Feeding Love: A Year Volunteering with Transition Projects

To mark our 10th year of awarding local nonprofits with a $25,000 in-kind marketing grant, and 45th year as an agency, we decided to offer a second kind of grant, too. Up for grabs was 150 volunteer hours from our very own Griffs. And while we interviewed some incredible, deserving organizations this time last year, we all immediately connected with Transition Projects and their mission. 

As part of their Meal Provider Program, our plan was to assemble random groups of Griffs, giving folks who don’t always work together the opportunity to get to know each other — to gather outside of work and inside Transition Projects’ kitchens. Then the pandemic happened just one meal into our year-long volunteering schedule. Though we had looked forward to cooking in their kitchens for their residents, GB teams had to pivot. Instead, we came together virtually to prepare our meals. 

For more than 50 years, Transition Projects has helped with housing, sheltering, and finding opportunities for some of Portland’s most vulnerable residents. Their shelters are in our neighborhoods, and while we had hoped to join them there, we took our cooking into our individual homes and coordinated meal drop-offs throughout the year.

Since February, we planned, purchased, and cooked meals for groups of 35-45 men and women at Clark Center and Jean’s Place. Griffs traded recipes and coordinated dinners like lasagna, shepherd’s pie, casseroles, grilled cheese, and chili. With cookies, ice cream, and pumpkin cakes. Oh, and vegetables, too. We had just a taste of what it takes to plan meals for large groups of people. And sometimes made way too much. 

As cheesy as it may seem, food is really such a great way to show care for others. With Transition Projects’ work so critical to our community, people can visit tprojects.org for open opportunities at the individual and company level. We are so thankful they applied to our first volunteer grant, setting the bar and our hopes high for next year (stay tuned on that). From every Griff, we send our thanks to their volunteer and shelter organizers for their unwavering dedication.

*If you’re interested in applying to our 2021 grant, we will share news here in the New Year. Stay tuned, and follow along on social.