Following World War II and the demobilization of the armed forces, The USA went to work. Though opportunities were not uniformly accessible to all, and some people discovered walls and locked doors, unable to find a way into economic gain or stability. Rev. Francis Kennard, a priest of the Cathedral parish, walking the streets of downtown Portland, saw that the soup-lines of the Depression — different in character and persons and circumstances — reforming to a new, newly current need. A challenge.
Another credit goes to Bernie Harrington, ’42, Portland native, UP grad and Navy veteran, who brought Fr. Kennard into contact with the local students club in 1948 when Bernie’s younger brother Dan (UP ’50), along with Jim O’Hanlon ’50 and Gene Feltz ’50 and other Portland natives, were casting about for a project and proper challenge for Sigma Pi Upsilon social club.
The steps and stages and formal and informal connections and personnel were not noted down at the time, but the stories converge on the calendar record: Blanchet House served its first meal to the houseless and hungry on the streets of downtown Portland on February 11, 1952 (beans, bread, butter and coffee for 227 clients).
Fast forward: the University of Portland Alumni Outstanding Service Award was presented to “The Founders and Perpetuators of the Blanchet House of Hospitality” in 1983. This was a freshly inaugurated annual award, and this first award appropriately celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of Blanchet House. Belated or not, the award illustrates the generational legacy tying and binding UP and Blanchet House. The 1983 list of honorees — though partial and inadequate to the many UP alumni who served as volunteers, leaders, and board members — included some 35 names. Because, from the beginning, Blanchet House was a community thing. The work of many hands. With an origin of many stories. Changing lives for volunteers and clients alike through the mission of feeding, housing, and providing safe-shelter to those who are on the streets due to poverty, illness, addiction, homelessness.
Granting recognition and awards is a matter of reflected glory, though encouragement and commitment are also demonstrated.
Leaning into Blanchet House’s fortieth anniversary, the University awarded Gene Feltz ’50 an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service in 1992 for a career of intertwined public and community service. In 2010 the University bestowed The Christus Magister Medal on the group of founders whose fifty-year-plus commitment continues to express and inspire the ideals and values of the Holy Cross and Catholic mission of the University of Portland.
And continuing: marking the seventieth anniversary of Blanchet House, Blanchet House conferred their 2023 Service Award on the University of Portland, specifically The School of Nursing and Health Innovations. This reciprocal recognition demonstrates how hands and feet are important and continuing adjuncts to ideals. The citation notes: “The University of Portland’s outstanding nursing faculty and nursing students bring their spirit of innovation in community health care to Blanchet House’s residents and meal guests. This Service Award honors the outstanding impact they make in our community.” Impacting how? When these unusual suspects offer aid to those in need — beyond food and shelter for people experiencing homelessness — the special-skilled nursing volunteers add a particular hospitality through foot care clinics.
This is the story of how from humble beginnings, UP students have been making a difference by being the difference. Aligned with the mission of UP, inspired and sustained by the community of UP students and alumni, the Blanchet House of Hospitality at 70+ is a lasting, continuing autonomous commitment and evidence of the University of Portland as OF, FOR, and WITH the city of Portland.
Sources:
Columbia Prep Columbiad Yearbook, 1945
Alumni Bulletin, September 8, 1952
The Beacon, February 22, 1957; February 6, 1959
Alumni Bulletin, April 1972.
Portland Magazine Fall 1983
Portland Magazine, Blanchet House Celebrates 70 Years, May 2022
Commencement Program, 1992
Commencement Program, 2010
Alumni Bulletin, September 1952 
Alumni Bulletin, April 1972 
Fifth and Seventh Anniversaries for Blanchet House 
Rev. David Tyson and Eugene Feltz, Honorary Degree Recipient, 1992 
Eugene Feltz, Honorary Degree, 1992 
Rev. E. William Beauchamp and Jim O’Hanlon, Christus Magister Medal, 2010 
Blanchet House of Hospitality Honorary Degree, 2010
Thank you for sharing such a remarkable story about these brave and courageous UP families for their dedication, commitment and sacrifice for serving the most vulnerable in our community. The partnership between the University of Portland and the Blanchet House of Hospitality is indelible and vibrant to this day, not only seen through the visionary UP Nursing School leadership and the compassionate UP Nursing students, but also through all of the UP faculty, staff, alumni, and current students donating, and volunteering on a daily and weekly basis extending hope to others so selflessly. Well done Pilots.