BIRCH COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to buid a financially stable community by providing education, food, and nurturing accountability.
About This Cause
Birch Community Services (Birch) addresses the roots of hunger and economic hardship in our community. Our mission is to build a financially stable community by providing education, food, and nurturing accountability. Birch was founded in 1992 and currently has 18 staff and 11 board members. Over the past two years, Birch has seen a dramatic increase in families contacting us seeking our services, growing from 570 families served annually pre-pandemic to 780 families today. Most of the families we serve are considered on the ‘poverty cliff’: they are working, earning an income, but still struggling to meet their basic needs. Families come from throughout the Portland metro area, primarily from East Multnomah County and east Vancouver. Birch’s Sustainable Families Program strengthens the self-sufficiency of participants through an interwoven strategy of financial counseling paired with access to healthy food. From their first week, participants make weekly shopping trips to our warehouse, experiencing immediate stabilization and financial relief. During these trips, families select an average of over $1,400 per month worth of nutrient-dense groceries and household items. Next, we offer comprehensive financial literacy education. Each participant meets with our Financial Literacy staff for one-on-one goal setting, creating a family vision and developing a tailored financial plan unique to their needs. Participants then complete the 6 hour (four session) Re$tart financial literacy course that offers the knowledge and tools to stabilize and gain financial freedom. Regular check-ins ensure families stay on track to meet their goals. Throughout, participants volunteer two hours per month, which has the dual benefit of building community while providing a way to give back. Our families consistently indicate that connection with others, in a positive environment, helps them create a new financial mindset and hope for the future. The SFP program is successful in strengthening financial security: 98% of participants indicate SFP was helpful in achieving their financial goals.