Free Food Marker Neighborhood Pantry Serves More Than 800 Families Monthly

PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) — Oregon First District Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici saw the impact of rising food and housing costs in outer Southwest Portland when she recently visited the food pantry for low-income families run by Neighborhood House.

Recipients lined up out the door, the aisles were crowded, and volunteers packed boxes of food to deliver to those who couldn’t make it to the organization’s longtime location in the heart of Multnomah Village, during his visit on February 26.

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“I really appreciate everything you do,” the Democratic U.S. representative told Pantry staff and volunteers. She also spoke about her work in Congress to increase food available to low-income families through renewal of the Farm Act, pushing to increase SNAP benefits, among other efforts.

The pantry – now called Free Food Marker – is the largest in West Portland. It serves between 800 and 900 families per month, or around 2,500 people. It is stocked with contributions from the Oregon Food Bank, grocery stores, the Food Drive Collective and others. Food can be picked up in person or delivered through Door Dash, a service created at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when the pantry had to close.

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The visit came in the midst of Neighborhood House’s 18th annual From Hunger to Hope fundraising campaign. It includes calls for food donations and contributions to support the operation of the pantry. Several events are scheduled through April 6, including a 5K walk and run that day at Oregon Episcopal School in southwest Portland.

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