Hospitality
We recognize how crucial it is for every person to have a safe, comfortable, supportive space to sleep and to gather. Here are a few ways we try to practice hospitality…
On Being a “Good Neighbor Team” (Refugee Support)
Camas Friends Church has been a "Good Neighbor Team" to a family of four from Afghanistan, helping this family adapt to life in the PNW. We began supporting this family in Fall 2021 in a variety ways: donating funds, driving the family to appointments, helping collect food and household items from various locations and bringing them to the family, spending time with the family, helping them set up their new apartment, and taking the family on outings and showing them around.
Contact Janet Grove by email at littlejanetg@gmail.com to learn more about our work and how to get involved.
Emergency Assistance (“Betty Fund”)
Camas Friends Church has an emergency fund (which we often refer to as the “Betty Fund”) that is available to help people in emergency situations who need a place to stay, gas for their car, groceries beyond what we have in our pantry, or other financial assistance. While we are a small church and have limited resources, we want to do what we can. So please contact the office if you are in crisis and need assistance, financial or otherwise. We’ll do our best to help!
Anyone can donate (just be sure to designate that you want it to go there) and it is open to anyone who needs it.
Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO)
Camas Friends Church participates in the Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO) program.
The WHO provides sleeping, bathing, and training services to the homeless of Clark County. Camas Friends Church volunteers at the men’s shelter at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Vancouver.
Please contact us to participate in our volunteer efforts, particularly food preparation and giving of essentials (like deodorant, cough drops, and men’s gloves, as well as food items like milk, juice, fresh fruit & veggies, and baked goods).
SafePark Program
A growing number of people in SW Washington are sleeping in their vehicles, having no other option for housing. Finding an overnight location to park safely and legally can be difficult. Camas Friends Church provides a safe and legal space for people to sleep as they seek stability in their lives.
While we have limited availability and resources, we may be able to accommodate individuals and families living in their cars or RVs. If you are interested or know of someone who might be, please contact Matt (matt@camasfriends.org) to arrange a time to meet in person to discuss this possibility.
Please note: Any prospective guests must complete a background check and intake process before being approved to receive a parking permit for our parking lot and must also be prepared to commit to the SafePark Code of Conduct.
AA & 12-Step Meeting Information
There are a number of AA and other 12-Step Programs that meet in our meetinghouse throughout the week here in Camas.
While we are very happy and proud to be hosts to these groups, it is important to note that none of the groups are directly affiliated with our church. In other words there are no “Quaker” specific groups. Rather each group has their own style and feel.
For current meeting times, please visit the AA website.
AA has a 24/7 answering service where you can talk to a live and local person. (360) 694-3870
(Many of the meetings are happy to have children present, though specific childcare is not offered at most of these meetings.)