Feed The Mass provides free meals and free cooking classes to the community. Founded in 2016 by Chef Jacobsen Valentine, the original mission of Feed The Mass was to bring accessible cooking classes to the public. When cooking classes had to pause due to COVID in 2020, Jacobsen had $500 in the bank and some leftover ingredients. Facing an uncertain future, Jacobsen decided to use what was left to make free meals to donate to Portlanders in need. People started to hear about this service and many showed up to help. What started out as an exit strategy to clear out their kitchen turned into a free meal program that continues to this day.
Partner Spotlight: Community Fundraising Partners
Partner Spotlight: Community Fundraising Partners
At Oregon Food Bank, we have seen the progress our communities have made to ensure everyone has consistent access to quality, nourishing and culturally-relevant food that fuels their wellbeing. Ending hunger will take all of us. We are so grateful for the transformational partnerships that form the community working to end hunger in Oregon and Southwest Washington. This month we are proud to feature Feed The Mass and OnPoint Community Credit Union as partners in our work to help people access food today and eliminate the root causes of hunger for good.
Delicious, culturally-relevant foods are an important part of Feed The Mass’s work. The summer outdoor cooking program featured recipes from Japan, Spain, India, West Africa, Thailand, and Italy. “I really want kids to understand the importance of the different cultures of the food they eat, and that’s why it’s super important that we highlight as many different cultures and countries,” says Jacobsen.
You can get involved with Feed The Mass by volunteering in the kitchen, and be directly involved in preparing and serving meals to our community. Visit them online at https://feedthemass.org/volunteer, or send an email to volunteer@feedthemass.com. In addition we invite our community to join Feed The Mass with a financial contribution. Details found at https://feedthemass.org/membership.
Learn more and check out the cooking videos at their YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqHxDnfPfUq5YURew7HB2EQ
As a longtime partner, OnPoint is dedicated to eliminating hunger and its root causes. Rob Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, OnPoint Community Credit Union shared, “Access to food is one of the most fundamental human rights, yet thousands of our neighbors wake up each day unsure where their next meal will come from. Food insecurity in our region is on the rise as the costs of food, housing and energy remain at historic levels. Now more than ever, we are proud to support Oregon Food Bank in its fight to eliminate hunger.”
We are excited to partner with OnPoint Community Credit Union on their Refer a Friend campaign, where members can invite friends, family, and colleagues to become new OnPoint members, with a donation directed toward Oregon Food Bank. From now through March 31, 2022, for each person who joins, OnPoint will give both current and new members $50 each and make a $50 contribution to Oregon Food Bank. You can find more information about OnPoint’s Refer a Friend campaign here.
Our vision for resilient communities that never know hunger is only possible through the strength of our community partnerships.
Learn more about how your organization can get involved today. Set up a virtual fund drive or volunteer at your local food assistance site.
