Sunset Presbyterian volunteers "Engage"

On a sunny Sunday, kids and adults removed graffiti, painted classrooms and helped many strangers for Sunset Presbyterian's annual "Engage!" project. The day of community service on May 1 drew 800 volunteers from across Metro Portland, including some who had not been to the northwest church before.

Volunteers were all drawn by a common purpose, to serve the community in a way that celebrated their faith. Strangers met making sandwiches for homeless people; singing for elders at retirement homes; and sprucing up five neighborhood schools. There were 20 projects for "Engage!" from helping residents of women's shelters to those at ten elders' residences.

"I was so impressed that there were no complaints about the work involved," said Ken Jones, working with the graffiti cleaning crew. An entire basketball team helped clear brush, pull weeds, and remove debris from church property, with fellowship and good cheer too.

Inside the church, many velopmentally-disabled adults filled toiletry bags for homeless youth. RoseMarie Salehi said her sister-in-law Nahid is "not always one to get involved in any activity" but she was thrilled to add combs to the packages, to help in any way. 

A call for 250 pairs of warm socks was answered through prayer, said volunteer Staci Comer, who sent out emails seeking donors. She joined 20 volunteers serving hot coffee, homemade sandwiches and fruit to people living under Burnside Bridge. It was the first time Staci—a member of Sunset's congregation for 20 years—had volunteered to work with people who are homeless. It was a life-changer, she said.

Volunteers shook hands and gave out 250 bags of toiletries, including toothpaste and toothbrushes. They met people of all ages, in good health and frail condition, living outdoors. Sunday is an especially difficult day because shelters, meal drop-ins and other social services are usually closed.

Many volunteers were moved by the stories they heard. Staci said. "I wish we could give more. It needs to be done more often," she said. "I would do it once a month. Just think, as a church, if we all took one Sunday—in one year, that would be huge! We could help them find a room, get off the streets, get a job..."

"Engage!" meant fellowship, smiles and excitement, said Laurel Blanchard, one of many who prepared a free breakfast for volunteers before a brief church service. "We bonded over the joy of what we were doing," she reported.

Sunset Presbyterian is at 14986 NW Cornell Rd. For more information: www.sunsetpres.org, or 503-292-9293.

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