Union Gospel Mission Preps For Thanksgiving; Volunteers Needed

PORTLAND, OR — The Union Gospel Mission in Portland is getting ready for Thanksgiving and it needs the community's help. Along with serving more than 800 meals Thanksgiving day, volunteers are needed to help assemble more than 600 Thanksgiving food baskets on Saturday, Nov. 18.

This year, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 23 at 15 N.W. Third Ave., Union Gospel Mission volunteers expect to serve enough turkey to feed more than 800 people, 350 pounds of mashed taters, stuffing, and candied yams, 75 gallons of gravy, 72 pounds of cranberry sauce, 240 pumpkin pies (with whipped cream), 1,200 dinner rolls (with butter), and 100 gallons of coffee. In order to meet that need, however, the Mission still needs donations.

"We could use a few more turkeys, and we always need coffee," UGM Food Service Coordinator Lori Quinney said.

Food donations can be taken to 3 N.W. Third Ave., just around the corner from the front doors, while cash donations can be made online at ugmportland.org.

As oppose to serving the huge Thanksgiving meal from inside a tent outside the building, his year's meal will be offered from inside the mission, UGM coordinators said.

Additionally, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, UGM volunteers will assemble roughly 600 Thanksgiving food baskets to be distributed through a network of nonprofits and churches that same day to families and individuals in-need throughout Portland and at the Mission itself.

While the baskets won't include a physical turkey, each will have a voucher for one as well as everything needed for a proper, traditional Thanksgiving meal, such as stuffing, gravy, yams, rolls, and veggies.

For more information, and to see how you can volunteer your time for this worthy cause, call 503-274-4483, or visit ugmportland.org.

Watch: Why Volunteering and Donating On Thanksgiving Is Rewarding

Photos via Union Gospel Mission