Portland, OR - A Vanouver church is opening its doors to the homeless as temperatures continue to hover at or below the freezing
mark.
Thursday night Daniel Kellogg and his friends, of Living Hope Church, walked the streets of downtown Portland. "Just trying
to do whatever we can to help the homeless during this cold moment," Kellogg said. "We're trying to get them off the street."
The church is offering anybody who wants it a warm meal and warm place to stay. "It's freezing out here right now and I just couldn't
imagine being a homeless person right now," Kellogg said. But homelessness is a reality for some. "Really cold, too cold for me,"
added John Gaar. "Really unbearable sometimes, especially with the wind, but when it's not windy it's not too bad, but that cold
wind feels like ice smacking you in the face," he added. Gaar is on the bus to Vancouver where he hopes to escape the bone
chilling weather for at least a night. "I didn't get into the Portland Rescue Mission so I'm glad this came up right here, guess it's
fate," he said.
And it came at the perfect time as snow and ice are in the forecast. It is more of a reason to get on the bus and head across the
border. "Hopefully we can fill this bus," added Kellogg.
The shelter will be open until Saturday, but anybody who wishes to leave Friday will be able to do so.
