An increasing number of families in our community face precarious living circumstances and perpetually live on the brink of crisis. Unfortunately, the needs of our neighbors continue to rise as job opportunities diminish, health and child care costs steadily increase and many face living predicaments such as high energy bills and inadequate affordable housing.
The Northeast Emergency Food Program (NEFP) is located at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 4800 NE 72nd Ave. (at Wygant), in Portland. We are open to our guests from 1 to 4 p.m., on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. You may phone us at (503) 284-5470 or correspond via e-mail at nefp@emoregon.org with any questions or for more information
Our Northeast Emergency Food Program (NEFP) meets the urgent food needs of our North and Northeast neighbors while working to develop community solutions to secure access to adequate, affordable and healthy food. Our work is grounded in the belief that nutritious food is a basic human need and a building block for a healthy life of possibility.
NEFP is one of many community ministry programs of EMO. The food program is a community-based response to the unmet food needs of our neighbors. We primarily serve:
• Families with children; in fact, over 40 percent of our recipients are children
• The working poor
• People with special needs, including the sick and the elderly
• Immigrants and refugees who are new to our community
We provide a three to five day supply of nutritious groceries to neighbors in crisis. Our commitment to nurturing community food security includes:
• Offering community gardening opportunities
• Coordinating neighborhood food workshops
• Educating and empowering community groups and individuals around local food issues
• Building community partnerships to ensure a comprehensive safety net for our neighbors in need
If you would like to receive an emergency food box, please come during our open hours and bring a photo I.D. for yourself and I.D. for all other persons living in the household (i.e., Social Security card, medical I.D., birth certificate).
In addition, we provide clean, gently used clothing for the whole family.
The Northeast Emergency Food Program has been able to expand its operation to meet the growing need for emergency food. On Feb. 5, 2009, NEFP opened a new supplemental food program the the Genesis Community Fellowship (located on the corner of NE 27th and Killingsworth). Support from Westminster Presbyterian Church and the LIFE Center Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation allowed this expansion. Volunteers from Westminster Presbyterian and Genesis Community Fellowship work with part-time supervisor, Rob Blake, to give people in need one to two days of canned and dry goods each Thursday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. The four zip codes served by the program (97211, 97212, 97203 and 97217) reflect the great need for emergency food throughout the area. Families are able to come for food monthly and only need to provide identification and proof of address.
Donations and volunteer sign-ups for the new site are welcome by calling NEFP at (503) 284-5470 or through e-mail at nefp@emoregon.org.
Our dignified and equitable service is a reflection of our many committed volunteers. As a neighborhood food resource, we rely heavily on the regular support and involvement of churches, individuals, local businesses and foundation grants. Your generosity helps us to continue meeting the needs of over 1,200 people each month.
The Northeast Emergency Food Program (NEFP) is such a volunteer program in that, without our many committed volunteers, we would be unable to meet increasing needs in our community. Volunteers at NEFP organize donated food, greet and assist our guests and pack emergency food boxes for families in need.
We would be very interested in talking with you about getting involved at NEFP! For more information, please call John Elizalde, program manager, at (503) 284-5470 or contact us via e-mail at nefp@emoregon.org. To learn more about volunteering at NEFP, view NEFP Volunteer Opportunities. Read the article "A View of NEFP from the inside out", written by volunteer Elizabeth Knorr.
What is community food security? Food security can be defined as a state in which all people have consistent access to nutritionally adequate, culturally appropriate and reasonably affordable food at all times through non-emergency sources. Food security broadens the traditional concept of hunger, embracing a systemic approach to the causes of hunger and poor nutrition within the local, national and international community.
Community food security compliments the emergency food system. Reliance on charitable food donations is an unfortunate but necessary component of life for low-income families living on the brink of crisis. While food banks and community pantries distribute free food to the hungry to meet their immediate needs, community food security programs focus on building resources to increase self reliance.
Community food projects are designed to increase food security. Projects attempt to encompass more food resources including: farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture, traditional and non-traditional grocers, community gardens, co-ops and buying clubs, food pantries and micro-enterprise programs.
Food plays a central role in all faith traditions as a symbol, a place where faith meets the practice of sharing, a means to nurture fellowship and a way to enjoy the goodness of creation. Faith communities, especially, have the potential to bring food back to the center of our faith and daily lives and away from the periphery. Faith based food programs represent over half of all food-related services provided directly to families in need. Clearly, people of faith and congregations are doing much to directly impact the lives of our neighbors.
Read NEFP's Spring 2009 From the Heart newsletter using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Read the full version of the article "A View of NEFP from the inside out" about the program's volunteers, written by Elizabeth Knorr. You can visit the Adobe Acrobat Reader Web site to download the free software.
John Elizalde, Program Manager
Location: Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 4800 NE 72nd Ave., Portland, OR 97218
Phone: (503) 284-5470
E-mail: nefp@emoregon.org
NEFP Voluteers