Groceries For Grout: During COVID 19
Every Friday, Kenilworth and neighborhood volunteers set up tables, loaded with grocery staples, bakery items and fresh produce, along SE 34th Avenue by the church. Food insecure families can shop the tables between 1:30 and 2:30 pm at no cost.
This ministry began as a direct food donation to families at Grout Elementary School. The Groceries 4 Grout Food Pantry helps not only families from the school but also from the neighborhood.
Customized boxes of groceries are also prepared and delivered to an additional 3 dozen fragile households. G4G now serves an average of 75 families (about 330 individuals) each week, with approximately 11,000 pounds of food.
Of the 380 students at Grout over 50% are considered low income and over 40% minority. Many are housed in low-income housing.
G4G offerings include breads, eggs, pasta, beans, canned goods, juices, pastries, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, etc. USDA food boxes are also available to the public on Tuesdays, rotating weekly between a dairy-box, protein-box and produce-box.
We are grateful for supporters, donors and volunteers, including Oregon Food Bank, Imperfect Foods, Woodstock New Seasons, Grand Central Bakery, Schools Uniting Neighborhoods, All Saints Episcopal Church and Portland Public Schools.
For additional information, email groceries4grout@gmail.com.
Red Cross Blood Mobile
Our last blood drive was held July 12. Donors and volunteers are needed for blood drives.
The next blood drive date TBD.
Give Blood – Save a Life
Make a reservation to donate blood: redcrossblood.org
Socks and Mittens for the Homeless
A wreath of gloves for Grout
On Christmas Eve we bring donations of warm clothing such as socks, mittens, hats, scarves, underwear and socks to lay in the manger with the baby Jesus. These items are donated to Grout Elementary to be used for children needing warm clothing.
SnowCap Community Charities
We provide on-going donations of food and clothing to SnowCap, a local agency providing food, clothing, advocacy and other services to the poor in East County including a large part of east Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village.
Gifts Given in Secret
Last year the people of Kenilworth provided Christmas gifts for thirty-five children at Grout Elementary School.
Blessing Bags
Presbyterian Women created a bag that contains a meal that can be given to someone begging along a street corner. In the bag is a pop-top can of mini ravioli, a juice box, a granola bar, a napkin and spoon, a moist wipe and a card with a blessing. The bags are sold for $3 or 2 for $5, with the proceeds used to sustain the project.
The blessing reads:
God loves you. You may be down on your luck right now but let this meal remind you: that YOU ARE WORTH SO MUCH; that there are people who CARE ABOUT YOU; that there is always HOPE; that you are beautiful in God’s eyes. I will be praying for you. Have a blessed day. Regards, Kenilworth Presbyterian Church
“I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11
Earth Care Congregation
KPC has been certified as an “Earth Care Congregation.” That means —
1. Our worship and discipleship will celebrate God’s grace and glory in creation and declare that God calls us to cherish, protect and restore this earth.
2. In education, we will seek learning and teaching opportunities to know and understand the threats to God’s creation and the damage already inflicted. We will encourage and support each other in finding ways of keeping and healing the creation in response to God’s call to earth-keeping, justice and community.
3. Our facilities will be managed, maintained and upgraded in a manner that respects and cherishes all creation, human and non-human, while meeting equitably the needs of all people. In our buildings and on our grounds we will use energy efficiently, conserve resources, and share what we have in abundance so that God’s holy creation will be sustainable for all life and future generations.
4. Our outreach will encourage public policy and community involvement that protects and restores the vulnerable and degraded earth as well as oppressed and neglected people. We will be mindful that our personal and collective actions can positively or negatively affect our neighborhood, region, nation and world. We will seek to achieve environmental justice through coalitions and ecumenical partnerships
Community Garden
Our community garden provides a place for members and neighbors to grow fresh vegetables for their own use. Surplus food is offered to the congregation. Funds raised through the sale of garden produce is donated to a local food bank. Please contact the church for information regarding renting a garden plot.
Kenilworth Community Preschool
Kenilworth Community Preschool is a half-day preschool program for children ages three and four. It is a cooperative preschool where each family is expected to be involved in the creation, development, and upkeep of school programs and initiatives.
Learn more about Kenilworth Community Preschool
Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous meets at Kenilworth Church. The group, New Journey, meets at 5:30pm every day of the year. It’s in the Book meets weekly on Saturdays at 9 am.
Brownies and Girl Scouts
KPC hosts four Girl Scout troops and one Brownie Troop.