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St. Johns Center for Opportunity hasn't added a story.
Nourish our Neighborhood:
Join us in addressing food insecurity & hunger in our
community.
St. Johns Center for Opportunity (SJCO) coordinates three key programs that address food insecurity and hunger in North Portland - 1) Veggie Vouchers, 2) St. Johns Farmers Market (SJFM) Food Bucks, and 3) the Good Samaritan Food Pantry (a recent addition to our portfolio in February 2019). In 2018, we provided $14,946.00 in fresh fruits and vegetables to nearly 200 households in North Portland.
About our Food Access Programs:
Veggie Vouchers
Our Veggie Voucher program distributes $20 in vouchers during the market season to low-income community members to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. We distribute the vouchers through strategic partnerships with local social service organizations like the Multnomah County Health Clinic, Bridge Meadows, Schrunk Towers, Village Gardens and more. Currently, we have 74 households enrolled in the program for the 2019 season.
"I like that it limits it to just vegetables. For me that’s an incentive to eat more vegetables. I’ve lowered my A1C. I’m a cancer survivor so my doctors are really on me about eating more vegetables. I have the best recipe for vegetable soup than anyone in the world now. I get my vouchers and I make a huge pot and eat it every day." - Veggie Voucher participant
SJFM Food Bucks: A SNAP Matching Program
SJFM Food Bucks provides SNAP shoppers with a dollar-for-dollar match (up to $10 per week) to buy additional groceries at the St. Johns Farmers Market.
How it works
To access the SJFM Food Bucks program, SNAP participants simply
swipe their Oregon Trail card at the market information booth in
return for tokens to be used at the market. For every $1 of SNAP funds
redeemed at the market, a matching $1 in SJFM Food Bucks is provided
(up to a $10 match each visit) to purchase additional SNAP eligible
items from local farmers and producers.
Good Samaritan Food Pantry
For thirty five years, the Good Samaritan Food Pantry has alleviated hunger for the food insecure residents of St. Johns. This established community pillar is an Oregon Food Bank distribution site that supplements the grocery budget of around 3,600 neighbors in need every year. At the end of last year, after internal setbacks, the Food Pantry was set to close its doors for good. To prevent the permanent closure of this long-running community service, which has been temporarily closed since December 2018, SJCO met with Good Samaritan Food Pantry's board of directors and volunteered to take over and continue its management.
Poverty forces many to decide which necessities to afford each month, compelling them to choose between purchasing food, affording medication/healthcare, or paying their bills. The Good Samaritan Food Pantry helps low-income families make the most of their limited income, and avoid foregoing other important life costs, which lock many in spirals of debt and poor health.
SJCO will restore the Good Samaritan Food Pantry to full service and address local hunger more effectively than ever before. First, SJCO will transition from providing traditional food boxes to a Client Choice model. Client Choice allows beneficiaries to select the items they will receive, as opposed to receiving a “one-size-fits-all” food box. This model is promoted by national food banks as a best practice for community food pantries. Providing clients a “shopping” experience reduces food waste, respects differences in dietary choices and restrictions, and allows food pantry workers and clients to develop deeper relationships.
To learn more about us, visit www.stjohnsopportunity.org.
State of Hunger in Oregon
Read the 2018 report organized by the Oregon Hunger Task Force.
Ways to support your neighbors:
Make a donation.Your contribution will help us sustain and grow our food access programs.
-
$10 helps us match a food insecure neighbor's food budget for the week.
-
$20 provides a low-income household with fresh fruits and vegetables for a month.
-
$100 provides 5 low-income households with fresh fruits and vegetables for a month.
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$250 stocks up the Good Samaritan Food Pantry with food from the Oregon Food Bank for a month.
- $500 stocks up the Good Samaritan Food Pantry with food from the Oregon Food Bank for two months.
You can donate online or by sending a check made payable to the St. Johns Center for Opportunity to: 8250 N Lombard Street, Portland, OR 97203. Our 501c3 tax exempt # is 27-2243614.
Sign up to volunteer
We rely on volunteers to help with a variety of tasks and happenings. Click here to sign up to volunteer.
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