Outreach
First you pray for the poor. Then feed them. That is how prayer works.
-Pope Francis
We at Church of the Resurrection recognize that the purpose of Christian community is to yearn for God and answer the cry of the poor. Jesus taught us that God is always on the side of the poor, the destitute, the powerless. God is on the losing side because the true power of God is found in vulnerability and brokenness, not in power and strength. That is the lesson of the Cross.
As a parish we have discerned that the most pressing problem to work together on is serving our neighbors who live in poverty. According to the January 2025 Point-in-Time Count, 3,509 people in Eugene are experiencing homelessness. Eugene has one of the highest rates of homelessness per capita in the United States. The shame of those numbers should be unbearable to us who live in the wealthiest economy the world has ever seen.
Below are descriptions of some of our ministries to the poor in Eugene. We hope that you learn something about our community through our outreach efforts. We welcome those who might wish to join us in supporting the poorest and most vulnerable in our midst.
Home Starter Kits (HSK)
A defining ministry of Resurrection, this ministry was founded by members Emily and Neil Morris (now departed). Volunteers prepare a kit with household basics for those moving from mental health, homeless, substance abuse, and prison transitional programs into their own apartment or home. Kits include basic kitchen utensils, towels, sheets, pillows, cleaning and paper products, and more.
Being consistent with the Baptismal Covenant is an important part of this ministry. One essential statement in the Baptismal Covenant asks, “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?” The program serves Christ in all persons through providing basic home supplies to help lift vulnerable people into permanent, safe housing. Christ’s love to the world is shown to those in need by the caring and love provided in each individual kit. Evidence of vitality is readily demonstrated by volunteers’ time and energy given over the 25-plus-year history of the program.
For information about how to donate or help with the kits, please contact Neal Mandich or Stevie Piccolo. All funding goes directly toward kit contents; there are no overhead or administrative costs.
HSK packing parties take place each Wednesday at 1 p.m. in our Yurt behind the church. Volunteers are always welcome.
Hospitality Village
“And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’.” — Matthew 8:20
Hospitality Village is a ministry of Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, dedicated to serving the unhoused in our community. The project grew out of the St. Vincent de Paul’s car camp program, which allowed homeless persons to park overnight in our parking lot. Desiring to help unhoused persons move towards permanent housing, we built three small Conestoga Huts on our property.
The next step came when parishioners used parish resources to construct four tiny houses, 8 by 12 feet structures, supplied with heat and electricity. The tiny houses are clustered around a common shelter and protected from the comings and goings in our parking lot by large planters. The inhabitants are supported by a case worker, hired by the parish to assist our guests with their journeys toward stable housing. They commit to a plan to transition to more stable, permanent housing with the help of the parish.
Through this vital community-based ministry many have opted to become active members of the Parish, contributing some of their time and talent to our service to others. This ministry is one of our most impactful in helping people change the trajectory of their lives. Our work has been recognized in a number of media reports, including KVAL, and the Register-Guard.
A parish committee oversees Hospitality Village, meeting once a month to set policy and address issues facing the ministry.
If you want to get involved by donating time, money, or supplies, please call our office at 541-686-8462. We’d love to have you join our volunteers!
Student Food Pantry
Parishioners from Episcopal Church of the Resurrection participate in supplying the Student Food Pantry run by Episcopal Campus Ministry in Eugene. The Pantry provides free supplemental food for college students and their families in the greater Eugene area who need this type of support. COR Parishioners bring canned and packaged food items each Sunday for the Student Food Pantry basket. A parishioner then delivers donations to the pantry.
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
Our Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, located on Hilyard Street, in front of the church, offers free supplies to those in need. Parishioners stock it with food (e.g., canned goods, oatmeal packs, granola bars), and personal care and household items (e.g., toothbrushes, toothpaste, wipes, rain ponchos, hand warmers, dish soap, etc.)
Outreach Commission
The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection formed an Outreach Commission in 2007 to serve the needs of the greater community beyond our doors in keeping with our faithful sharing of the Good News through Christ to the world. The Outreach Commission offers financial support in the form of grants, awarded primarily to local established and emerging non-profit organizations that address issues of community health, hunger, and homelessness. The Commission reviews grant requests up to $500. For more information and the grant application, click here.