Community Meals

Sharing a meal together and building community is a part of our Christian identity. On the third Monday of the month, volunteers prepare a homemade meal for 100+ people and then we have two teams of volunteers who take the dinner over to our neighbors in two low-income/supportive social service buildings, both a block away from the church. Join us for an opportunity to share stories and build friendships over a warm meal. If you are interested in learning more, contact Pastor Brenna. If you would like to sign up to help cook the meal or serve it, please click here to volunteer.

Emergency Food Closet

In 2020, First Presbyterian Church (FPC), through a generous grant from the Capital Campaign Mission Giving, partnered with Lift UP to adopt the Alder House Building. FPC has a rich history with Alder House, located one block from our church. The adoption allows Lift UP to provide extra services for the residents of that community; such as culinary education classes with a focus on healthy cooking called Supper Club, they also provide an emergency food pantry for the residents. To volunteer at the Adler House Emergency Food Closet, please click here.

Walk the Wildwood 2024

Walk the Wildwood 2024 was a huge success! With over 80 registrants and 70 walkers enjoying 1-mile, 3.5-mile, or 7.5-mile routes, the event was a hit! We raised over $12,000, which will help build two new vocational school dorms for Kamwenge Secondary and Vocational School in Uganda.

This year, our fundraising efforts were enhanced by partnering with GotSneakers. So far, we have collected over 200 pairs of sneakers! It will be a few months before we learn the total amount of additional funds raised with these efforts.

Our goal of championing ten new students is halfway met, with five families supporting six students.

Check out event photos here: Photos

Thanks to everyone who participated, volunteered, and donated! See you next year!

Kamwenge Secondary School in Uganda

First Presbyterian Church of Portland is blessed to have been partnering with Kamwenge Secondary and Vocational School for many years. Along with sponsoring a teacher and offering support in emergency situations, every other year, FPC members travel to Uganda, spending time with Kamwenge students, faculty, and people in the surrounding area. You can learn more through this video.

Our Annual fundraising event, Walk the Wildwood, takes place every August, in Forest Park. We hope you will join us for our 2025 event!

For additional information, contact Kathryn Hill at hillka@teleport.com.

Northeast Emergency Food Pantry

Our church partners with the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s Northeast Emergency Food Program (NEFP) to respond to the urgent food needs of our neighbors.   NEFP is the most active food pantry in Oregon.  In 2023, over 1000 volunteers helped to distribute over 2 million pounds of food.

NEFP distributes a three- to five-day (or more) supply of nutritious groceries to our neighbors in need, frequently valued at over $200. We offer a unique self-service shopping experience for guests, allowing them to select their choice of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, bread, meat, and more. There are no quantity restrictions on most items in the pantry.  We serve:

• Families with children; roughly 40 percent of those we support are children
• The unemployed and the underemployed
• People with special needs, including the elderly and those with disabilities
• A high percentage of immigrants and refugees
• People experiencing crisis

To volunteer at NEFP, please click here.

Friendly House

First Presbyterian founded what became Friendly House in 1926 to reach out in support of our local communities.

Today, Friendly House is a non-profit neighborhood center and social service agency in Portland, Oregon.

Friendly House creates a thriving community by connecting people of all ages and backgrounds through quality educational, recreational, and other life-sustaining services. A third of its board members are also part of the First Presbyterian community.

Click here for more information.

Earth Care

Our church is a member of the PCUSA Earth Care congregations with opportunities to learn and engage with our biblical call to care for God’s good creation. To learn more or join the Earth Care team, please contact Jenny Holmes.

Advocacy & Social Justice

As part of the PC(USA) we care about social, economic, and ecological justice issues at local, state, national, and international levels.

With the Session approval, cooperation within the church, the wider faith community, and other organizations promoting social, economic, and ecological justice and peace, we seek to work for a better world.

Click here to learn more about our work.