Alijana Fisher, Metro Lead Community Organizer at Oregon Food BankWe are meeting people where they are in a literal sense. Schools are hubs. This model works because it is consistent and it is close to home.
School pantries serve families where they are as hunger rises and funding is uncertain
School pantries serve families where they are as hunger rises and funding is uncertain
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2026
Contact: Morgan Dewey, press@oregonfoodbank.org
School pantries serve families where they are as hunger rises and funding is uncertain
Portland, Ore. — At Shaver Elementary in NE Portland, families line up before the final bell. Kids wait with their parents. Volunteers greet people. By mid-afternoon, bags of groceries are steadily moving. It is a simple setup in a familiar place. For many families, it is also essential.
A May 22 visit to the Shaver Elementary School pantry, hosted by Oregon Food Bank and the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), brought Commissioner Shannon Singleton and representatives from the offices of Councilors Dunphy and Smith to see firsthand how school pantries support families as hunger continues to rise.
In just two years, visits to the Oregon Food Bank Network rose 51%, reaching a record 2.9 million visits last year. Today, 1 in 7 people and 1 in 6 kids in Oregon face food insecurity.
Last year, the Oregon Food Bank Network distributed more than 98 million meals. Across that network, 37 school pantries were a key part of that response.
School pantries stand out because they are built into places families already go every day. Schools are natural community hubs. Families can pick up food where their kids learn, where they already have relationships and where they feel a sense of belonging. It cuts down on extra trips, transportation barriers and stigma. It means food reaches people more consistently.
But school pantries are under strain.
Because of revenue shortfalls and reduced Portland Children’s Levy funding, two East Portland school pantries have already closed, Cherry Park and Kelly. Two more, including Shaver, were at risk this year. These two pantries serve more than 350 households each month, including 500 children.
On Tuesday, May 12, an additional 8% allocation, coming from increased city revenue projections, was approved by the Portland City Council, which will allow those two pantries to continue into next school year. However, long-term funding is unpredictable.
Multnomah County Commissioner for District 2, Shannon SingletonPrograms like these are critical as more families struggle to afford basic needs. No one should have to choose between feeding their kids and paying rent, Singleton said. What's happening at Shaver School is what we need more of throughout our community: accessible, welcoming and built around the dignity of every family who walks through the door. I'm grateful to the Oregon Food Bank for making this possible.
At Shaver Elementary, the need shows up every week in the number of individuals and families who come through. For some, the food they pick up on Friday is what carries them through the weekend.
Ms. Nina, a core leader at Oregon Food Bank and a volunteer and part-time IRCO staff at Shaver ElementaryThis pantry is part of our community. Families are already here. There is trust here. This is neighbors helping neighbors, and that is what keeps this going.
As demand continues to rise, the question is whether funding decisions will keep up with what families need.
For media inquiries, contact Morgan Dewey at press@oregonfoodbank.org.
If you or someone you know needs food assistance, know that help is available and that all are welcome — no proof of gender identity or immigration status is ever required. Visit OregonFoodFinder.org to find free food markets, pantries and meal sites near you, available in 19 languages.
PHOTO CAPTION A (Courtesy of Chris Hagan, Oregon Food Bank): Multnomah County Commissioner Shannon Singleton meets with staff and families at Shaver Elementary School’s food pantry.
PHOTO CAPTION B (Courtesy of Chris Hagan, Oregon Food Bank): Shaver Elementary School staff members help run a food pantry for families every Friday afternoon, hosted by Oregon Food Bank and the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO).
PHOTO CAPTION C (Courtesy of Chris Hagan, Oregon Food Bank): A parent picks up a jar of peanut butter and other groceries before picking up their child.
Additional photos available upon request.
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ABOUT OREGON FOOD BANK
At Oregon Food Bank, we believe that food and health are basic human rights for all. We know that hunger is not just an individual experience; it is also a community-wide symptom of barriers to employment, education, housing, and healthcare. That’s why we work systemically in our mission to end hunger in Oregon: we build community connections to help people access nourishing, affordable food today, and we build community power to eliminate the root causes of hunger for good. Join us online OregonFoodBank.org and @oregonfoodbank on social media.
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