Street outreach workers at JOIN: Connecting the Street to a Home are calling on the community to donate blankets and tarps to distribute to homeless people during this extended severe weather.
Blankets and tarps can be donated between 11 am and 7 pm today at 1435 NE 81st Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97213 (on the corner of NE 81st and Halsey). Thereafter, donations can be made between 10 am and 3 pm Monday through Friday each weekday at the same location.
“JOIN’s street outreach team has been out on the street during these first nights of cold and wet weather distributing our existing stock of blankets and tarps to homeless people that did not make their way into shelter. Although JOIN’s outreach workers strive to get as many people as possible into shelter, inevitably not everyone will make it. With snow down to the valley floor forecasted for today and frigid temperatures all week, we have a critical and urgent need for tarps and blankets to help those folks remaining outside stay safe.” said Marc Jolin, JOIN’s Executive Director. “We are asking Portlanders to help us secure blankets and tarps for our outreach team to pass out on the street this week as well as help build the inventory of hundreds of blankets we will need to help people experiencing homelessness in Portland make it through the severe weather to come.”
In 2009, the City of Portland estimated that over 1500 people were homeless on the streets of Portland every night, even when the shelters are full. During this severe weather, JOIN’s outreach team will strive to help people access the additional warming centers that will be open to help address this need, some people will not make it. It is critical that they can access blankets and tarps to stay warm and dry. Mike O’Malley, who has been a street outreach worker for over 11 years said, “There is nothing as dangerous to those struggling to survive a night on the street as being wet and cold. A tarp and dry blanket are essential lifelines to get them through.”
JOIN’s outreach workers are available to explain the urgency of the need and opportunities to talk to homeless individuals about the importance of these basic items can be arranged by calling Marc Jolin, 503-789-1953, mjolin@joinpdx or Will Harris, 503-459-7409, willh@joinpdx.com.
You can also donate winter blankets downtown at Transition Project Inc., 435 NW Glisan Street at the shelter 24 hours a day.
Portland, Oregon 97209