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OCTOBER 7,20)1
People seeking food and other items from
Esther’s Pantry and Tod’s Corner may he sur
prised to see a “For Sale" sign outside O ur
House’s Milwaukie building, but executive
director Wayne Miya says they shouldn’t
worry— their services aren’t going anywhere.
“Even though the clients at Esther’s and
T od’s will see a big ‘For Sale’ sign, we are
working on finding a new space so services
can go on continuously," Miya says.
The community resources will likely have to
relocate when the building housing them is sold
(it went on the market in July). The current
home of Esther’s Pantry and Tod’s Corner,
which provide supplemental items to people liv
ing with HIV/AIDS, is owned by Providence
I lealth and Services and has been offered rent-
and utilities-f ree for more than five years.
The services moved into the Providence-
owned medical offices after Friends o f People
W ith AIDS took over for Metropolitan
Community Church in 2006. O ur House
started running the programs in 2007. Es
ther’s Pantry has supplied food— and Tod’s
Corner, personal care items— to individuals
living with 11IV/AIDS since 1985.
“We would like to express our gratitude for
all the years [Providence has] provided this
facility free for us," Miya says. Now that Es
ther’s Pantry and Tod’s Corner are looking for
a new home, O ur 1 louse is calling on the
community to help with the relocation by
making additional donations, hosting food
No Place Like Home
Esther’s Pantry on the hunt for a new space
BY ERIN RO O K
drives or even suggesting a new space.
Miya says O ur House currently has a com
mercial Realtor on the hunt, but encourages
community members to contact him if they
know of a suitable home. The organization,
which serves about 700 people annually, is
hoping to trade up, so to speak.
O ur I louse seeks a larger space (about 5,000
square feet) that is close in and near bus and
MAX lines. Also on the wish list: ADA acces
sibility, a telephone/internet connection, air
conditioning and heating, 20 off-street parking
spaces, a 500-square-foot reception area,
enough electrical outlets for 10 refrigerators
and a washer-and-dryer hookup.
“Currently, the space that we have is a little
small and kind o f difficult to navigate through.
If there’s a lot of people waiting, some o f them
have to wait outside... and face the weather,”
Miya says. “We’re hoping that the new space
will have space enough that we can have peo
ple in a formal waiting room.”
W W W .JUSTOUT.CO M
The community E sther’s and Tod’s provide
is a vital haven for vulnerable individuals
who may have trouble accessing other food
bank services.
“Because we serve people exclusively with
H IV and also low income, it’s a safe place
for people with H IV to come. There is still a
huge am ount o f stigma out there with regard
to H IV and A ID S,” says Miya, adding that it
can be especially hard for medically “deli
cate” and transgender people to use other
food banks.
Though Miya doesn’t know for sure when
(or, technically, if) Esther’s Pantry and Tod’s
Corner will have to move, he’s doing every
thing he can to ensure continuity o f service.
“We’re just trying to be proactive,” Miya says.
In the meantime, Esther’s Pantry is accept
ing food donations, including canned foods
(meats, beans, vegetables, fruits, etc.), boxed
meals, peanut butter, grains and fruit juice.
Donations can be made on location or at a
variety of drop sites, including Just Out's of
fices at 6234 N. Greeley Avenue or any event
sponsored by the newspaper, such as the
monthly Gay Skate at Oaks Park (held next
on Monday, October 17).
To suggest a location, email Miya at wmiya@
ourhouseofportland.org. For more information
about Esther’s Pantry and Tod's Corner, visit
ourhouseofportland.org. To donate food, become a
volunteer, or fo r services, call 503-349-4699.
K
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Beth A. Allen, founding partner: winner of the Oregon
Gay & Lesbian Law Association (0GALLA) Silver
Jubilee Award; 0GALLA Award of Merit; and the Basic
Rights Oregon Superhero Award. Selected as a 2010
Oregon Super Lawyer. Founding member of the
BR0 Legal Group; author of Same-Sex Marriage: a
Conflicts of Law Analysis for Oregon: frequent local,
state and national speaker on marriage equality.