Outreach

As Christians, we receive abundant blessings from God. And it is from this abundance that we share our abilities, our time and our financial resources with the poor, the sick, the lonely and the desperate.

At Christ Church, we believe that God calls us into the particular ministries detailed below. We support these local, regional and international efforts both financially and personally. In fact, most of these ministries involve direct volunteer assistance, because we strongly believe that Holy Scripture demands the giving of our time and talents as well as our money.

The needs of the world may often seem overwhelming. But because we are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and because we seek Christ in all persons, our task is a joyous one. Please decide where your time and talents fit into the outreach picture at Christ Church. Your efforts, no matter how small, will make a huge impact

Try It Out

Contact a ministry’s coordinator to take a “test drive.” This usually means signing on to help with a one-time event or task. Do this for several different ministries. Once you find a fit, ask the coordinator how you can make a regular commitment.

Come to a Meeting

If you attend an Outreach Commission meeting or become a regular Commission member, you can help set the goals for and improve the operation of our entire effort. You might even suggest a new ministry to sponsor.

Come to the Auction

Support the annual Christ Church Outreach auction, the primary source of Outreach funding. Your support may come in in the form of donating an item, attending and bidding or volunteering to setup and administer the event.


Big Star Ranch
We use horses as mentors to help children thrive through therapeutic riding, body strenghtening and exercise.
Volunteers: Help with barn cleaning and maintenance, office work, building/construction.
Contact: Julie Daniels


City Sports Ministries (ISM)
Offers structured sports activities for youth in NE Portland.
We provide financial and volunteer assistance for tennis clinics and basketball leagues.
Volunteers:  Assist with activities and serve as mentors.

Contact:  Stewart Bartlett
Website: isportsm.org

Christ Church Food Pantry & Northeast Food Bank
Assists the hungry. We collect non-perishable food items
for distribution by clergy and staff.
Volunteers:  Donate food.

Contact:  Suzanne Derrick

Diocesan Commission on Prison Ministries
Works to improve jail and prison conditions and helps those released with their transition.  Has programs in men’s, women’s and youth facilities. We provide volunteers, equipment and financial assistance.
Volunteers:  Quilting mentors, animal care, instructors, and chaplins.

Contact:  Tom Stanwood
Website:
diocese-oregon.org/programgroups/prison_cmsn.htm

Dress for Success
Assists persons seeking job interviews to be appropriately dressed. We collect and provide clothing and provide funds for purchase of shoes and accessories.
Volunteers:  Provide clothing and advice on clothes to clients.

Contact:  Mary Spence
Website: dressforsuccess.org

Health Bridges International (Peru)
Supports Union Biblica, which provides abandoned youth in Peru with education, medical care and housing; also supports the Alta Cayma Mission, which works to break the cycle of poverty in the settlements outside of the  city of Arequipa through nutrition, education, job training and health programs; and support also goes to the Anglican mission in Lima.
We provide financial and volunteer assistance.
Volunteers:  Join team Peru and provide on-site help.

Contact:  Tim Shelmerdine, Lee Centrone

Habitat for Humanity
Provides housing for qualifying individuals.
We provide labor and financial assistance.
Volunteers:  Construct, funish and landscape homes and feed work crews.

Contact:  Terry Crawford
Website: habitat.org

Knitting for the Needy
We provide knitted or crocheted items for the homeless, newborns and the handicapped using donated yarn.
Volunteers:  Knit and/or provide material.

Contact:  Barbara Davis

Holiday Sharing
Provides Christmas gifts for various local programs like Outside-In, the  NW Pilot Project and the Children’s Relief Nursery.  At Easter, we provide baskets for children in need throughout Metropolitan area, with donations taken from the Giving Tree in the Narthex.
Volunteers:  Decorate Giving Tree and donate and deliver gifts.

Contact:  Augusta Shipsey

Masaka School (Uganda)
Provides primary and secondary schooling for hundreds of children in Uganda. We provide volunteer and financial assistance.
Volunteers:  Travel to Uganda to provide on-site assistance.

Contact:  Sue Hall

Lake Oswego Transitional Shelter Ministry (LOTSM)
Helps needy families transition to independent living.
We provide volunteer and financial assistance in conjunction with several Lake Oswego-area churches.
Volunteers:  Assist residents.

Contact: Vicki Cena, Kathy Moeller
Website: lotsm.org

TLC/TnT
Offers support and mentoring for at-risk children in Portland. We provide financial assistance for summer camps and volunteers for events throughout the year.
Volunteers:  Bake for events, mentor teenagers, speak on topics of interest, donate needed items.

Contact:  Candace Trotter

Potluck in the Park
Feeds hundreds of hungry guests in downtown Portland every week. Teams pickup food at institutes for casseroles. Teams use the Parish kitchen to prepare casseroles, salads and beverages and serve them downtown.
Volunteers:  Rotating teams pick up, prepare and serve food.

Contact:  Alison & Larry Gilmore
Website: potluckinthepark.org

William Temple House
Provides emergency social services, mental health counseling and pastoral care to the working poor in the greater metropolitan area for over 40 years.
We provide financial assistance for the ’Movies and More’ program that helps children raise their self-esteem in their school.
Volunteers:  Donate and/or deliver clothing to the William Temple House thrift store.  Donate clothing for job-seeking women to Dress for Success.

Contacts: Dan Bancroft
Website: williamtemple.org