About

Northeast Emergency Food Program

Established in 1983 by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Northeast Emergency Food Program (NEFP) meets the urgent food needs of our neighbors.

As the most active food pantry in Oregon, NEFP relies on innovation to maximize the number of people we serve, increase the amount and quality of food we offer and ensure we are compassionate in the way we do so.

We distribute a three- to five-day (or more) supply of nutritious groceries to our neighbors in need, frequently valued over $200. We offer a unique self-service shopping experience for our guests, allowing them to select their choice of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, bread, meat and more. There are no quantity restrictions on most items in the pantry. We have signs in seven languages explaining “take what you need and leave enough for others.”

In addition to meeting the urgent needs of these neighbors, NEFP also works to develop community solutions to secure access to adequate, affordable and healthy food. We ground our work in the belief that nutritious food is a basic human need and a building block for a healthy life of possibility.

Who We Serve

• • Families with children; roughly 40 percent of those we support are children
  • The unemployed and the underemployed
  • People with special needs, including the elderly and those with disabilities
  • A high percentage of Immigrants and refugees
  • People experiencing crisis

Many of the families and individuals we serve only need to come once or twice, in urgent and often devastating emergencies. Others have been coming for years, like clockwork, struggling with a social emergency of disparity, inequity and a perpetual lack of resources. This is where NEFP comes in, helping people from falling through the cracks.

While NEFP is located in northeast Portland, our pantry has no geographic boundaries. We serve the tri-county region of northwest Oregon, as well as southwest Washington. Some individuals come to NEFP, even though there are food pantries closer to their homes, because of the dignity and respect our pantry offers. We are also able to help those who are experiencing houselessness and those who are undocumented. Further, we are open on Saturdays, which allows us to serve families who work during the week.

View non-discriminatory statement.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

The mission of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) is to bring together diverse communities of faith to learn, serve and advocate for justice, peace and the integrity of creation.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon meets the immediate needs of communities in the greater Portland area through our six direct service programs, while seeking long-term solutions through state-wide public policy and advocacy work.Our direct service programs support refugees and immigrants, food insecure people, low-income people living with HIV, unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence.

Our Public Policy Advocacy team provides pathways for EMO clients, community members and Oregonians of faith to bring about change in the U.S. Congress, at the Oregon State Capitol and in local government.