We cannot defeat gloom by spreading gloomy pictures. We conquer darkness by striking one match and lighting one candle at a time. We stop despair by shining light on heroes instead of on detractors. The works of heroes are beacons for us. By following, we stoke their candles into bonfires.

Some heroes in Portland lit their candles 20 years ago. Now their bonfire burns brightly, especially on Sundays when Portland’s Potluck in the Park[1] serves hundreds of people who need a good hot meal.

Potluck in the Park nourishes and enriches “the lives of individuals in need by providing nutritious food and useful social contacts”. The Potluck is symbolized by the “Kindhearted Woman Sign”. Hobos across the land in olden days would leave a chalk picture, or scratch onto pavement or a fencepost the picture of a smiling cat. This meant to those who followed that a kindhearted woman lived here—one who might be counted on for friendly work or a warm meal. In the old hobo language, the sign was a high compliment.

Today, for the volunteers at the Potluck and the friends they serve, it still is.

Morgan Van Fleet, Nick Baty and Kevin Nickoloff wrote a moving tribute to PIP that was published in Street Roots[2], December 2010. These are some of their words:

“The air around O’Bryant Square is buzzing with energy of motion. Part of the movement comes from the cold, biting wind pushing through the trees, a rare dry autumn Sunday. But the majority of the energy comes from the cacophony of 600 plus people gathered in anticipation for a hot meal, courtesy of Potluck in the Park.”

“Volunteer David Utzinger attributes the rise in customers to several factors. When The Blanchet House stopped serving a Sunday meal, Potluck immediately experienced an increase in attendance. Undeniably, the economic recession has also created a greater need for meals like those provided by Potluck.”

“. . . [Volunteers] work late in to the night, washing dishes, delivering leftovers to Clark Center, and dismantling Potluck’s city park cafeteria.”

To the Street Roots writers, the Bentari Project adds: Thank you, Heroes.

[1] See: http://www.potluckinthepark.org/20thannivesary/ and to donate: http://www.potluckinthepark.org/donate/

[2] See: http://streetroots.org/ (12/10/10 issue not available in archive)