Tuesday, May 4, 7:00pm @ Kennedy School Community Room
We will have representatives from some of the organizations in our town that address food security and poverty.
Portland Fruit Tree Project is a grass-roots non-profit organization that provides a community based solution to a critical and growing need in Portland and beyond: access to healthy food. By empowering neighbors to share in the harvest and care of urban fruit trees, PFTP is preventing waste, building community knowledge and resources, and creating sustainable, cost-free ways to obtain healthy, locally-grown food. They register fruit and nut trees throughout the city, bring people together to harvest and distribute thousands of pounds of fresh fruit each year, and teach tree care and food preservation in hands-on workshops.
Oregon Food Bank recovers food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals and government sources. It then distributes that food to 20 regional food banks across Oregon. OFB directly operates the four regional food banks serving the Portland metro area, Tillamook and southeast Oregon. OFB also works to eliminate the root causes of hunger through advocacy, nutrition education, learning gardens and public education.
Growing Gardens works to get at the root of hunger in Portland, Oregon. They organize hundreds of volunteers to build organic, raised bed vegetable gardens. Growing Gardens supports low income households for three years with seeds, plants, classes, mentors and more. Their “Youth Grow” after school garden clubs grow the next generation of veggie eaters and growers! Through “Learn & Grow” workshops and work parties, gardeners are taught about growing, preparing and preserving healthful food while respecting the health of the environment. Through this work, community members meet over the backyard garden, through volunteering, by attending classes, and through sharing extra produce.
Commissioner Dan Saltzman oversees the Portland Police Department, Environmental Services, Portland Children’s Levy and the Fire & Police Disability & Retirement Fund. He will be present at our meeting to give updates and answer questions.
