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Cooking and Nutrition Education Enhances Metropolitan Family Service Work

Portland, OR. Last year, Metropolitan Family Service (MFS) served nearly 1 million pounds of food to over 20,000 people through its school-based food distributions, and over 400 students and adults were enrolled in its cooking and nutrition education classes. (Photo credit, Annie Dang)

MFS Hunger Relief programs held a Vietnamese cooking class at West Powellhurst earlier this month, led by MFS Hunger Relief AmeriCorps member Thu Le.

Thu Le taught parents, students and volunteers how to make Vietnamese salad rolls and peanut sauce, sticky coconut rice, and a Vietnamese chicken and vegetable soup.

Each family took home a bag of healthy groceries and recipes.

The class was one of thirty healthy cooking workshops being held by the MFS Hunger Relief team at the nonprofit’s SUN Schools. For more information about MFS Hunger Relief Programs, visit https://www.metfamily.org/hungerrelief/

From the MFS Hunger Relief Program:

MFS Hunger Relief programs are becoming increasingly important as more families continue to turn to MFS for food support.

We strive to improve the health of the communities we serve through steady access to safe and nutritious food. We continue to form critical partnerships with other agencies and with community members to fight for food security and stability, and our staff and many volunteers work tirelessly to advocate for and lift up those experiencing hunger in our communities.

We currently operate Food Pantries and “Open Markets” (smaller, perishable food distributions) at 8 schools in East Multnomah County. We also run cooking and nutrition classes for youth and families at 6 of these school sites, run Summer Lunch programs at all of our SUN school sites, and have built and maintained multiple school gardens in partnership with the MFS AmeriCorps members.

Here’s a video about the food pantries:

Metropolitan Family Service partners with Oregon Food Bank to operate 5 school-based food pantry sites. We provide a 3-5 days’ supply of perishable and non-perishable pantry staples at these sites, including beans, rice, cereal, oatmeal, pasta and canned and frozen vegetables, milk, bread, eggs and meat.

Food Pantry Sites

Locations and Times

Alder Elementary School Tuesdays 8:30am-10:00am
17200 SE Alder St., Portland

Cherry Park (NEW!)* Mondays, 9:30am-11:00am
1930 SE 104th Avenue, Portland
*Restricted for use to Cherry Park school family members

Glenfair Elementary School Tuesdays 3:00pm-4:30pm
15300 NE Glisan St, Portland

Earl Boyles Elementary School* Wednesdays 5:30pm-7:00pm
10822 SE Bush St, Portland
*Restricted for use to Earl Boyles and Ron Russel school family members

David Douglas High School Thursdays, 5:00pm-6:30pm
1500 SE 130th Avenue, Portland (South Building cafeteria)
This is a different address from the main campus.

Open Market Sites

MFS has 3 supplemental hunger relief sites that provide 1-2 days’ worth of fresh and perishable foods, including fruits and vegetables, milk, yogurt, bread, pre-made sandwiches and salads.

West Powelhurst Elementary School Tuesdays 1:00pm-2:00pm
2921 SE 116th Ave, Portland

Oliver Elementary School Thursdays 4:00pm-5:00pm
15840 SE Taylor St, Portland

Parklane Elementary School Thursdays 4:00pm-5:00pm
15811 SE Main St, Portland

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.