Northwest Portland Ministries (NWPM) runs an Emergency Food Pantry in association with the Oregon Food Bank network of providers. The NWPM Food Pantry is open every Tuesday and Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at First Immanuel Lutheran Church - 1808 NW Irving Street. (Please note: on July 1, 2010, these hours change to 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. For more info, click here.)Neighbors wishing to participate must be within eligible income guidelines (Maximum $1,607.00 per month for a one person household as of Jan. 2009) and also live at a NW Portland address or reside within our service area (click here for map). No one is turned away the first time they request assistance. Please note that in January 2010 we expanded our service area to include nearby residents in parts of Goose Hollow & downtown that we determined to be under-served. With this change, reflected on the map, our service area now includes the triangle south of Burnside to Taylor and east to SW 10th Avenue.
In 2008 we converted our operation to a “choice-based model,” where recipients choose what they need within designated limits instead of being given a prepackaged food box. Research has shown that when food pantries use a choice-based model for food distribution, the system runs at a much lower cost, meets hun
ger needs better and more efficiently, respects individuals' dignity, and gives them more food choices.Participants may “shop” the pantry once each month and select from canned goods, pasta, meats and much more. In addition to canned and shelf-stable items that people usually think of as emergency food, we also strive
to provide fresh vegetables, dairy, and specialty items like tofu and soy milk. NWPM and our neighbors are grateful for the many high quality food donations we receive from Safeway, Trader Joe's, Urban Gleaners and Food Front and others. Additionally, financial support - from local faith communities, individuals and business partners - is vital to the operation of the pantry.If requested in advance, those needing help getting home with their groceries on Tuesdays can arrange a ride with a volunteer driver! Request a ride by calling our Transportation program three days in advance at 503-221-1224, ext. 100.
For earlier stories from the blog about the Food Pantry, click here. To learn more about the Oregon Food Bank, click here. To learn about First Immanuel Lutheran Church, click here, or for directions to the pantry, go here. For information about our Expanded Nutrition support efforts, click here.
