Press Release for Portland Metro Food Pantries facing significant decline in supplies
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Kim Beeler
Director of Communications and Marketing
503-908-0808 | Kimberly.Beeler@usw.salvationarmy.org
Salvation Army food pantries face depleted resources
due to significant rise in need
The Salvation Army has four food pantries in Portland Metro area
Portland, OR (July 9, 2026) - Salvation Army food pantries across the Portland Metro region are facing significantly depleted resources driven by sustained, higher-than-normal demand. The Salvation Army’s food pantries are located at: Clackamas Corps, 8495 SE Monterey Ave. in Happy Valley; Gresham Corps, 473 SE 194th Ave. in Portland; Portland Red Shield, 5325 N. Williams Ave. in Portland; and Washington County HOPE Center, 1440 SE 21st. Ave. in Hillsboro.
Major Maggie Laubach, Divisional Secretary for Portland Metro Social Services, said demand for food is growing faster than supply. The most consistently scarce items include fresh produce and shelf-stable staples such as rice, beans, pasta, canned proteins, cooking oil, and cereals. In May, throughout the Portland Metro area, The Salvation Army served 1,988 families and offered 2,406 food boxes.
"Every day of the year, The Salvation Army’s pantries stand in the gap for families facing hunger,” said Major Laubach. “When school meals pause for the summer, our shelves become the safety net that ensures children have the healthy food they need to grow and thrive. We invite our community to join us; your generosity directly nourishes local families."
Major Laubach sited several additional factors to the decline in food pantry stock. In particular, she noted that rising costs of food, gas, utilities, and housing means that families have less purchasing power and pantries must spend more to source the same items.
The Salvation Army Cascade Division in 2025 provided services to nearly 103,957 individuals, which included 121,815 nights of lodging, more than 559,900 meals and snacks, and summer camps for more than 800 children; many of which are from underprivileged or homeless families in our local communities. You can learn more at: https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usa-western-territory/cascade/
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About The Salvation Army in Portland
The Salvation Army has been caring for people on the streets of Portland for 140 years. Every year, The Salvation Army helps millions of people overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships; working in nearly every ZIP code in America. By providing food, shelter, eviction prevention assistance, emergency disaster relief, addiction recovery, after-school and summer youth programs, spiritual enrichment, and more, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 6,400 centers of operation around the country.
For more information on The Salvation Army Portland Metro, please visit https://portland.salvationarmy.org/.
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