Many people believe that faith can move mountains. Congregations across SW Portland are counting on it to move mountains of desperately needed food products into collection barrels during the upcoming SW Hope: Feed the Hungry campaign. Hunger is a very real issue in Southwest Portland. Donations to Neighborhood House’s Emergency Food Box program, both monetary and food items, drop off significantly in January once the holiday season is over. The number of clients needing a food box does not.
The food-raising strategy is comprehensive and includes collection barrels and informational tables at local businesses, community centers, and congregations. Restaurants participating in Dine Out and Donate promotions raise money for the campaign via special dining days, coupons, and discounts. Billy Bang’s, Cactus Jack’s Tex-Mex Café, Casa Colima, Peanut Butter and Ellie’s, and the Hillsdale McMenamin’s are just a few of the restaurants taking part in the SW Hope effort. A complete list of participating restaurants and coupons can be found at www.swhope.org.
Local faith communities, such as St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Congregation Neveh Shalom, Hillsdale Community Church, and more than twenty others in Southwest Portland, have committed themselves to filling this crucial need. The SW Hope food drive was initiated in February 2007 with a goal of collecting 50,000 pounds of food and exceeded the goal by raising over 75,000 pounds of food or the cash equivalent ($1 purchases 7 pounds of food at the Oregon Food Bank). More congregations have joined the campaign this year and the goal has been set at 75,000 pounds, or the cash equivalent. The campaign runs from February 1 to March 15 and aims to provide enough food to last the program four months.
Campaign co-chairs Pastor Patty Campbell-Schmitt and Dan Simchuk of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church are optimistic about reaching this year’s goal. “We are hopeful that once people learn about the hunger need in our community, they will respond generously to this special giving effort.” Jonathan Eibl, Neighborhood House’s Food Box coordinator, is positive that the community will respond to this vital need. “People in this neighborhood really care. They want to help,” he notes.
Food donations can be made at any of the faith locations displaying a SW Hope banner. A complete list of participating congregations can also be found at www.swhope.org. Donations, both food and monetary, can be made at Neighborhood House, located at 7780 SW Capitol Hwy.
As Southwest Portland’s primary social service agency and local distribution center for the Oregon Food Bank, Neighborhood House serves between 250 and 300 families per month through its Emergency Food Box Program. Last year Neighborhood House distributed over 3,000 food boxes feeding over 9,000 low-income people.
For more information about the food drive and how you can help, contact Pastor Patty Campbell-Schmitt at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church at 503-246-4276 or tandpcs@msn.com. More information is also available by visiting www.nhweb.org or by calling Neighborhood House at 503-246-1663 x113.
Participating Dine Out to Donate! resturants.
Bring your SW HOPE Coupon* and these local restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to SW HOPE: FEED THE HUNGRY.
*Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, Feb. 1- March 15, 11 am-9 pm (7421 SW Barbur Blvd)
*Round Table Pizza, March 17, noon-11 pm (10070 SW Barbur Blvd.)
*O’Connors Restaurant, March 7, 7 am-2 am (7850 SW Capitol Highway)
*Cactus Jack’s Tex-Mex Cafe, Feb. 4 & 18, 4-9 pm (4342 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy.)
*Billy Bang’s, Feb. 1-March 15, 9 am-2 am, (5331 SW Macadam Avenue)
*The Old Spaghetti Factory, Feb. 21 & 28, 11:30 am-2 pm & 5-9 pm (715 SW Bancroft St.)
*La Costita, Feb. 24-Mar 31, 11 am-8 pm (7405 SW Barbur Blvd.)
*Otto & Anita’s European Restaurant, Feb. 20 & 27, 11 am-2 pm & 5-9 pm (SW 31st & Capitol Hwy.)
Burgerville, Feb. 10 & March 16, 5-8 pm (Allen & Scholls Ferry Rd.)
*Casa Colima, Feb. 1-Mar 15, 11 am-9:30 pm (6319 SW Capitol Hwy.)
*Clubhouse Bar & Grill, Mondays, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 & March 3, 10, 7 am-2:30 am (5134 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy.)
*Fat City, March 7, Dinner, (7820 Capitol Hwy.)
*McMenamins Hillsdale Brew & Pub, Feb. 25 5 pm-closing, (1505 SW Sunset Blvd.)
Peanut Butter and Ellies, March 17, 4-8 pm, (4405 SW Vermont St.)
*Coupons can be picked up at Neighborhood House and at sponsoring churches and synagogues or printed from www.swhope.org. Must bring coupons to these restaurants.
Presently, Neighborhood House is very low (or out of) on the following foods:
- regular pasta (e.g., angel hair, rotini, farfalle, etc.)
- specialty pasta (e.g., Pasta Roni)
- specialty rice (e.g., Rice-A-Roni)
- canned fruit (e.g., peaches, apricots, pineapple, mixed fruit, etc.)