Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Food 4 Families

Patch talks to Food 4 Families about its mission to keep girls and boys of Gresham fed and focused.

Patch: Tell Patch a little bit about your organization!

Food for Families: In the Centennial School District (CSD), 73% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, with 100% of students in three elementary schools qualifying for free lunch. The resulting level of childhood hunger reduces students’ ability to focus on academics and other important activities. This year, the Centennial’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students decided to address this problem of hunger in the community themselves, and established a nonprofit organization to be operated by community members for community members. Centennial FBLA has a long-standing commitment to bringing business and education together while serving the community, making this the perfect venture for them to begin.

Patch: How does your organization help to strengthen the local community?

Food for Families: We are a nonprofit that was started by students to assist with food insecurity in the community. Operated out of a retired school bus, Food for Families provides a mobile food pantry/mobile market to the local community. We are an organization operated by the community for the community.

Patch: What is the biggest struggle your organization faces?

Food for Families: Funding and we need bus drivers with a CDL

Patch: What do you hope for the future of your nonprofit?

Food for Families: That we become a sustainable pantry for all the entire community.

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