By Myrna Jensen | Marketing & Communications - Media Relations
Friendly people draw others to Clay Street Table
How do you create community for people struggling to make ends meet or those who are homeless? At Clay Street Table volunteers from nearby churches, schools, civic groups, and the community, help run a meal program and pantry at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in southwest Portland. They serve about 2,000 meals each month.
What sets this program apart is the number of food recipients who are also volunteers. Local residents in low-income housing, as well as the homeless, join forces with volunteers under the direction of Rev. Dr. Paul Davis. Rev. Davis welcomes everyone who enters the door as a friend. His infectious energy gets people working together, blurring the lines between haves and have-nots.
To build skills and foster community, pantry recipients can take part in the Cooks Supper program. Class participants start each session by cooking dinner for as many as 150 homeless youth who are part of The Underground, a community for unhoused youth aged 14-25 years. Executive Director Ken Loyd organizes local college students to serve the meals. This combination of education, service and food is the basis for a strong community among people who might never have made a connection.
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