Food Resources & Ways to Help in Portland
When folks in Portland are struggling to eat, our city shows up. Neighbors, organizers, and mutual aid groups have built a web of care that keeps people fed when the system falls short.
Michelle put together this community Padlet — Food Resources & Ways to Help: Portland, OR — A list of places to get food, volunteer, or donate across the city.
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s inside and how you can plug in.
🍞 Where to Find Food Support
The Padlet lists all kinds of food access options:
Free groceries and hot meals from local food pantries, community kitchens, and neighborhood hubs.
Emergency food boxes and pop-up distributions for folks in crisis.
No-barrier and low-barrier options — many spots don’t require ID or proof of income.
It’s regularly updated, so if you or someone you know needs food, this is a solid place to start.
🥕 Mutual Aid & Community Organizing
Alongside traditional food banks, there’s a powerful network of mutual aid collectives doing direct work — delivering meals, stocking community fridges, and setting up neighborhood-based food exchanges.
These groups are the heart of Portland’s resilience. They’re filling in gaps left by institutions and making sure that people most often excluded from “official” programs — Black, brown, undocumented, disabled, unhoused — still get what they need.
💛 How to Help
If you’re in a position to give, there are a ton of ways to support:
Volunteer at a pantry, community kitchen, or distribution site.
Donate funds (cash goes further than canned goods).
Offer supplies or transport help — extra storage bins, coolers, or even a car for deliveries.
Spread the word by sharing the Padlet or reposting calls for help on your socials.
Partner up — if you run a business, community org, or event space, consider hosting donation drives or letting mutual aid groups use your space.
Even a few hours of your time can help keep these efforts running smoothly.
🌱 Why It Matters
Access isn’t equal. Portland has food, but not everyone can reach it. Transportation, mobility, cost, and stigma all create barriers.
Mutual aid is community care. When we rely on each other, we strengthen the fabric of our city.
Every bit counts. One grocery run, one donation, one fridge restock can make the difference between someone eating or going without.
📍 Plug In & Stay Engaged
You can explore the full Padlet here:
👉 Food Resources & Ways to Help: Portland, OR
We’ll keep sharing local resources and mutual aid efforts that remind us what real community looks like.
Because at the end of the day, we keep us fed.