Past Issues :: 2006 March 3 :: Cover Story
Potluck in the Park: How a community comes together around a meal
It is inevitable that most winter days in Portland will be interrupted by rain. Such was the case on a recent Sunday, when gray clouds loomed menacingly overhead. The sky above the tiny, brick-paved park let no ray of sunshine upon the massive wooden tables that would soon be garnished with dinner. Still, a four-hour wait until guests are served and the combination of the wait with the chilly January breeze did not stop friends from arriving early to the party.
Better known as Potluck in the Park, this weekly "party" located in downtown Portland at the corner of SW Ninth and Washington streets is a welcoming meal in which the homeless community of Portland comes together to dine, rain or shine. In Portland, "you might go homeless, you might go without a bath, but you'll never go without a meal," volunteer Richard Leonard said.
David Utzinger, the director of Potluck in the Park, describes the weekly event as "not just providing a meal but a sense of community." He emphasized dignity and respect as key to serving guests. The event now serves up to 400 people each week.
Utzinger, who has twinkling blue-green eyes, a thick beard and salt-and-pepper hair, greets guests by name. He said that one of the most rewarding elements of his service to the community is developing relationships with the guests.
Slowly, the park becomes freckled with groups and pairs of individuals. A soft, gray cat scurries around on its leash while his counterpart pup snoozes calmly in his jacket. Upon the sight of friends, those who have been keeping warm through conversation wave and greet newcomers with bear hugs and laughter. The sense of relaxation and community is overwhelming. Volunteers, many of whom are dinner guests, unload trucks, set up tables and trash receptacles as they chit-chat with fellow guests.
After arriving, Utzinger began directing waiting volunteers in unloading the organization's donated truck. Tables, garbage bins, signage, utensils and copious amounts of donated bread and other food are packed tightly into the truck. The event is meticulously coordinated, and many volunteers are familiar with the set-up process.
Decorating the sides of the forest green truck is a drawing of a cat, a traditional hobo symbol used in the 1920s and 30s as a sign alerting travelers to the home of a kindhearted woman. Adopted by Potluck in the Park, the symbol "represents all volunteers," Utzinger said. Up to 50 volunteers are involved weekly and include individuals from the Potluck in the Park community as well as church and school groups and other Portland residents.
Potluck in the Park began in August 1991 as an informal event coordinated by Sharon Darcy, who had been living in the neighborhood for years and had always wanted to help. She and her daughter found their niche by starting a weekly meal with home cooked food. Potluck in the Park soon grew as guests returned with friends.
"People thought, well, come winter they'll fall off," Utzinger said. But the guests were proved wrong as teams returned each week. In inclement weather, the event moves to the garage below the park.
At first, Potluck in the Park was an actual potluck, with neighbors bringing food made at home. However, after 13 years, the organization was required to obtain a new park use permit, which disallowed home-cooked food.
"It was quite the blow," Utzinger said.
Today, bread is donated from half a dozen Portland bakeries and casseroles are prepared by teams of volunteers at Christ Episcopal Church.
Those interested in volunteering are welcome to drop in for set-up, which begins around 11:45 a.m., but are asked to call ahead if bringing a group, Utzinger said.
Despite the seasonably chilly weather, the mood remained light as guests, their pets and volunteers milled about. A portable stereo blasted an upbeat mix and Amber Grott, a guest carrying a guitar, sang a refrain of "Amazing Grace" in a clear, sure voice.
Richard Leonard, busy cleaning tables in preparation for the meal, is "one of the originals" at Potluck in the Park, he said. He has been coming for 10-12 years and started volunteering about a year ago, he said.
"I had never done volunteer work before because I thought it was a waste of time and energy," he said. As a volunteer, Leonard helps with set-up, decorates at the annual barbeque and Christmas dinner, and "make(s) sure everyone feels welcome," he said.
Leonard said he is semi-retired and has lived in the same place in Portland for 13 years and is not homeless. He believes the city of Portland offers sufficient services for the homeless. However, he said, one must be willing to look for them.
One unique element of Potluck in the Park is the resource table, which offers various resource guides for the Portland homeless, as well as basic toiletries and other donated items such as socks. For some attendees, like Crystal Slaughter, the resource table is the best part of the event.
"You've got to make the initiative of just getting up and going for it. There are resources here for people who want them," Leonard said.
Slaughter, who has been coming to Potluck in the Park for two-and-a-half years, feels that the event brings the homeless community together.
"Everybody shows up down here sooner or later. Unless they are going to church they usually show up here," she said.
Slaughter also said that while the homeless community has cliques, like any other group, "We all keep our eyes out for each other."
The sense of camaraderie and community is what makes Potluck in the Park special, Leonard said. He emphasized that at Potluck in the Park, there are no prejudices.
"If you're homeless, that's fine, if you're not, that's fine too," he said. "All we ask is that you behave yourself and bring your appetite."
Another guest, Inna Dobbes, senses the community bond despite being new to Portland. At her second Potluck in the Park, she said that while she tends to keep to herself at the meal, everyone has the opportunity to socialize and "find out that their situation isn't as bad as the next person's."
Betty Jenner, who has been homeless in Portland since being hit by a drunk driver in San Diego last year, is a first-time visitor to Potluck in the Park. She is currently staying at the Salvation Army. Jenner proudly recited the anniversaries of the dates she stopped using alcohol and drugs. She said that she "looks out for the younger kids," calling her self "Grandma on the street."
"If they can't see their grandma," she said, they can come to her.
By 2 p.m., the tables have been arranged in their weekly pattern and Utzinger has a bit of downtime as the line grows and he waits for the hot food to arrive. He's already thinking about next week's meal, and knows that when he's finished serving his guests today, he probably won't be home until 1 a.m.
Despite working full-time for Flexcar, Utzinger estimated that he spends 25-30 hours weekly on Potluck in the Park. Coordinating the meal each week keeps Utzinger very busy, but he relishes "seeing people who have been coming for years and having people come back years later who are doing well now but appreciate the helping hand," he said.
Utzinger's eyes light up when he describes the yearly Christmas dinner provided by Potluck in the Park. The dinner, held at the YWCA, includes a Christmas tree, a visit by Santa Claus, and Nike socks stuffed with toiletries for all the attendees.
"It makes a difference in a lot of lives, and that's what's important to us," Utzinger said.