Anawim Christian Community is a community church made up of the homeless and the mentally ill. Our main goal is to provide for people's needs (including the need to be a disciple of Jesus) where they are at. We don't feel that a person needs to be something different before they get the help they need. Our center is in Gresham OR, which is where we lead and organize day shelters and a worship service. We also have a community house in N. Portland where housing is being provided for a few people and opportunities for community worship. We are connected to ministries in SE Portland and St. Johns, where we distribute food and clothing. And finally, through the internet, we educate people from almost every country in the world about homelessness, mental illness and the Christian response to each.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Why is Rockwood the Poorest Community In the County?
Below is a portion of an article from the Oregonian that discusses how Rockwood became the poorest community in the Multnomah County:
Jean DeMaster has run Human Solutions, a nonprofit social services agency, since 1988 in east county. She said the population shift occurred in four surges. The first began with the renovation of the public housing project Columbia Villa, which forced many residents to find cheap housing out east. More came as Alberta and other inner Northeast neighborhoods such as Boise, Eliot and King gentrified, and another rush came with the Interstate MAX. Rental homes were sold, rents driven up, and many low-income renters couldn’t find anything affordable within the inner city. The recession drove the fourth wave.
“We’re seeing a much higher demand for services than we’ve seen before,” DeMaster said. “But there aren’t enough services for low-income people, and we are getting pushback from people in the community who say we’ve been here a long time and we need help and it’s not fair that the new people are moving in.”
Last month, 900 people came to Human Solutions seeking emergency money to avoid eviction. The agency had 40 vouchers to divvy up.
Every type of service is stretched, DeMaster said: homeless services, rental assistance, youth gang prevention, alcohol and drug treatment.
But the greatest need, she says, is for health care. Many people she sees have lost jobs because they got sick and were unable to get care. That wreaks havoc on every part of their lives: their health, their ability to keep a roof over their family and their ability to support themselves.
To read the whole article, click this link: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/03/rockwood_health_center.html
Overnight Shelter Volunteer Training LAST CHANCE!
This week there is training for those wanting to assist in overnight warming shelters.
This training is led by the City of Gresham, and it is preparation for warming centers held at Anawim Christian Community, First Baptist of Gresham and St, Henry's Catholic Church. These shelters are church led and staffed by volunteers from local churches.
The last opportunity of training for this winter is Thursday, January 26 from 6 to 8:30pm. It will be held at Anawim, 19626 NE Glisan, Gresham.
If you have any further questions, please contact Steve Kimes at 503-888-4453.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Mona's Christmas
Ramona has meant so much to Anawim. She's always there to give us a cherry smile and an encouraging word. This last Christmas Eve, Mona came to Anawim and offered socks and gloves to all, some special Christmas food and best of all.... a raffle!
We love raffles at Anawim.
Thanks Mona and Jerome, for always being there, for helping out and for loving us all.
The Broken Are Chosen
Mercy liked this ornament because it was broken and so was interesting. God also chooses the broken to do His work.
Christmas at Anawim
Thanks to the Good News Community Health Center for the Christmas tree, lights and ornaments.
Oh, and for the socks, hand warmers, sleeping bag liners, hats, gloves, Christmas music, wonderful meal... and especially for 35 25-DEGREE SLEEPING BAGS! Our folks will be warm this winter!
And another special thank you to the vets that came to our facility to give all the dogs and cats there shots and a check up. That was so wonderful!
Want to know more about the Good News Community Health Center? Look at this!
Playing Rock
Paloma and Alice playing "ball" with a rock. Alice likes rocks. No one knows why. Obviously Paloma is mystified, too.
Thank You Art
"Thump" woke up in the middle of the night in his tent and was inspired to make this with what he had around him. He had dumpster dived all the materials. Then he gave it to Anawim for all the help he'd gotten there.
And thank you to Trinity Lutheran who had a giving tree for Anawim and so delivered so many hats and socks and gloves and more. Thank you guys so much!
Anawim Banner
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
What Anawim Community Means To Me 2
Has someone shown you kindness when you needed it most?
With Anawim here even at the first Steve and his family has helped me get off the streets, off the heroin and drinking for at least 2 1/2 years and I don't want Diane to be left out she helped just with our talks and her love not sure I would have made it when Mom passed without you guys. Love you!
~Jamie
Pam and Jamie is part of Anawim's crew, cleaning up the church after our big messes a couple times a week.
What Anawim Means To Me
What has Anawim Community meant to you?
Anawim Ministry has been an important part of my recovery.
I was given shelter when I had nowhere to go.
Food when I was hungry.
Clothes to wear because I couldn't afford laundry money or I when I went to jail and came out to nothing.
A shout out to the people who donate gloves, knit hats, and cook food.
Diane for having the patience to listen.
The Kimes for opening your home to people in need.
Linda and Jimmy for everything you do for Anawim.
Mike for doing the dishes and never complaining.
Fellowship with like minded people.
~ Pamela M.
Pam helps out Anawim with cleaning our church a couple times a week.
Anawim's going to the Dogs
Francis and Forest are Anawim dogs. No, we don't serve dog food to our normal guests.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)