Considering Alternative Giving this year? Here are some worthy local groups that do good work. This list is by no means exhaustive but gives a sampling of local charities that could use your help. For a larger list, pick up a copy of the 2003 Simple Christmas guide prepared by the Peace & Justice Commission.

Catholic Charities of Oregon
Your gift helps Catholic Charities serve over 125,000 poor and vulnerable people each year. Catholic Charities operates 12 programs, four member agencies and numerous grantee agencies located throughout western Oregon. While Catholic Charities is the professional social service arm of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, it secures its own funding. Catholic Charities does not receive funding from the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal.

231 SE 12th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97214-1342 www.catholiccharitiesoregon.org

Growing Gardens
Gifts That Grow are donations you make in honor of those you love. Your special gifts make it possible for others to improve their nutrition, health, and self-reliance growing healthy food in backyard and neighborhood gardens. Every gift to Growing Gardens represents a gift to our total mission of promoting food gardening for improved nutrition, health, and self-reliance while enhancing the quality of life of individuals and communities in Portland, Oregon. Gifts designated for a particular project are used as requested until that need is fully met. Any remaining money is used where it is needed most

2003 NE 42nd Ave #3 503-284-8420 www.growing-gardens.org

Sisters of the Road Cafe
Sisters Of The Road Cafè is a non-profit restaurant open to the public. They encourage all of their customers, staff, volunteers, and donors to get to know each other over a meal at the Cafè. An estimated 250-300 meals are served daily through Sisters' Hot Meals Program. Only a small portion of the meals served are paid for with cash. Some are purchased with Meal Coupons. Many Café patrons take advantage of the Cafe's barter program. A customer can earn a meal for fifteen minutes of work and can accumulate up to $50 worth of meal credits. Meals are given free of charge to all first time visitors to the Café and to those who are unable to pay and cannot work because of age, ill health or parenting responsibilities.

133 NW 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97209 (503)222-5694 www.sistersoftheroadcafe.org

Wallace Medical Concern
The Wallace Medical Concern is a non-profit health clinic that provides free urgent medical care to low-income, uninsured people in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. The organization operates with 3 paid staff and over 200 volunteers to provide free basic medical services, Spanish-English interpretation, and other support services.

To make a donation to the clinic, please contact Kathy Hammock, Executive Director, at 503-274-1277, ext. 10. , or Wallace Medical Concern, P.O. Box 6972, Portland, OR 97228 www.wallacemedical.org