Our Mission
The Portland Food Project was started in 2012 by Richard Nudelman, a Southeast Portland resident, who was concerned about hunger in the Portland area. He realized that many of his neighbors wanted to help fight hunger in their community, but for one reason or another, never get around to it. So to make it easy, he adopted a simple, door-to-door food collection system to enable people to pitch in.
The new organization had three goals:
To provide a regular supply of food to hungry neighbors To create new neighborhood connections and strengthen the community To serve as a model for other communities Richard started by inviting neighbors and friends to participate. Whenever someone said “Yes,” he suggested that they buy just one extra nonperishable food item each week, and store it at home. He promised to stop by the donors’ homes every two months, pick the food up, and take it directly to PFP’s food pantry partners.
Portland Food Project started with 14 initial donors. In 2012, they contributed 237 lbs. of food to two Southeast Portland food pantries: The Kelly School SUN Pantry and SE Community Food Pantry.
Today, there are 120 Neighborhood Coordinators picking up food from about 1,600 households. Every other month, we collect about 19,000 lbs of food. By the end of 2018, PFP had collected more than 423,000 lbs.—the equivalent of more than 350,000 meals—one bag at a time!
It’s an amazing success story…but there’s still plenty of need in our area, and plenty of room for the PFP to grow. So join us! Don’t wait for a neighbor to knock on your door. Get in touch and let us know you want to share food. We’ll bring you a green bag, and get you started right away!
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Our Impact
about 3 years ago — Portland, Oregon
“The supportive gift card donation we received through our partnership with Portland Food Project provided snacks for SMYRC youth during our weekly Drop In groups, food care packages during Pride Month in June, and added to a beautiful spread for SMYRC’s 6th annual Pride BBQ. Like many communities, food is the way we connect and share space.” – SMYRC
about 3 years ago — Portland, Oregon
“Being able to keep a pantry stocked with food and basic hygiene supplies for our shelter families who are leaving homelessness is a paramount concern of oursand your generous gift was a great help towards this goal. There is often a gap in time between when a family enters our shelter and when they can begin to establish their own food security action plan. Our pantry (stocked through your support) helps these families during this interim time.” – Annie Ross House
about 3 years ago — Portland, Oregon
We could use your help! PFP is a 100% volunteer-run organization. Please consider volunteering to share your time and expertise to help with one of these jobs: Posting to social media Helping to writing newsletters Helping at the drop-off location––unloading cars or handing out green bags Securing business sponsorships Lending your secure covered porch for early green bag drop off Becoming and NC with your own pick up route Being a substitute drivers on pick up days Share your talents. Contact us at: info@portlandfoodproject.org for more information or to volunteer.
about 3 years ago — Portland, Oregon
Birch Community Services has so much gratitude for our Portland Food Project donors. “Because of your donations, our families are not needing to spend money on food.”