Club Meeting: How Blanchet House Serves the Homeless

Scott Kerman is the executive director of Blanchet House of Hospitality, a 70-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to providing aid, support, and community to people in need. He will discuss how Blanchet
House has experienced a significant increase in the demand for its daily hot meals and clean
clothing services due to the economic strain caused by the pandemic. In 2020, Blanchet House
volunteers served more than 1,500 plates of food a day to people experiencing homelessness
or food insecurity.

Scott is shepherding the historic organization through great change by innovating to meet the
need for its services during unpredictable times. Blanchet House launched a sack lunch
program to offer portable meals, a care kit program to offer hygiene items, and a reusable water
bottle program to offer water relief during the summer’s heatwaves. These initiatives born out of
the COVID crisis are fueled by the generosity of donors at home.
More than meals, Blanchet House's unique transitional housing programs located in downtown
Portland and a farm in Yamhill County are lifting people out of addiction and homelessness.

The Rotary Club of Wilsonville meets weekly Thursdays at noon to carry out its purpose of providing service and fellowship to members and the Wilsonville community. The club is holding hybrid “Virtual In Person” (VIP) meetings. Attend in person (masks required except when eating), or attend virtually over Zoom at http://www.tinyurl.com/Rotary97070. Guests are welcome. NOTE NEW MEETING LOCATION THIS WEEK. For more information, email president@wilsonvillerotary.com.

Scott received a bachelor of science degree in political science from Santa Clara University, a master of arts degree in English from Portland State University, and a doctor of jurisprudence from the University of Virginia School of Law. Learn more at BlanchetHouse.org.