The following is a press release from the group “Judi’s Midnight Diner,” who provide services every evening in Medford and surrounding areas as a resource for people living on the streets. Peace House supports the work of these courageous volunteers in their strategies to take to heart, the binding effort of providing support for every member of our community with a mutual aid model.
Medford, OR–With winter well under way, Judi’s Midnight Diner is continuing to support unhoused individuals in Medford, Oregon. Formed last winter, the mutual aid group operates a mobile warming station and street outreach program, offering food, coffee, and community along the Bear Creek Greenway. This week, the group announced their Stay Alive Supply Drive, asking for community support to sustain their winter outreach efforts.
“Winter can be really brutal for folks out on the streets,” says Joe Gibson, a homeless/homefree volunteer with Judi’s. “We’re asking community members to donate cold weather gear like sleeping bags and tents, which will be distributed through our street outreach.” The Stay Alive Supply Drive will run from now until the end of February. Donations of cold weather gear can be dropped of at Portal Brewing in Medford.
With outreach every weekend and extra nights during cold snaps, Judi’s Midnight Diner serves up to 150 people each week. The project is all-volunteer run, which significantly cuts down on operating costs. The group estimates that it will cost a total of $6,000 to sustain the project through April. “When people donate funds, it all goes into buying food, medical supplies, sleeping bags, things like that,” says Gibson. “Everything we get just goes out to folks on the streets.”
A signature aspect of Judi’s Midnight Diner is their mobile warming space; the group sets up a heated tent, where unhoused individuals can get warm during the coldest nights. While the city offers a range of shelter options for unhoused individuals, on any given night there are still many people struggling to survive out in the elements. “We hear from a lot of unhoused folks who say the traditional shelters just don’t work for them,” says volunteer Nick Stanley. “Sometimes it’s because the shelter wasn’t able to accomodate their disability, or maybe they weren’t able to stay with a companion animal. Our philosophy: we believe that everyone deserves food and warmth, regardless of why they’re out here.”
“Judi’s is a hard working, all-volunteer crew who have serious skills in making a little go a long way,” says volunteer TJ Parke. “Please support us in helping our unhoused community members withstand these cold months.”
Individuals are invited to support the Stay Alive Supply Drive now through the end of February. Cold wear gear donations, including sleeping bags, tarps, and clean winter clothes, can be dropped off at Portal Brewing, 100 E 6th Street in Medford, from 4PM to 9PM Wednesdays through Fridays, and noon to 9PM on Saturdays.
The group accepts also financial donations via Venmo at “siskiyoumutualaid” add “for Judi’s” in the memo.
