Sisters of the Road — Local services in Portland

This is a non traditional cafe. It was begun by the Catholic Social Worker Movement in the 1970s to address the needs of elderly, disabled, and poor, to have an excellent meal, made with fresh local meats, vegetables, and other food stuffs whenever possible. The taste, texture, and quality of the food is high. It helps people keep their self respect, as a meal may be "purchased" by bartering 30 min of work, doing mostly simple tasks, paying in cash or federally approved hot meal purchase of about $1.25. The ambiance is not fancy, but humble. It is set up for the primary clientele of the partially, or unhoused population, seniors, disabled on fixed incomes, they will NOT let you starve, if you are unable to barter or pay, speak to staff as many volunteers offer to help others with their extra points. One has to walk in, reserve a time slot, and then return at that time, to control the crowds/lines, and assure adequate food for the 100 or so diners per day. Even if you are not poor, I recommend this as excellent food, and tour in the day of humility of our vulnerable populations. Financial donations are always welcome, and in the main office people may buy tickets in advance for when they are asked by beggars for money for food, one can hand them a meal pass instead. No where else in town can you get a balanced meal, that tastes and looks great, as well as being fresh, local, and served with dignity...

This place does a terrific job in feeding the community. You can get a delicious meal from their menu for approximately $1.50 and if you want extra side dishes it cost as little as 0.25 to 0.50 each. If you have no money you can volunteer as little as an half an hour or more to earn a meal ticket(s). You can volunteer to clean & bust table, be a server, clean bathrooms, etc. The down side -- you have to sign up for a meal starting at around 10:00am and ending when they run out of time slots. The other down side some of the people aren't that pleasant to eat around. All that being said, this is the best place I've found to get a hearty, delicious meal dirt cheap during the week days. Unfortunately, it's close on the...

What the hell do these mother-effers get off serving healthy and mega-delicious food to filthy street rats like me? Don't they realize we have germs? Look! I just popped a zit and a cootie family landed in the soup. It's almost like they get what every other Downtown Establishment restaurant fails to understand: If you want me and my unhoused homies to act respectable- like, not steal your tip jar, not spange your custies, not OD in the men's room- maybe you should consider treating us like one of your species.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Give some to us or we'll douse you in pee!

Seriously, this place makes me want to not...