Shepherd’s House issues urgent plea
The Shepherd’s House, an organization that serves Central Oregon’s homeless, urgently needs paper plates, cups, bowls, plastic utensils and napkins. There are over 2,000 homeless and hungry people every night in Central Oregon.
“We are in the final stages of our Healthy Kitchen Initiative to build a new kitchen to provide meals to the hungry every month,” says Curt Floski, Executive Director at The Shepherd’s House. “We hope to finish the project by the end of January 2015, but until then, we are using paper products to serve over 3,000 meals per month.”
“During the past 18 months, in partnership with St. Charles Hospital and COCC Culinary Arts School, we have been engaged in our Healthy Kitchen Initiative. Since we have not had a commercial kitchen, this new kitchen will enable us to prepare healthy meals instead of the high carb, high sugar and high fat meals that we have typically served in the past.
“St Charles and the Culinary Arts School have been great partners in helping to design the kitchen and healthy meal plans. This new kitchen will transform how we serve and feed the homeless, but until then we need thousands of paper plates, bowls and more to serve those in need.”
The Shepherd’s House reaches out to assist the homeless in Bend every day by providing clothing, meals and outreach to help the homeless restore their lives.
The community of Bend has specifically responded to this need this winter by providing socks and gloves, clothing, food, donations, and volunteers. The Shepherd’s House provides over 35,000 meals and over 12,000 nights of shelter annually.
In addition to paper products, other items including new and gently used sleeping bags, tents, coats, and even new L and XL men’s underwear can be dropped off at The Shepherd’s House location on Division and Revere streets in Bend. Financial donations can be made online at http://myshepherdshouse.org/ or mail your donation to P.O. Box 5484, Bend, Oregon 97701, or call 541-388-2096.
