A Letter from the Director
Rudy Grigar
We are more than half way through 2026 and Francis Center continues to thrive and meet the ever increasing demand for services in our community. Francis Center's 68 volunteers serve our neighbors with food and clothing with the aim of spreading joy, peace, and respect - all God given rights.
We continue to serve over 800 households per month. At this pace we will help feed and clothe more than 10,000 households (25,000 persons) this year.
We have made several improvements to our operation this year. We implemented a new intake system from the Oregon Food Bank ... Service Insights on Meal Connect. SIMC will continue to help us access the food we need to help our neighbors.
We purchased a new more efficient van. This vehicle will enable us to pick up and deliver our food for years to come.
We were able to replace the old leaky windows on our upper floor of the main house. This will help keep our inventory of clothing clean and dry.
All these improvements are made possible by our many generous donors. I am confident that Francis Center will continue to serve hope everyday.
As St. Francis prayed, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace". I believe our volunteers and donors are bringing that peace and hope into our community.
It is with great sadness that we must report that Amy passed away due to ongoing health issues. Amy died peacefully in her sleep at home in June 2026. Amy was a devoted mother, grandmother, friend and volunteer who was committed to caring for and serving others. She visited people in need all over the Portland area bringing them good company, food and clothing.
Amy will be missed by many, and her positive example will continue to inspire us in our mission of serving hope. God bless Amy!