Hunger Relief
MFS Hunger Relief programs are becoming increasingly important as more families continue to turn to MFS for food support.
We strive to improve the health of the communities we serve through steady access to safe and nutritious food. We continue to form critical partnerships with other agencies and with community members to fight for food security and stability, and our staff and many volunteers work tirelessly to advocate for and lift up those experiencing hunger in our communities.
OVERVIEW
Last year, MFS served nearly 1 million pounds of food to over 20,000 people through our school-based food distributions, and assembled and delivered 300 cooking kits to over 100 families with written and video instructions to make fresh, seasonal, and culturally relevant recipes at home.
We have also distributed over 20,000 face masks since the start of the pandemic, and provided weekly clothing closets, free book distributions, technology support through Multnomah County Library, sports equipment giveaways, free youth Trimet buss passes, and much more!
Anna Walter
Program Manager
Anthony Crossman
Christian Cruz
Roxanne Quinlan
Program Coordinators
Come be part of something amazing!
WINTER/SPRING 2024 SCHEDULE
Updated 1/2/24
MONDAYS 3:45 - 5:15pm
Cherry Park Elementary School
1930 SE 104th Ave. Portland 97216
Located in the back of the school next to the playground
*CLOSED 2/19, 3/25, 5/27*
TUESDAYS 3:30pm โ 5:00pm
Glenfair Elementary School
15300 NE Glisan St, Portland 97230
Located in the front of the school under the awning.
*CLOSED 3/26*
WEDNESDAYS 2:30PM - 4:00pm
Alder Elementary School
17200 SE Alder St, Portland 97233
Located in the parking lot next to the community garden.
*CLOSED 3/27, 6/19*
THURSDAYS 3:00PM - 4:30PM
David Douglas High School Aquatic Center
13030 SE Taylor Ct, Portland OR 97233
This location is different from the main campus on 135th Ave. Please use the address listed above to find the pantry.
*CLOSED 3/28*
FRIDAYS 12:00PM - 1:30PM
Parklane Elementary School
15811 SE Main St, Portland 97233
Located in the front of the school.
*CLOSED 3/29*
MFS is currently running 5 food pantries each week in 3 school districts: David Douglas, Reynolds, and Centennial.
The types of foods you can expect at these distributions varies from day to day, but will include some combination of oil, margarine, 3-6 fresh produce items, canned fruit and vegetables, canned and dry beans, cereal, shelf-stable milk, rice, pasta, applesauce, etc. There are no restrictions to shop- everyone is welcome!
All sites are held outside and will distribute rain or shine.
All our food pantries are walk-up โshopping-styleโ (with very specific parameters set to keep clients apart and volunteers and staff safe). Please bring your own bags or boxes and prepare for the weather.
A typical shopper will get 20-40 pounds of food, so carts or wagons are a good idea for walkers!
We have a lot of regulars who are used to it, used to the flow of it, but there are always new people who are really excited, โOh this is free? This is available?'
-Vivian Matthews, MFS Food Pantry Volunteer
COOKING VIDEOS
We also have an ongoing series of cooking videos, sharing recipes using food found at our pantry sites.
The goal is to help the community eat healthy and nutritious meals for the whole family.
We want to show people who are impacted by hunger how easy it can be to make a meal while eating healthy, exploring food from other cultures, and learning a new recipe.
Watch our Cooking Videos here:
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: JAVIER
Javier describes himself as โa customer of the food pantryโ when he first learned of the MFS program in his neighborhood. The need for food was in the entire community. His visits to the food pantry soon turned into volunteering: โWhen I came to get food for my family I saw that there was a need for volunteers to help the pantry and be able to distribute food to more people.โ For seven straight years, uninterrupted, Javier has volunteered at three food pantries weekly. โI like it and I enjoy doing it.โ
โTruthfully, before volunteering, I was a little more reserved with people, but coming back and seeing the people, one learns to be more supportive, one learns to be more compassionate and one learns to be more warm-hearted. Our clients, we tend to learn a lot about them because they tell us about their problems, their stories or a comment and if we see clients looking sad, we try to welcome them.โ As for the MFS team, โYou can say we almost know each otherโs problems, and I cannot point out someone who has impacted me the most...it is a family.โ
One learns to be more supportive, one learns to be more compassionate and one learns to be more warm-hearted.
-Javier, MFS Food Pantry Volunteer
MORE ABOUT OUR WORK
Video
Audio
Social Media
Press
MFS helping families with much needed free food
Fox 12, 2022
Resources
Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day by Leanne Brown
Free eBook of inexpensive recipes
Food Finder from Oregon Food Bank
Use this site to find food near you. Enter your location to find free groceries, meals or fresh produce.
