On Wednesday, May 31, 2017, from 10:00am to 12:00pm, Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division staff and Safeway and Advantis Credit Union volunteers will pack 1,000 food boxes as part of the Sunshine Division's summer food box program. Boxes will be packed at the at the Sunshine Division warehouse, located at 687 N. Thompson Street. In its fifth year, the summer food box program provides a week's worth of child-friendly breakfast, lunch, and snack items to bridge the gap between summer meal programs and free and reduced breakfast and lunch programs provided during the school year.
The program is generously funded through a granted awarded by "Hunger Is," a joint charitable program of the Safeway Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), designed to build awareness and raise funds in an effort to eradicate childhood hunger in America. The $180,000 grant will fund approximately 30,000 pounds of food for the summer food boxes and, as part of a larger programmatic summer food insecurity initiative, provide healthy breakfast options at the Sunshine Division's pantries throughout the summer months. Botsford & Goodfellow Inc. and Franz Bakery are also providing product donations for the summer boxes.
Sunshine Division has "adopted" several local schools, Head Start families, and a summer camp by providing food box assistance to 1000 households. This is a one-time food box initiative and boxes will include information on how families can access ongoing food assistance through other Sunshine Division programs. The schools and partners selected to be program recipients include: West Powellhurst, Ventura Park, Clarendon Early Learning Academy, Woodmere Early Learning Academy, Boise Elliot/Humboldt, Martin Luther King Jr., Vernon, Cesar Chavez, Marion, Albina Head Start, and PAL of Vancouver.
Nearly half of Oregon's school-age children qualify for free & reduced priced meals. Those numbers are worse in East Portland where nearly 80% of children qualify. Each "adopted" school will receive the food boxes to distribute at year-end events.
"We receive a lot of attention and support regarding hunger issues around the winter holidays" said Officer Matt Tobey, Sunshine Division's assigned police officer. "However, children suffer food insecurity issues much more during the summer months when federal and state funded programs are reduced or eliminated during the summer break. This is an opportunity for families to meet Sunshine Division for the first time as we help them through a rough few months. It's also an opportunity for us to let supporters know that families need food assistance year round." The Safeway Foundation's, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Jill McGinnis, says of their support "The Safeway Foundation raises money each September for childhood hunger. We know the summer months are especially challenging for families, and are proud of the support that 'Hunger Is' provides to Sunshine Division, to help offer relief."
About the Sunshine Division:
Since 1923, the Portland Police Bureau Sunshine Division has been providing emergency food and clothing relief to Portland families and individuals in need. Whether due to the loss of a job, domestic crime, illness, or victims of fire or disaster, the Sunshine Division has built a 94-year legacy of mobilizing quickly and efficiently to assist distressed Portlanders.
The Sunshine Division offers emergency food assistance six days a week at their warehouse as well as 24/7 through their partnership with the Portland Police Bureau who store food boxes at each police precinct that can be dispatched on demand. In addition to food relief they also offer new and gently- used clothing to those in need.
Source: Portland Police Sunshine Division