Emergency food this week

The right path depends on what you can access right now:

• Can you get around on foot or by transit? Walk-in pantries, free meals, and community stores are your fastest option
• Housebound, disabled, or in recovery? Home delivery programs can come to you
• No fixed address? Day centers, mobile food programs, and free meal programs are available
• Have an address but no transportation? Delivery + SNAP EBT for grocery delivery

Also think about what you specifically need: Halal/kosher, vegan, diabetic food, pet food, hygiene items, baby formula?

Open-today walk-in pantries and free meals:

• Hand Up Project / People's Pantry: Mon/Tues 12 to 4pm, 4th Sat 10 to 1pm; LGBTQIA2S+-run, 4115 N Mississippi Suite D
• Blanchet House: 1,000+ free hot meals daily M to Sat, no ID; 310 NW Glisan
• Potluck in the Park: Sundays, NW Park Blocks
• SnowCap: East Multnomah, 17805 SE Stark
• Neighborhood House: SW Portland, food pantry + fresh produce
• St. Vincent de Paul Portland: 503-235-8431 for nearest parish pantry
• Portland Adventist Community Services: drive-thru pantry, 11020 NE Halsey
• Mis Tacones: Trans People of Color eat free, 1670 NE Killingsworth
• Oregon Food Bank locator: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org for nearest by ZIP

Many pantries have specific hours. Call 211 if unsure what's open today.

Home-delivered food:

• Food 4 QTs (WERQ): monthly delivery for trans/gender-expansive households, intake via WERQ
• Meals on Wheels People: 60+, daily meal delivery
• Store to Door Oregon: volunteer grocery shopping/delivery for homebound seniors/disabled; 503-200-3333
• Sunshine Division: home-delivered food boxes via DoorDash partnership
• Lift Urban Portland: Adopt-a-Building for NW/Downtown affordable housing residents

Most home-delivery programs have intake that takes 1 to 2 weeks. For truly immediate need, combine with the street-outreach step or have a friend/caregiver pick up from a walk-in pantry.

If you don't have a fixed address:

• Rose Haven: day shelter, meals, hygiene; welcomes trans and marginalized genders
• Marie Equi Center: LGBTQ+ day center, snacks + SNAP navigation
• Rahab's Sisters: Friday gatherings in Montavilla, centers women/trans/nonbinary folks
• Blanchet House: hot meals daily, no ID required
• JOIN PDX: street outreach teams; they come to you
• Transition Projects Day Center: meals, mail, hygiene
• Portland Street Response: unarmed crisis team for mental health + basic needs, 503-823-7773

Some programs (Marie Equi, Rose Haven) also help with SNAP applications and can point to longer-term food stability.

Even if emergency food is covered for this week, apply for SNAP now. Regular SNAP processes in 30 days; expedited SNAP (emergency) processes in 7 days for people with minimal income and resources.

Expedited SNAP eligibility:

• Less than 50 monthly gross income + less than 00 liquid resources, OR
• Housing costs exceed income + resources, OR
• Migrant/seasonal farmworker

Apply through ONE Oregon (one.oregon.gov) or walk-in at your county SNAP office.

Emergency food solves this week. For long-term stability:

• SNAP enrollment (from previous step)
• WIC for pregnant people or kids under 5
• Food 4 QTs monthly delivery
• Regular rotation among 2 to 3 pantries
• Community gardens and produce shares
• Farmers Market Match / Double Up Food Bucks (SNAP users get doubled fruit/vegetable purchasing power)

Hunger as a chronic problem requires a chronic solution. One emergency pantry visit doesn't end the issue.