Partners
850+ organizations distributing food
We don’t serve recipients directly (mostly). Our 850+ partner organizations — church food pantries, school programs, shelters, community centers, hospice programs — distribute food directly to Portland-area neighbors. Our partners are the heart of our operation.
Partner organization types
Who we work with
Church + religious organization pantries
~340 partners. Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, others. Religious organizations often the most-trusted local food access point. Continuous service through our 36-year history.
Community centers + neighborhood organizations
~120 partners. Settlement house, neighborhood association, multi-cultural community centers. Serving specific neighborhoods + populations. Often work with multiple food sources.
Schools + education organizations
~80 partners. Public schools (PPS, BSD, GSD, others), private schools, college pantries (PCC, Mt Hood CC, OHSU). School-based programs reach specific populations.
Shelters + transitional housing
~60 partners. Emergency shelters (Portland Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, others), transitional housing programs, domestic violence shelters, youth shelters. Specific programs for shelter residents.
Hospice + medical organizations
~40 partners. Hospice programs, cancer treatment programs, dialysis programs, chronic illness support. Specific dietary needs accommodated.
Specialized programs
~210 partners. Recovery + reentry programs, refugee resettlement organizations, senior centers, after-school programs, summer feeding programs, agricultural workers programs, others.
Long-term partners
Some of our oldest relationships
St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral (since 1989)
First church partnership. Continuous service for 36 years. ~80 families per week. Pastor James K. (current) is grandson of original priest who founded partnership.
Portland Rescue Mission (since 1991)
Major shelter partnership. ~400 men + women housed per night. We provide significant food + meal preparation. Long-running relationship; deeply integrated.
IRCO — Immigrant + Refugee Community Organization (since 1994)
Major refugee + immigrant family partner. Specific programs for newly-arrived refugees from Southeast Asia (1990s), Eastern Europe (2000s), Africa (2000s+), Middle East + Central America (2010s+).
Multnomah County Schools (since 1995)
School pantry program partnership. Now 24 schools with on-site pantries. Coordinated with school district + PPS Foundation. Child-focused programming.
Oregon Food Bank Network (member since 1989)
Riverbend is one of 4 regional banks in Oregon Food Bank Network. Joint procurement, advocacy, sister-bank coordination. Network provides national + regional integration.
Providence Hospice (since 2002)
Hospice + end-of-life support partnership. Specific food + meal support for hospice patients + families. Long-running relationship; many shared programs.
Corporate partners
Beyond grant-making
Nike (largest corporate partner)
Long-running partnership: matching gift program + employee giving + corporate volunteer days + cause marketing. ~$300k annual giving + 800+ employee volunteer hours per year.
Intel + Tektronix + tech sector
Combined tech sector giving. Intel Beaverton corporate giving + employee match. Tektronix corporate + employee programs. Smaller tech companies (Stack Overflow, others) participate. Strong tech-sector philanthropy.
Fred Meyer / Kroger (food rescue)
Major food rescue partner. We pick up unsold food from Fred Meyer + Kroger stores throughout Multnomah/Washington/Clackamas counties. Saves food from landfill; provides meals to recipients.
Whole Foods + New Seasons + local grocery
Multiple grocery chain partnerships. Smaller-scale food rescue from premium grocery stores. Plus point-of-sale fundraising (round-up programs) raises $50k+ annually.
Local restaurant network (60+ restaurants)
Local Portland restaurants donate prepared meals + ingredients. Particularly important after lunch/dinner service. ~60 active restaurant partners; growing.
Major banks + financial services
Wells Fargo + US Bank + KeyBank + others. Combined giving + employee match + employee volunteer programs. Financial services sector consistently strong support.
Foundation partners
Major funding sources
Meyer Memorial Trust (since 1992)
Major Oregon-based funder. ~$200k annual general operating support. Multi-year commitments. Strong relationship + governance involvement (some board members from Meyer).
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
Pacific Northwest regional funder. Multi-year capital + program grants. ~$150k annual giving across multiple programs.
Northwest Health Foundation
Health-focused foundation. Funds hospice + senior nutrition + chronic illness programs specifically. ~$75k annual.
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
Tribal community foundation. Funds programs serving tribal community + cross-cultural partnerships. ~$60k annual.
Local family foundations
Several Portland-area family foundations: Wessinger Foundation, Robertson Foundation, others. Smaller-scale but loyal multi-year giving.
Federal + state government funding
USDA federal commodity programs ($1.2M annual food value). Oregon Department of Human Services SNAP + program funding. Federal CACFP (school + summer feeding) + others. Government partnership critical.
Find a pantry near you
If you need food assistance
211 — Oregon’s social services hotline
Call 211 (toll-free). Operators help find food assistance + other social services in your area. Available 24/7. Multilingual support. Most direct path to local resources.
Oregon Food Bank Network locator
OregonFoodBank.org/find-food. Online tool to find local food pantries by zip code or address. Includes hours + eligibility + contact info. Real-time information.
Riverbend partner directory
RiverbendFoodBank.org/partners/directory. Searchable directory of our 850 partner organizations. Filter by location, type, or specific programs.
Specific population searches
Special-population searches: senior programs, refugee + immigrant programs, school programs, hospice programs, recovery programs. Find programs matching specific needs.
What to bring when you visit
Most partner organizations require minimal documentation. Some require proof of address (utility bill, mail). Most require nothing. Recipients aren’t typically required to disclose financial details. Privacy respected.
Confidentiality
Partner organizations protect recipient privacy. Information not shared with employers, government agencies, or other organizations. Recipients aren’t identified publicly. Respected with dignity.
Become a partner
If your organization wants to distribute food
Eligibility requirements
501(c)(3) nonprofit (or fiscal sponsorship through one). Distributing food to people experiencing food insecurity. Located in Multnomah/Washington/Clackamas counties. Capacity to receive + store + distribute food responsibly.
Application process
Email partners@riverbendfoodbank.org with: organization details, mission, distribution model, capacity, current populations served. We respond within 5 business days. Application interview within 2 weeks.
Onboarding (4-8 weeks)
Site visit + capacity assessment, food handling training, distribution model coordination, programmatic alignment. Once approved, regular food deliveries begin.
What partners get
Regular food deliveries (weekly or as appropriate). Bulk staples + fresh produce + protein + holiday support. Training + technical assistance. Specific programs for child-focused or senior-focused or other specialty distributions.
Partner responsibilities
Distribute food responsibly + ethically. Maintain food safety standards. Track recipients (anonymously) for our reporting. Participate in network coordination + planning. Maintain capacity + reliability.
Why partner with us
We have the largest food procurement network in Portland. We can deliver to your organization weekly. We provide training + capacity + technical assistance. We coordinate with other partners + networks.
Partnership questions
What partners + prospective partners ask
- Most receive weekly delivery from our trucks. Some pick up at our Davis Street warehouse. Some receive monthly bulk delivery + supplement with weekly partial deliveries. Specific arrangements based on partner size + needs + logistics.