Dawson Park resource fair event summary - December 2, 2025

On December 2, 2025, Safe Blocks, Urban League of Portland, POIC, the Street Service Coordinator Center (SSCC), Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI), Cascadia Behavioral Health, Prism Health, Cascade AIDS Project, and Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church (Saturday Samaritans) food pantry all participated in the community resource fair at Dawson Park.

The event provided much-needed resources for community members experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and unemployment.

Event highlights included a "coat drive" to collect coats, hats, gloves, and warm weather gear for people who sleep outdoors and low-income communities, free hot meals, and hygiene necessities.

Community members also volunteered to help vendors take down and pack up their booths.

The events at Dawson Park continue to apply a public health model to help reduce gun violence by addressing root causes like poverty and lack of opportunity.