A few weeks before the "Shelter in Place" season started off here in Portland in response to COVID-19, I was looking for ways to serve and connect with my neighbor using my gifts and skills. I wanted to be wise for the health and safety of everyone, but I knew I had to do something to share and show the love of Jesus Christ. I came upon "The Front-Steps Project" and it totally resonated with me. This was the perfect way for me to use photography to meet and serve my neighbors in such an isolating time, and it all took place from 6ft or more.
I reached out to my local "Buy Nothing" Facebook group to see if people would be interested and the response was AMAZING. Stories, requests, and suggestions for places to donate the money came pouring in. There were postponed wedding celebrations, birthdays, and families all together who would normally be running in a thousand different directions. People were home and wanted to document this unique and uncertain time in our history.
Each session was to be about 15 minutes in length, completely free, and come with a private online gallery of downloadable images. The request was that each family documented (if their situation enabled it) made a donation to the Oregon Food Bank. Little did I know that this blessing would have such an impact on me, and ripple out to so many others.
If you want to see more photos from this project in my neighborhood and stay up to date as more come out, you're welcome to check out my Instagram page. This is a part of a larger photography movement (#thefrontstepsproject) that I also encourage you to explore and become a part of. Thank you so much to all the families who have been a part of this project so far, for sharing this crazy season with us all, for your generous donations to the OFB, and for Staying Home to Save Lives. I hope you enjoy!