United States: Archdiocese of Portland

Photo courtesy of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Portland, OR

The Faith Café, an ecumenical effort dedicated to assisting the homeless and working poor, receives support from the local 25 percent of Operation Rice Bowl funds in the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon. Volunteers from many faith traditions serve hot meals to an average of 100 guests every Sunday evening. Guests are welcomed when they arrive and then seated and served at tables decorated with bright tablecloths, handmade placemats, and vases of flowers. After the meal, guests are invited to take canned goods and produce from local gardens for their use during the week.

The Faith Café’s safe and welcoming atmosphere fosters a community where all feel valued and respected. Guests and volunteers form friendships, celebrate birthdays together, and share holiday feasts. Norm is 94 years old and has been a regular guest since the Faith Café opened in 2005. “The food is so good and the people so kind that I come back every week,” he says. “The volunteers who serve the meals know that I don’t like dressing on my salad, and they know which cookies are my favorite. I have two special women that I call my angels. They like to listen to my stories and treat me like a king.”

Catholic social teaching focus: Dignity of the Human Person

All people posses an inherent dignity because we were created in the image of God. The welfare of all people is a priority.

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