270 Coats Given To Dinner Guests At 'Feed The Hungry' Event

From Clackamas FD: Clackamas Fire District #1's staff and off-duty firefighters helped serve a Feed the Hungry meal on Sunday, Dec. 10 at St. John Episcopal Church, 2036 SE Jefferson Streetin Milwaukie.

Clackamas Fire has supported Feed the Hungry for the past 16 years and is one of 21 community groups who volunteer to cook one or two meals throughout the year to accomplish feeding the hungry on Sundays.

Through their years in volunteering, it was apparent the gift of hospitality to the community could be stretched further during the winter season.

Clackamas Fire decided to conduct a month-long Winter Warming Drive to collect gently used coats and new hats, gloves, scarves, socks, and personal hygiene items for adults. Clackamas Fire furnished collection barrels mid-October through mid-November at the Fire District's Administration Office, Fire Prevention Office, Boring Fire Station 14, City of Milwaukie City Hall, Reser's Fine Foods, and Milwaukie Covenant Church.

The collected items were donated to the Feed the Hungry, Inc. for their Board members to wrap up over 150 sets of hats, gloves, scarves, and socks to distribute to dinner guests on Christmas Eve.

This year, over 270 gently used and new coats were given out to dinner guests during the time that Clackamas Fire signed up to serve a Feed the Hungry meal on Sunday, Dec. 10.

In addition to the items collected from the barrels, Clackamas Fire received nearly $4,000 in donations from the Clackamas Fire District #1 Volunteer Firefighters Association, Clackamas Emergency Services Foundation, Professional Firefighters of Clackamas County Local 1159, and from several other area citizens.

The funds were used to purchase additional gently used coats and winter items. Feed the Hungry tries to put the meals on as if people were invited to dinner within their own homes.

Dinner guests don't have to stand in line, and they are let into the lobby to enjoy snacks and beverages before the meal begins.

The Feed the Hungry, Inc. began in 1991 by St. John Episcopal Church, which is now a separate 501(c)(3)non-profit organization.

Feed the Hungry, Inc. uses St. John's kitchen and parish hall to serve the meals. The success and longevity of Feed the Hungry, Inc. can be widely attributed to community support, such as area high schools, Rotary Clubs, churches, public agencies, and citizen volunteers.

There's always opportunity to give back and to be of service to the community. If you would like to help out by volunteering to serve a meal or to donate winter clothing items, contact Feed the Hungry, Inc. at (503)653-5880 or by email: fthmilwaukie@gmail.com.

Image Courtesy of Clackamas FD