We take our outreach seriously.  Whether it's locally or globally, we give our all to help others.

LOcal outreach:

Family promise of Greater washington county

Family Promise is an organization that provides shelter and resources for homeless families in order that they may find housing.

Once a quarter, we host houseless families in our Lighthouse building for a week.  We provide shelter and two meals a day to those struggling to regain their economic footing.  We love to interact with the children and the parents, playing board games, watching videos, or just sharing our lives.  For more information on Family Promise, visit https://www.familypromisegwc.org/ We are hoping to be able to host the families in the Lighthouse once again in 2022.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, families are being housed in the Family Promise Day Center. We are continuing to provide meals for the families during our assigned week, once every quarter. These meals can be prepared by a volunteer, in the form of a restaurant gift card, or purchased from a restaurant and delivered to the families.

Another volunteer opportunity through Family Promise is providing food for 10 individuals/families that the County is housing in a local motel. Family Promise is providing case management for these individuals in order to get them back into housing.

For more specific information on how to volunteer for either of these opportunities, contact Bonnie Becker at 503-464-6914.

Migrant camp

Our mission is to be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing kindness and support.  We provide a hot meal and groceries every week to the migrant workers who spend the summer at Heike's Berry Farm on Farmington Road just south of Hillsboro.  We also collect clothing and personal hygiene items for them.  This has been a continuing ministry of Westside for decades.

Heikes Farm houses between 15 and 20 migrant farmworkers from mid-May to the first part of August. Generally there are more men that work in the fields, but in the last few years we have seen more women join them in this work. We provide a toiletry kit for each person (shampoo, conditioner, razors, hand soap, band-aids, toothpaste and toothbrushes) and gently used bedding, towels, and men’s and women’s clothing. Donations of these items is greatly appreciated.

Westsiders deliver a hot meal to the workers every Saturday afternoon during the months they are here. Dinner is served at 5:00 pm. Before COVID-19 restrictions, the volunteers provided the meals buffet style and joined the workers for the meal outdoors. Since the new restrictions went into effect, we have provided the hot meals in disposable containers for each cabin. The volunteers are not able to eat with them.

Bonnie Becker is the coordinator for this ministry. For specific information please contact her at 503-464-6914 or email at bonnie_becker@comcast.net

Homeplate youth services

HomePlate is an Organization that works with homeless youth in Washington County.

Prior to COVID-19 restrictions, Westsiders committed to providing a hot meal for the Drop-In Center, located at the Aloha Church of God, on the third Wednesday of the month. We served dinner to approximately 20 youth and HomePlate staff each month. We hope to resume in 2022.

Six to 10 volunteers prepare and serve the dinner - meal prep from 4:00 - 5:00 pm, and service from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. There are specific procedures/rules as specified by the Washington County Department of Health for serving meals, and these will be discussed with each volunteer.

Other ways you can help are providing the meal ingredients and drinks, paper products, and plastic silverware.

Bonnie Becker is the coordinator for this outreach. Contact Bonnie at 503-464-6914 for more specific information. Learn more about HomePlate at homeplateyouth.org.

Western farm workers association (WFWA)

WFWA is an all-volunteer, independent, unincorporated membership of low-income farm and seasonal workers.  Members can access free of charge self-help benefit programs – built by members for members – which offer emergency food, clothing, preventive medical care, legal advice and more.  This benefit program is supported entirely by WFWA allies throughout the community. 

Westside United Methodist Church has supported the WFWA for more than twenty years. Their efforts have included collections of food, new clothing and gifts for children, grocery gift cards, and cash donations. Volunteers have helped organize children's games and crafts during holiday parties, delivered holiday food boxes to families, and assisted with the dental benefit program.

When needs arise, we will let you know on our News page and through our twice-weekly emails

free food Project

Amy, a Westside member, launched a food ministry out of the back of her car years ago with a dream of connecting the food insecure with surplus in the food supply chain. Her ministry has grown into the Free Food Project. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/freefoodprojectOregon

Global Outreach:

Dominican Republic

Ten of us traveled to the Dominican Republic in August 2018 to help build classrooms.  We took 1000 pounds of sports equipment and medicines with us, to be given to the children there.  It was a life-changing experience.  See the photo gallery here.

In July 2019, we returned with eleven Westsiders to build a playground for the school and to renew friendships!  See the photo gallery here.

Our 2020 trip was canceled due to the pandemic, but a small team was able to return in July of 2021.

Dates for this year are July 30 - August 6, 2022. Contact the church office at office@westsidejourney.org for more information.

Paraguay

We support Tim and Margarite in Paraguay through our prayers and donations.  Margarite is a learning disability specialist. Tim is a teacher. They engage urban Ava Guarani and Mbya Guarani communities through educational activities. Additionally, they serve in local churches and help local leaders coordinate outreach and discipleship in neighborhoods, rural areas, prisons, and schools

Their mission is "Transformation through education among underserved and unreached communities in the Heart of South America."  Visit their blog at http://tmrevett.blogspot.com/ for more.