Programs
Since 1950, we’ve joined forces with key community partners from education, healthcare, business and government to create opportunities that change lives and make communities stronger.
Our commitment to children, families and older adults encourages people across the lifespan to realize their full potential. To accomplish this, we focus our work in these service specialties.
OUR PROGRAMS
See a full list of our programs here.
OUR INITIATIVES
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT & YOUTH SUCCESS
Supporting early childhood development and empowering youth, enabling a strong start in life.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
Advancing individual and family economic well-being.
COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH & WELLNESS
Fostering effective community-based health and wellness practices across the lifespan.
Early Learning
A culturally responsive early childhood education and parent/caregiver engagement program providing families with access to high quality learning environments led by expert staff. We work with children prenatal-5 years old in Clackamas and Multnomah County
María Quijano (they/she)
Senior Early Learning Program Manager
MFS Ready, Set, Go!
(503) 232-0007 x428
Older Adult & Intergenerational Services
Staff and Volunteers are linked with older adults and people with disabilities who need transportation services to remain independent in their homes.
AARP Foundation Experience Corps
An intergenerational volunteer tutoring program that engages adults 50 and older to work 1:1 with students to help them reach critical literacy benchmarks by the third grade. At EC school sites across metro Portland, findings show significant gains in reading and classroom behavior.
Laura Heller (she/her)
Senior Program Manager
MFS Older Adult Services
(503) 688-1767
K-12 Community Schools
Full-service neighborhood centers weave school and community partners together to make sure students and families have what they need to be successful -- in school and in life. The collective efforts of youth, parents, businesses, faith communities, libraries, and community organizations create a network of support to ensure youth academic success and strong communities. Tailored collaborations meet the variable needs of diverse schools and integrate targeted academic support, nutrition, and parent education.
Meghan Zook (she/her)
Director
Community Schools
(503) 232-0007 x334
Food Pantry & Cooking Classes
Operates school-based food pantries, cooking kits, and cooking workshops in partnership with Oregon Food Bank, Urban Gleaners, and others, all bringing fresh produce and healthy food to our community and helping kids and families learn healthy and affordable new recipes.
Last year, MFS served nearly 1 million pounds of food to over 20,000 people through our school-based food distributions, distributed over 300 cooking kits to families, and enrolled over 300 students in after-school cooking classes.
Anna Walter (she/her)
Program Manager
Hunger Relief
(503) 232-0007
Financial Education
Budgeting, saving, debt management and credit help
A little support goes a long way in helping today’s families flourish. Economic and social stressors can make it tough to focus on relationships, finances and parenting. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to turn, especially if you don’t have a strong support network in place. At Metropolitan Family Service, we equip families with the tools to succeed.
Portland Electric Ways to Work
For over 15 years, MFS’ Ways to Work (WTW) program has helped low income, credit challenged working families and individuals obtain affordable, safe auto loans, while reducing the purchase price and maintenance costs associated with owning a vehicle. With the increasing popularity of electric cars, MFS is responding by adapting our Ways to Work program to focus on helping underserved communities access lower carbon vehicles (EVs, PHEVs and hybrids) and e-bikes.
Sandra Jones (she/her)
Director of Program Collaborations
(503) 232-0007, ext. 104
Free Tax Help
Through the IRS VITA program, MFS CASH Oregon provides low income families and individuals from every community and background in Oregon with the tools and resources to begin building solid financial futures. In partnership with AARP Tax-Aide, CASH Oregon supports Earned Income Tax Credit outreach and free tax preparation programs.
Riley Eldridge (he/him)
Director
MFS CASH Oregon
(971) 386-3276
Volunteer Public Service
MFS proudly engages a team of AmeriCorps Members each year for a term of public service, ranging from a few months to a full year of service in our programs and communities. Members provide direct service support to address critical community needs, while also gaining valuable professional and personal experience, insights, and growth for their next steps after service.
Amanda Hart (she/her)
Program Manager
MFS AmeriCorps
(503) 688-1778
Professionals Helping Non-Profits
MFS Social Purpose Works connects vetted pro bono professionals with high impact, short-term capacity building projects for Oregon and SW Washington nonprofits. Projects include strategic planning, marketing, fundraising and development, IT/web/technology, finance and operations, impact and outcome, human resources, and volunteer engagement.
Monica Wirtz (she/her)
Director of Social Enterprise
Social Purpose Works
(503) 688-1776