Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Madeline Allen, Birch Community Services

Patch talks to Madeline from Birch Community Services about their work within the community.

Patch: Tell Patch a little about you and your organization!

Madeline:Birch Community Services (BCS) facilitates building healthy families through financial stability and a debt-free ethic. BCS employs a two-pronged strategy by: Re-distributing millions of pounds of wholesome food, clothing and household goods deemed surplus by product donors; and Providing workshops and courses designed to equip families with new knowledge and skills for achieving fiscal stability.

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Patch: How does your organization help to strengthen the local community?

Madeline: BCS gives families the means to reach their goals of decreasing or eliminating consumer debt, catching up with mortgage or car payments, meeting medical bills, or helping pay for vocational training to earn a livable wage.

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Patch: When did you open?

Madeline: 1992

Patch: What is the biggest struggle your organization faces?

Madeline: BCS seeks more consistent funding for our Sustainable Families Program which exists to instill and promote financial literacy, providing our families with freedom and hope for the future.

Patch: What do you hope for the future of your nonprofit?

Madeline: As we celebrate BCS' 25th year, the BCS team hopes to continue to partner with families in our community to grow access to sustainability and instill dignity throughout Portland. This means sticking to our mission, but also thinking of creative innovative ways to empower families in our community as we grow.

Image via Birch Community Services