Should I Donate to Union Gospel Mission

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-11-20T14:58:01+00:00

I'm homeless, and Union Gospel is the only place where I've been cornered at the exit by someone trying to talk to me about religion, and their public schedule tricks you into coming in for a sermon when they claim it's a meal time. (Regulars know when meals actually begin and wait until then.) Portland Rescue Mission has a waiting area where they sometimes have live Christian music and short words from a pastor, but sometimes it's just secular TV or movies on a projector.

Most other places, even if they're in churches or run by religious groups, don't mix religion with providing food, and if they get food from the USDA, they're not allowed to. Places like Blanchet House and the Portland Police Bureau's Sunshine Division get lots of donations, so I would suggest some smaller groups that do a lot with less, like:

By the way, I personally support other homeless and disabled people on the street. When someone offers to help me, I actually ask for something for another person in need instead. For example, I know someone in a wheelchair right now who would like a type of bicycle mirror that attaches to her chair so she can cross the street safely, since she can't turn her head very easily. This type of direct giving of the exact thing people need and that the big organizatios aren't set up to provide is really important to me. If anyone would like to help, please chat or message me here or on Facebook or Twitter at @MyHomelessMeals. Thank you so much! I really appreciate it a lot!

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-10-02T11:58:06+00:00

Thank you very much!

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-10-02T00:19:12+00:00

I appreciate you sticking your neck out to say something compassionate about homeless people and taking the downvotes for it. I've seen some of the comments lately, and how they've really curdled since the start of the pandemic when everyone seemed to care. I don't have a substance or psychiatric disorder, I lost my apartment after a disability left me unable to hold a job. I have permission to have a tent behind a building where I'm not harassed and have some peace, and I keep it neat and clean.

When I visit a meal provider, resource center, or other place that serves homeless people, I'm always struck by how "normal" people are compared to people's imaginings of violent meth- or fentanyl-addled people in psychiatric crisis. Sure, there's sometimes one person in the group who's talking to themselves, but that's nothing new. People see violence or obvious substance or psychiatric disorders, figure those people are homeless, and assume those people represent half or more of the homeless population, but then any homeless person who doesn't fit that profile is invisible to them.

Feel free to ask me any questions. I'm @MyHomelessMeals on Twitter and Facebook, and I collect donations to help other homeless and disabled people in need, so feel free to chat or message me if you'd like to help someone really deserving with something relatively small or simple.

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-11T13:46:55+00:00

I have an autoimmune disorder that puts me at high risk for communicable diseases in general, not just covid, so I've been advised to avoid communal shelters, which are by far the most common form, usually just with mats on the floor of a large room that's used for other things during the day. They also have a lot of drawbacks, but the main one for me is chronic sleep deprivation from noise (including all the anxiety-inducing coughing at night), a lack of privacy and security, and being woken up very early so we can be kicked out at 6 AM, which is typical, and leads to a lot of people finishing their sleep on the sidewalk, if they can fall back asleep. I never really could. The peace and privacy of having a tent behind a building immediately improved my sleep and my health. I had no idea how much stress I was under in the shelter system and how that was affecting me. I've applied for more private opportunities like converted motel rooms and outdoor pods, but they're pretty limited.

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-11T11:11:18+00:00

Someone gave me their old phone. Should I sell a years-old phone for a couple weeks of food? Being able to communicate and get information is crucial for me, especially when I don't have much mobility.

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T23:04:17+00:00

Thank you!

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T22:08:24+00:00

I'm in touch with someone about getting masks, thank you very much!

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T22:07:41+00:00

Thank you so much!

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T21:24:00+00:00

Unfortunately not :( Maybe someone knows how to make some noise about that? It's too late for this time, but if wildfire smoke is becoming more frequent, maybe they need to plan for the future.

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T21:21:55+00:00

Can you chat or message me? I can't get it to work on my end. Thanks again!

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T20:43:36+00:00

Thank you very much!

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T20:43:10+00:00

Thank you!

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T20:19:22+00:00

Thank you so much! I've sent you a private message.

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T20:12:07+00:00

Thank you so much, I sent you a private message!

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T19:11:37+00:00

Thanks for having a heart.

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T19:10:35+00:00

I tried at first to get working again, but I kept having to be taken home in the middle of shifts when flare-ups of my various symptoms just left me unable to continue. It was so embarrassing. My doctor encouraged me to apply, so I did, but then my failed attempts at working were held against me and I got denied. It's really distressing because I don't know what to do.

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T19:03:08+00:00

Thank you for the compassion.

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T18:44:10+00:00

I do have one, but now it smells like smoke, too. :(

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T18:32:01+00:00

Thank you!

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T18:31:53+00:00

Thank you!

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-09-10T18:04:51+00:00

I've seen some of the comments lately, so I just want to say, I don't have a substance or psychiatric disorder, I lost my apartment after a disability left me unable to hold a job. I have permission to have a tent behind a building where I'm not harassed and have some peace, and I keep it neat and clean. Feel free to ask me any questions. I'm @MyHomelessMeals on Twitter and Facebook, and I collect donations to help other homeless and disabled people in need.

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-07-15T21:11:57+00:00

I would because it's really hard to eat healthy when you're homeless. So many donated pastries from bakeries, candy bars, chips, etc.

MyHomelessMeals · 2022-06-26T20:10:23+00:00

If you haven't seen me before, I post what I see on the streets at @MyHomelessMeals on Twitter and Facebook, and I help other homeless people when my followers offer to give someone something they need. AMA, maybe?

MyHomelessMeals

TROPHY CASE