Compassion SE

compassion SE looking for involvement

Whenever we love anything, we know it takes investment. It takes sacrifice and looking beyond ourselves. Over the next six months, three day-long events will serve as a springboard to something more. Our hope is that our big, corporate expressions of love serve as a starting place for small, personal expressions reoccurring throughout the year: A body of people invested within the places of need in our community. In the next few weeks, Love Portland will be rolled out in fuller detail: providing pathways for you to use your gifts to LOVE PORTLAND.

The first of three corporate expressions of Love is called Compassion SE, which will happen this June 14 when Imago Dei will co-host a free medical clinic and social services fair for uninsured and underinsured people in SE Portland - bringing hope to the hurting. The clinic will take place at Woodmere Elementary School (7900 SE Duke).

Imagine a mother unable to have her sick child treated for illness, or a working parent trying to keep a job but constantly straining to see clearly enough to perform well. Without access to basic medical exams, many people struggle quietly with no medicine or relief. Many people don't know what resources for assistance are available for them, either. If there is a program for hungry children, they may not know about it. If there is opportunity for their children to be tutored after school, how do they find out about it? Or what programs are available to assist with housing? Compassion SE is designed to give exposure to resources and treatment to people in need.

Compassion SE is part of a network of clinics formed through the collaboration of churches and civic social service agencies, to serve their communities during the Luis Palau Season of Service this year.  As Imago Dei provides leadership and volunteers for Compassion SE, we will display the gospel through the provision of basic medical, dental and social care. It's our desire to show the love of Jesus to the SE Portland community by coming together in unity and building relationships with those we serve. In a festive atmosphere, Compassion SE will offer basic medical exams, basic dental cleaning and emergency treatment, chiropractic exams, basic eye exams, fun children's activities, free lunch, and a large gathering of organizations dedicated to resourcing people in need. 

2 Corinthians 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort." Our involvement in Compassion SE gives that kind of praise to God.

Volunteer participation is greatly needed to pull this off. Since June is just around the corner, we urgently need 300 people of various skill sets to sign up to help serve families. If you are a medical professional of any kind; a worker in children's ministry; a warm, friendly person; a set up and tear down master; a willing grunt worker; a hair stylist; a foreign language speaker; a parking director; a van driver or whatever, we need you to serve on Saturday, June 14, as a way of unveiling the compassion of Christ. If you are not able to give the entire 8-hour day, 4-hour shifts are also available. For a more thorough list of ways to volunteer or to get registered go to the Compassion SE website: www.compassionse.org or email Clark Blakeman at .