Last Sunday I had the opportunity to visit @sunset_suppers' weekly Sunday evening meal and talk with the man who organizes and runs the event, Boris.

Boris is a long time Portland resident, he's lived here for about 30 years, and has been involved with protesting various injustices in his time in the city. Lately though, he's found a new role in offering a safe space for his comrades to relax and have a meal together,

This coming Sunday will mark the third week since Sunset Suppers has been operating. They prepare fresh, home cooked means, and offer them for free to "BIPOC, comrades, or anyone who could use a hot meal."

In speaking with Boris while I was there, two things were blatantly obvious to me. That he cares deeply for this community, and that he believes that community support and mutual aid are the path forward.

While we spoke he told me that the various efforts surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement, of the community members coming together to support one another, proves that we are able to exist without the corrupt government systems currently in place, and there is another way.

On the evening I visited. Boris' partner was in the kitchen, frying chicken and baking corn bread. Boris told me he'd been in the kitchen all day, preparing for as many as fifty people to show up that evening.

Hades, Boris' service dog, was also there. Boris told me that he offers Hades' company to those who show up, saying that often people are comforted by Hades' presence, especially folks who aren't able for one reason or another to have pets of their own.

I was also joined during our interview by Dwight, one of Boris' three adorable cats, who sat on my lap and cutely demanded head scritches. This part isn't news I just really love these cats.

When I asked why Boris decided to start doing Sunset Suppers, he said that he felt that self-care is important, and being able to offer a hot meal and a space for people to safely and comfortably connect with one another was a way for him to contribute to helping people to heal.

The entire event was extremely chill, I had the opportunity to speak with a few folks who have been out at the protests for a while now, and we spent a couple hours chatting about our experiences in a comfortable atmosphere, over good food.

Sunset Suppers served chicken, greens, and cornbread that night, but also had on hand a vegan Mexican casserole, and a vegan Indian dish prepared by volunteers. They tell me they will do their best to always have vegan options available every Sunday.

They also offer medicated desserts, that night, a coffee cake with THC and CBD in it. I did't partake but I'm told it was delicious.

Much like Riot Ribs in its early days, Sunset Suppers operates entirely on donations from the community. When they have a need, they tweet about it, and when that need is met, they broadcast that as well. Boris says they try never to ask for more than what they absolutely need.

The choice of operating on Sundays was deliberate, Boris told me. As Saturday night protests are generally especially violent and Sunday evening people could use a bit of calm, a hot meal, and some camaraderie outside the hostile environment of the protests.

All in all the event was very mellow, and I had a delightful time chatting with Boris, his partner, and the folks who showed up to share a delicious meal.

At the end of the night, Boris told me that they'd be packaging up the leftover food and delivering it to one of the houseless camps in the city, and commented on the fact that a large number of houseless folks are frequent participants in the nightly protests.

Community support neither starts nor ends with the protests happening every night. It starts with a person deciding to help those around them, like Boris, taking the skills and resources that they have, and applying them where they're needed.

We take care of us isn't just a fun little slogan, it's what the members of our community have shown us time and time again. It's in the 24/7 feeding anyone who's hungry that Riot Ribs did, and the once a week comfortable space to unwind that Sunset Suppers is doing.

Community support is in the shieldsmiths protecting protesters with shields, and organizing to provide body armor and vests. Its in the community rallying together to get Richard a bike. Its in jail support getting food and water to people as they're released.

Community support is just about everywhere you look these last three months, from the witches making gift bags for jail support, and offering their time and energy to supporting the protests, to the medics who take care of us when we fall.

Community support is in all the organizations. The groups of people. The individuals who come together with a common goal, to help their fellow human get through what is ultimately a terrifying and traumatizing time. We take care of us.

It has been my great joy to be covering these things. Shining a light on the individuals and groups providing support for this community. Helping to sow that people will take care of one another if we're able. These efforts fill me with hope that a better future is possible.

This coming Sunday at 6pm, Sunset Suppers will be providing hot meals to the community again and I'd absolutely love to see you there. So come on by and say hi, bring a friend, and enjoy some delicious home cooking with us.

Additionally, if you'd like to contribute to Sunset Suppers being able to keep providing support for the community, you can follow them at @sunset_suppers where they post whenever they have a need.
Or you can donate to their cashapp: $autbri