Current News
OUR DIRECTOR PARTNERS WITH CSC'S YOUTH BUILD! Director Stan was the first speaker in CSC's Youth Builders' interviewing program. The Youth Builders are looking for volunteer opportunities like the warming center at a local church, or participating in the memorial service in Albany for homeless citizens of the entire East Linn County area, who died for lack of shelter this year.
The first photo shows CSC's Youth Builders who interviewed Director Stan to find volunteer opportunities in the community. Stan is second from the right. What a great group of youth! We look forward to working with them in the future for the good of the greater Lebanon area.
HOMELESS MEMORIAL SERVICE DEC. 21, ALBANY CITY HALL! Director Stan is partnering with Albany homeless services and agencies in the first annual Homeless Person's Memorial Service to be held from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Albany City Hall Plaza, 333 Broadalbin Street SW, on Monday, Dec. 21st, the longest night of the year. It was in the freezing weather that some homeless people died this year. They and other homeless folks who died will be remembered at this special service. The public is invited to attend.
The second photo shows the space available at our Ash Street offices. It is a large warehouse building of about 5,000 sq. ft. and open to many possible uses. Here it is being used for an Eye Clinic with Sears Optical.
WE NOW ARE HOUSING A SMALL FAMILY IN OUR APARTMENT! They came to us by referral from the Lebanon School District's homelessness prevention program. They are a husband and wife and one school-age child. Please pray for this family, that they may be able to find employment in these hard times and then be able to obtain permanent housing.
The photo shows our new Executive Director, Stan Brittain, at his office. You can meet him in person at our Ash Street office, 54 W. Ash, or call the office phone, 258-3387, to arrange an appointment. Or you can contact us at our new email address, which is ChristWalk@centurylink.net
The generous grant we received from CSC has enabled us to hire our new Executive Director, who is already greatly expanding our program by partnering with many local agencies. Through the efforts of Board Member Bill, we were able to rent the large office space at 54 W. Ash, and Stan arranged with Lebanon Schools to use our one-bedroom apartment at the Women's House for a small family with one child. If you have questions about any of our available space, call Executive Director Stan.
Stan will concentrate on capacity building and growing community support. He will be writing grants to several Oregon charitable funds. Our Board consultant, Heidi Henry, financed by assistance from Meyer Memorial Trust, has completed the Board's training, so we have a Strategic Plan and several required governance policies. We have developed a detailed fundraising plan to contact churches, individual, and local businesses for sponsorships.
Nearly every week, we have to turn away families, men, and women. The need for safe, decent, warm, supportive housing is great. We help our residents, both men and women, to shake addictions, find a job and then obtain their own permanent housing. Please pray for us and our guests and for funding to allow us to open at least one large family house soon.
ChristWalk's Men's and Women's Houses provide a warm home for five persons each!
The first photo shows one of the residents of ChristWalk House for Men doing dishes in the spotless kitchen. Residents are responsible and meticulous about house upkeep.
The house is located at the corner of Park and Isabella on the north end of town, 286 Park Street.
We now have a combined men's and women's work crew which is available for light landscaping work, such as raking leaves. If you have work to be done, please call Randy Tunnissen, 541-401-0773.
The second photo shows resident Debra pouring herself some coffee in the bright cheery kitchen of the Women's House located in another Lebanon neighborhood. Items are still needed for each house(see Wish List below). If you can donate anything, please call Men's Program Director Randy Tunnissen at 541-401-0773, or Executive Director Stan at 541-258-3387.
ChristWalk's board is ecumenical, with members from the area churches noted below. We believe strongly that Jesus Christ changes lives, and agree with AA/NA that belief in a Higher Power helps free people from addictions. Our services are open to people of all faiths or no faith, and daily Bible studies are available, but never mandatory.
Our board members come from eight local churches—the First United Methodist Church, the Lebanon Mennonite Church, the First Presbyterian Church, The River Center, Lebanon Calvary Chapel, Crowfoot Baptist, Southside Church of Christ, and St. Bernard in Scio.