Free ‘Pantry’, centered on Grout School, evolves

Published 12:00 am Sunday, December 22, 2024

Four years ago THE BEE published an article about the Inner Southeast Portland food pantry – “Groceries 4 Grout”. At that time, people needing to supplement their household food came once a month to the sidewalk on Holgate Boulevard right across the street from Grout Elementary School, there to receive free pantry items.

In May of 2024, the pantry began a number of changes, and more have taken place since. Pantry distribution of food is no longer done across from the school on the street, but has moved to the Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, on S.E. 34th between Francis and Gladstone Streets, and it takes place every Friday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. It is still an “outdoor shopping” style pantry, and it’s held under a canopy in inclement weather.

“Groceries 4 Grout” Director Laura Schaefer, a member of Kenilworth Presbyterian for forty-two years and an active community member, reminded THE BEE that the seeds of today’s Groceries 4 Grout project actually began sixteen years ago, as a Kenilworth Presbyterian “Backpack Buddy” program for Grout Elementary students and families.

It started out serving just seven families. Now the pantry serves many more, as seen in the data from this past October provided by Schaefer: In that recent month, 1,413 people from 406 households benefited from the extra food. 185 of those households have families, and of those families, a total of 125 students attend Grout Elementary. Twenty-four volunteers, serving a total of 297 hours, helped with pantry food pickup and distribution.

In that one month, the total number of pounds of groceries received for distribution was 17,619 – including 13,277 pounds from the Oregon Food Bank, 914 pounds from the Woodstock New Seasons, 303 pounds from Westmoreland’s QFC Market, and 329 pounds from other donations. “Imperfect Foods” donated 2,796 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in October – but now it’s closing its distribution center in Clackamas, and will no longer be a donor.

In addition, the pantry made thirty-four home deliveries in October. “Grout Elementary’s social worker provides us with a list of families who especially need help, and who are unable to participate in Friday’s pantry. Volunteers prepare and deliver boxes of food to these ‘fragile families’,” Schaefer said.

She concluded by telling THE BEE, “Those volunteering on Fridays continue to see the need – since our tables of bread, eggs, milk, produce, and dry goods are often empty by three o’clock.” She reported that adding 30 minutes to the pantry time – it used close at 2:30 – seems to enable more attendance from the school families who average over five members each. “It is available to everyone, and we invite people to bring their own bags.”

So these days, the “Groceries 4 Grout” Pantry hours are 1:30 to 3 p.m. every Friday, at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, 4028 S.E. 34th Avenue. And everyone in need from the wider Inner Southeast community is welcome as well.