A concern about social justice and social action is a vibrant part of the caring community at Rose City Park Presbyterian. In the past several years we have supported Habitat for Humanity by participating in builds in north and southeast Portland. Drives for household goods to support the Community Warehouse help provide support to families facing housing instability and help our members to recycle unneeded home goods. Donations of food with the help of Take Action, Inc. created a Food Back Pack program at Marysville School while they were temporarily housed in the Rose City Neighborhood. Food drives benefit Mainspring Portland and SnowCap Community Charities. Our congregation prepares and serves six meals a year with HOMEpdx–a helping organization whose goal is to “love people face-to-face”.
We are active with the Village Support Network to support families over a six-month period during their transition from homelessness to housing. Adult Education sessions featuring guest speakers on sex trafficking and gun violence in Portland and on other local issues have led members to individually donate their time and resources to organizations that work to make our communities better and safer for all Portlanders. Groups from RCPPC have walked to support ALS, marched in the Portland Pride Parade, harvested excess food for a local food pantry at a local garden, and participated in SOLV (Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism) beach cleanups. At our coffee fellowship, we serve Equal Exchange fair trade coffee as part of our commitment to supporting workers and the environment beyond the Pacific Northwest.