Friends, we are in need of dog food AND men’s underwear S-L. Both items can be found on our Amazon wish list amzn.to/44rDjKl. Thank you for your help!
Drop off Mon-Sat, 8-10:30 am to 1:30-4 pm at 310 NW Glisan St.
It’s always good to have Jesuit Fr. Gary Smith in the cafe. He’s not your typical priest. His parish is the streets of Old Town around Blanchet House, where he is a friend to people who are poor, lonely, or struggling. At 88, he still volunteers weekly, offering support to our guests and residents.
Amelia Ryan, a junior at St. Mary’s Academy, rides the bus past Blanchet House in the morning and sees the line of people waiting for breakfast. She wanted to thank the people serving. With friends, she started the Kind Words Project, writing thank-you notes. Read more at https://bit.ly/4rdC4bY
One of our favorite things is seeing program alumni come back to volunteer. Like Chris, who lived with us above the café when he was struggling with his mental health. Today, he’s employed and housed.
“I want to give back to the community that helped me when I was struggling," Chris shared.
Blanchet House is hiring a part-time, temporary Development Associate to support fundraising efforts. Wage: $27/hr; 24 hours per week for 3-4 months, non-exempt; Location: on-site; may require evening or weekends. Full job description and instructions on how to apply at BlanchetHouse.org/jobs.
Two people inspired by Dorothy Day met for the first time. It was cool to see our founder, Jim O’Hanlon, 98, chat with Gov. Tina Kotek at Blanchet's annual fundraiser.
Kotek shared that she, too, was shaped by the Catholic Worker Movement’s call to action to care for people experiencing poverty.
The Holms won our Hawaiian vacation raffle for an 8-night stay at a private home courtesy of the Northrup’s! We drew their names live at today’s brunch. 2nd place winner gets a stay in Bend. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets. Every $ supports our programs. We hope you’ll join us next year.
“Another successful Saturday breakfast! We had burritos which made everyone in the cafe happyyyy. 362 served. It was a busy morning, and we called 2nds about 15 minutes before closing. One last note, I had more folks inquire about our residential program.”
Good news: A once-homeless, disabled man secured a 1BR apt after a 6-month wait.
Not-so-great: it's across from an ICE facility.
With no income, options are few. It's critical that he be near community and providers. Our Well Wishes Fund will furnish his new place. It’s a stable start.
Erik wrote a referral for a man who needed a place to sleep. We’re grateful for our friends at CityTeam, a private men’s shelter that charges a small fee, for giving our staff emergency vouchers. This is what collaboration looks like.
The other night, 39 women found rest at Bethanie’s Room, our new, privately funded overnight shelter. Three came straight from the hospital after check-in hours. We do not receive city, county, state, or federal funding. You can help by donating $25 at https://blanchethouse.app.neoncrm.com/forms/48
Hundreds of catered sandwiches leftover from a convention are for lunch today. Thank you to the Oregon Convention Center and Levy for their quick action in getting good food to people who need it! Our guests appreciate it!
Every leaf in today’s salad was saved from waste and inspected by a guest in Blanchet House’s transitional shelter program. We rescue food—and people—offering free room and meals, and meaningful work to help rebuild work history, restore confidence, and move forward. All funded by the community.
We encourage artists in addiction recovery by hiring them to create our T-shirt designs. This piece by Sage Cloudfoot is inspired by Blanchet’s meal program.
Shirts are $20, and every purchase supports our programs. Wear your support. Shop here: https://shopblanchet.com
Wow. So many people have made and donated sack lunches for our new women’s shelter, making sure guests have something to eat late at night. It’s a simple act that carries so much care. Thank you for showing up for the women we serve.
This Black History Month, we honor the contributions of Black Americans. Many of our city’s earliest Black residents lived in Old Town for railroad jobs and racist housing laws. Blanchet House opened in this same area to serve the poor. We committed ourselves to building an equitable future.
An invisible need we see fairly often is electric wheelchair repair and replacement. We got to know Carlos, pictured with his dog Toby, as diners at Blanchet House. From a broken chair to a quitable replacements took months. If you would like to help, please contact us at info@blanchethouse.org
Thank you to Pete Bosack and the team at Madeway Design for leading a welding workshop at Blanchet Farm. Residents learned basic techniques and weld types and will keep building skills through our new metalworking program.
If you had to stay in a shelter, how would it feel to be handed dirty, used shoes or torn, stained clothing? Not great. Our mission isn’t just to meet basic needs. It’s to help restore self-worth. That starts with offering new or gently used items we’d be proud to give a friend. Thank you.
This sweet kitty, Halo, stayed at our women’s shelter, Bethanie's Room. We welcomed 29 guests, one dog, and five cats in one night. Pets are welcome as long as they stay with their person and don’t disturb other guests. Ways to help: https://blanchethouse.org/portland-womens-shelter-bethanies-room/
Coats and sweat pants needed. L-XXL Drop off at Blanchet House M-Sat, 8-10:30 or 1:30-4 pm. Shop Amazon wish list at amzn.to/44rDjKl
Our friends are offering their home in Waimea, Hawaii. A $50 raffle ticket enters you for a chance to win an 8-night stay with airfare.
Winners will be drawn on March 1, 2026. Get tickets and view full details at blanchethouse.ejoinme.org/2026BrunchRaffle. RAFFLE RULES APPLY.
We welcomed 25 women to our shelter last night. A 76-year-old woman shared that Bethanie’s Room is, “by far the best shelter I have ever stayed in. I feel like I have finally slept.”
Our most urgent need is L-3X pants and NEW boxer briefs, M-2X. Info at https://blanchethouse.org/donate-clothing.
This Valentine’s Day, share love with purpose with a handcrafted gift from Blanchet that reflects care and second chances. Shop soaps, beeswax candles from our farm hives, t-shirts, totes, or our children’s books.
Every purchase supports healing. https://shopblanchet.com/collections/all
1000 pounds of good food saved from the landfill and put in the hands of hungry people thanks to the Oregon Convention Center and our quick acting team.
Ava hosted a Valentine-making project in the café, and our guests loved the chance to create and connect. It was a simple activity that brought real joy and reminded us that the café is more than a place for a meal.
Today, Blanchet House of Hospitality turns 74. In 1952, the line for a meal brought those facing hardship into view, making them impossible to ignore. In 2026, the line may look different, but the reasons haven’t changed. Hunger. Hard times. The need for a place you’re welcomed without question.
It was a beautiful first night at our women’s shelter, Bethanie’s Room. We welcomed 12 guests as staff settled into routines. A neighbor walked one woman to our door, relieved she would have a safe place to rest. By morning, guests gathered for coffee. Bethanie’s Room is fully donor-funded.
Two supporters donated their beautiful vacation homes, and we’re offering a raffle with two chances to win. One $50 ticket gives you a shot at Waimea, Hawaii, or Bend, Oregon. Only 750 tickets available. Winners drawn on 03/01/2026. Rules apply. https://blanchethouse.ejoinme.org/2026BrunchRaffle.
At lunch today, a diner asked for steel-toe work boots for a time-sensitive job opportunity. We had a pair on hand and got them to him right away. This is what support looks like in real time. When we have what people really need, doors open. Yes, we added shoelaces. :)
