By Julie Showers
Meet Dan Pippenger, the Chief Aviation Officer at the Port of Portland, responsible for overseeing operations at PDX, Troutdale, and Hillsboro airports. While his professional life revolves around high-stakes decisions and intricate planning, his volunteer work at Blanchet House offers a different kind of reward.
It all started during the early days of the pandemic when Dan’s youngest daughter, a high school student at Oregon Episcopal School began volunteering at Blanchet House. She invited her dad along to join her to serve in the free cafe. Dan found himself drawn to the cafe after witnessing the compassion shown to people seeking the simple comforts of warmth and food. The sheer number of people and their conditions left a lasting impression on him.
Dan Pippenger volunteers to serve coffee and milk to a guest in Blanchet House’s cafe.
“I volunteer once a week,” Dan shares, “What keeps me coming back is the compassion. The focus is straightforward–helping people in need. Rather than complaining about what people should or shouldn’t do.”
Whether serving drinks or bussing tables in the cafe, he does whatever is needed.
At Portland International Airport, the impact of the homeless and housing crisis is seen daily by Dan and his colleagues. Now, instead of viewing it as one big problem, Dan understands trying to find warmth and safety inside the airport are individuals who need his support. Dan has evolved the airport’s approach to addressing homelessness from only policing to including behavioral health specialists who can focus on connecting individuals to services rather than merely excluding them.
“We’re really starting to make contact with folks and find out what they need,” Dan explains. “It’s a more thoughtful and human approach to the crisis.”
While the airport doesn’t allow overnight sleeping, exceptions are made during life-threatening weather conditions. The emphasis is on treating everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of their situation.
“We all have our own life experiences,” Dan reflects, “and they open your eyes and maybe your heart too.”
For Dan, volunteering at Blanchet House is a personal endeavor, not affiliated with any religious institution. It’s about lending a helping hand and making a difference in people’s lives. He encourages others to get involved, emphasizing the need to gain an understanding of the complexities of homelessness and poverty.
“If you care about the issue and you’re a policymaker, you should come down to Blanchet,” Dan urges. “It’s changed my perspective, making me more thoughtful about what people are going through.”
In a world that often focuses on broad stereotypes and judgments, Dan reminds us that compassion and understanding are what’s needed to address the homelessness crisis with humanity. Whether at the airport or Blanchet’s cafe, treating people with dignity and respect is what truly matters.
You can join Dan in volunteering by signing up here.
