a day shelter than an overnight shelter: All we have to do is open our doors and make sure we have trained people to deal with conflict or referrals.
~It provides a safe place for people who have no other place to go. Many of our folks are not even welcome at public parks. But now they have a place to go.
~It provides security for the community. Rather than having people on the street in family neighborhoods, where people don’t know why they are there, the day shelter provides a place to be. Day shelters not only provide a safe place for our guests, but also make the community safer.
~It trains people about community respect. Because most of the day shelters are in churches, there is a basic understanding of respect for the property. Violence, threats, theft or blasphemous language is discouraged by the guests of the day shelter. It also provides people, who are trained in peaceful conflict management, to assist others in their conflict.
~It provides volunteer opportunities for those who otherwise have nothing to do. Trained volunteers from the street and churches run the day shelters, and provide assistance in cleaning and security, if necessary.
~It provides a focus for other organizations to assist needy populations. Medical and dental clinics, veteran services, services for pets, and churches who want to serve the needy know where they can go to provide services.
If you'd like to volunteer or donate food or clothes at a day shelter, please contact the following organizations:
Mondays 1-6pm -- First Baptist Church of Gresham, 224 W Powell, (503) 665-2159
Tuesdays 1-6pm-- St. Henry's Catholic Church, 346 NW 1st, Gresham, (503) 665-9129
Wednesdays 1-8pm-- Anawim Christian Community 19626 NE Glisan, Gresham, 503-888-4453
Thursdays 1-6pm-- East Hill Four Square Church 701 NW Main Ave, Gresham, (503) 661-4444
Fridays 2-5pm-- Anawim Christian Community 19626 NE Glisan, Gresham, 503-888-4453
Saturdays 10am-3pm--Anawim Christian Community 19626 NE Glisan, Gresham 503-888-4453
There is also the Daybreak day shelter, specifically for the families of the multi-church Daybreak network.
It is run by Human Solutions. If you'd like information about volunteering there, please call HS at (503) 548-0200.
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