Requests cannot be made for congregational purposes, for foreign travel, for education, for recognition events, or for professional services.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans NE Portland Chapter Guidelines
In addition to the general guidelines issued by the national office of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the NE Portland Chapter has been encouraged to develop its own funding priorities.

Requests from teams to the NE Portland Chapter Board should clearly benefit the communities where NE Portland Chapter Thrivent members live, work and worship. We strongly encourage Thrivent teams to focus on the needs within their immediate neighborhoods, on non-profit organizations which service youth and families in the vicinity of NE Portland Chapter congregations, and on non-profit agencies which distribute food or other basic items to other community based non-profit organizations or directly to individuals.

The following are examples of non-profit organizations which meet these criteria:

Oregon Food Bank – the hub of a statewide network of 832 hunger-relief agencies; always in need of volunteers; always appreciative of Food Drives
In Portland: Briana Winterborn, 503-282-0555 Ext. 226

Loaves & Fishes —The Meals on Wheels Program (3 Centers in NE)
Loaves & Fishes is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization that provides hot, nutritious meals to seniors 60 years and older. Hot noon meals are delivered by volunteers each weekday to homebound seniors. Loaves & Fishes also serves a noon lunch to more active seniors at 14 meal centers throughout the Portland metro area.
Contact: Development (Donations), Georgi Byer, gbyer@lfcpdx.org, (503) 736-6325 ext. 25931

Portland Rescue Mission – services homeless men.
Mission statement: “To minister the gospel of Jesus Christ to the homeless and needy population of Portland, providing food, shelter, clothing, counseling, education and career placement.”
Impact: A donation of $740 can support a man who is a member of the "New Life" program. This money helps provide Christian training, food, room and board, discipleship, and access to the Recovery Program and Mission Learning Center, where the man works on his reading, writing, math, and computer skills.
Contact: Sharon Klein, Volunteer Coordinator sharonk@pdxmission.org

Community Cycling Center – provides bicycles, mentoring and life skills for kids
“…building skills and fostering the personal growth of youth through community-oriented recreational and educational bicycle programs and services.”
Contact: General Program Information, Tom Knipe, Tom@CommunityCyclingCenter.org
General Information, 503-546-8864, Info@CommunityCyclingCenter.org

Low Income Families Emergency Center (LIFE) – Provides families and individuals with clothing, food, household items and appliances in exchange for work; clients are asked to work one hour for food, and a half hour for clothing; volunteer time varies for other items.
Contact: Leslie Garth-Clark, lifepdx@yahoo.com , (503) 284-6878.

Northeast Emergency Food Program – affiliated with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon; Coordinates an emergency food program which serves the poor of Northeast Portland with equity; provides for the nutritional needs of those in emergency food situations; advocates for an end to hunger in our community in cooperation with other organizations.
Contact: nefp@emoregon.org, (503) 284-5470.

Shepherd’s Door – services to homeless women and children
“…committed to modeling Christ through personal, relevant and excellent services to homeless women and their children leading them to God-focused personal growth and sufficiency in Him.”
Contact Jan Marshall, Director of Women's Ministries, 503-256-2353.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Homes -- Approximately 300 people with developmental disabilities receive services within the Northwest Region.
For information about the Northwest Region, volunteer opportunities or procedures for referrals to Good Shepherd Communities programs in this region, please contact Cindy Frederickson, Chief Operations Officer at (888) 298-1588.