Part food pantry, part community center, and part support system for those going through challenging times, Bethlehem House of Bread (BHOB) has been serving the Tigard/Metzger community since July of 2013. Subject to availability, they distribute food that covers all of the staples: grains, beans, rice, fresh and canned produce, canned and frozen meat, fresh eggs, dairy products, snacks, and hygienic items.

BHOB strives to be inclusive of all members of the community, regardless of race, creed, spoken language, gender, sexual orientation, or income. They also try to accommodate those with food allergies or religious dietary restrictions. In 2022, BHOB initiated its “Food For All" initiative to find out which foods were most desired in order to meet a greater variety of culturally specific and lifestyle foods. That same year, the pantry served roughly 800 families each month!

Unfortunately, the need for food assistance has vastly grown in 2023. A tandem of higher food costs and a reduction of food assistance programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) has made it harder for many people to afford enough food to feed themselves and family members. This can have severe repercussions in a variety of ways. For example, without access to proper nutrition, how will children find the energy to perform well in school? How will such struggles impact their stress level and self image? Will such challenges compound and increase their likelihood to display behavioral issues? And without a full education, how can we expect the individual to succeed later in life? In their frustration and desperation, will they be more likely to engage in acts detrimental to their own wellbeing and community?

Of course, food insecurity impacts more than just the students. Food insecurity, racism, classism, sexism can all contribute to challenges at home- particularly amongst the working poor and single parents. Financial security is a major burden that only becomes harder with the climbing prices of food and rent. As a result, parent(s) might have to spend additional time away from their families in order to take on a second job to make ends meet. The fear and stress caused by financial insecurity may in turn shape an environment more prone to domestic challenges such as anger, abuse, depression, and substance abuse. And if those destructive hardships are not enough, they are tragically used to justify and uphold harmful stigmas or stereotypes that further impede the efforts to address these perennial challenges. So yes, it is critical that we, as a society, take addressing food insecurity seriously.
This is why I urgently ask for your help in supporting the food pantries in your community through volunteering and giving donations. As someone who tries to volunteer at BHOB twice a week, I can attest that the people we serve in our community are truly grateful for this service. The smiles and stories we share serve as a reminder that there is both value and reward when helping others. For more information, to volunteer, or offer donations, please refer to the link to BHOB’s website below: