Portland Pay It Forward
Portland Pay It Forward
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    • Home
    • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Food Insecurity
  • Home
  • About Us
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Food Insecurity
Young girl getting food from a food pantry (food bank) like Portland Pay It Forward in Portland, TN
Hello

A Food Pantry Committed to our Community

We are a nonprofit Food Pantry in Portland, TN, that has a passion for our people and community. Our goal is simple - reduce hunger and food insecurity in our community. Join us in making a difference today.

Find out more

our challenge

Healthy children need good food from a food pantry or food bank like Portland Pay It Forward.

1 in 4 TN Children Experience Food Insecurity

Nearly 20% of children (under 18) in Tennessee live in poverty and 1 in 4 children experience food insecurity (Feeding America, 2022).

10% of Adults (Sumner County) Experience Food Insecurities

At least 10% of adults (12,830) in Sumner County, TN, suffer from food insecurity. About 14% of adults in Portland, TN under the age of 65 are without health insurance and 12.4% of our residents live below the poverty line (Feeding America's 2018: Map the Meal Gap; U.S. Census, Quick Facts, 2023).

$24.9 Million in Additional Healthcare Costs in Sumner County

In 2018, almost 24.9 million and 1.2 billion dollars in additional healthcare costs are associated with Food Insecurity in Sumner County and the state of Tennessee, respectfully (Feeding America, 2022).

Food Insecurity is linked to Poverty, Increased Healthcare Costs

Food insecurity and the lack of access to affordable nutritious food are associated with increased risk for multiple chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart decease, and mental health disorders. Food security is also strongly linked with poverty as an average of 35.3% of U.S. households with income less than the federal poverty line are food insecure (NIH, 2023). 


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Our impact

Donation of healthy food to Portland Pay it Forward, a food pantry (food bank) in Portland TN.

250% Increase in the Number of Families being Helped

Since 2019, the average number of families receiving food boxes from PPIF's food pantry every other week has increased 250% from 150 to nearly 370.

Over 300,000 Pounds of Food Given Away in 2023

So far this year, our food pantry volunteers have given away over 300,000 lbs. of food ($530,000 plus) provided to us by our amazing partners: Second Harvest, Food Lion, Whole Foods, and others. 

419 Families Received Food Boxes Over Thanksgiving

Food boxes were given to 419 families over Thanksgiving and to another 397 families this past week for Christmas. 

100% Volunteer Led

All those that serve at Portland Pay It Forward, from the Board of Directors to the Executive Director to those that hand out food boxes are volunteers. This allows our food pantry to focus on our goals - to end hunger and food insecurity in our community.

Family being thankful for the food they received from a food pantry like Portland Pay if Forward.

help us make a difference

More people in our community are facing hunger and food insecurity issues. Would you partner with our food pantry and help us make a difference in our community? 

Yes, I will give to help end hunger!

NEWS and EVENTS

2023 Christmas Giveaway

2023 Fall Community Trick or Treat

2023 Thanksgiving Giveaway

Portland Pay it Forward, a food pantry (food bank) in Portland TN, volunteers dressed for Christmas.

397 families received food boxes during our food pantry's bi-weekly food giveaway leading up to Christmas. Even the GRINCH came out to help.  

2023 Thanksgiving Giveaway

2023 Fall Community Trick or Treat

2023 Thanksgiving Giveaway

Food boxes for Thanksgiving dinner, at Portland Pay It Forward, a food pantry in Portland TN.

419 families received food boxes during our food pantry's bi-weekly food giveaway leading up to Thanksgiving 2023. A HUGE Thank You to all who helped provide Thanksgiving meals!!!!

2023 Fall Community Trick or Treat

2023 Fall Community Trick or Treat

2023 Fall Community Trick or Treat

Portland Pay It Forward volunteers giving away candy at the Portland TN Trick or Treat festival.

Portland Pay It Forward enjoyed participating in the Portland TN 2023 Trick or Treat and providing goodies for kids of all ages. 

New Community Book Box

Fresh Fruit from our Partners

2023 Fall Community Trick or Treat

Community book box outside Portland Pay it Forward, a food pantry headquartered in Portland TN

A new community book box for children of all ages is now located in front of the Portland Pay it Forward's house. Take one. Read it. Bring it back and get another. 

Fresh Fruit from our Partners

Fresh Fruit from our Partners

Fresh Fruit from our Partners

Fresh fruit and produce distributed by Portland Pay it Forward, a food pantry in Portland TN

Thank you to all our partners who provide our food pantry with fresh fruit and vegetables and bread. We cannot thank you enough for your continued support toward ending hunger and food insecurity in our Portland, TN, community. 

New Box Truck

Fresh Fruit from our Partners

Fresh Fruit from our Partners

New "used" box truck used to pick up food for Portland Pay It Forward, a food pantry in Portland TN.

Portland Pay It Forward was honored by an anonymous gift that allowed us to purchase a used box truck. Our weekly food pickups are now easier to make.

Logo for the Portland TN Chamber of Commerce.

Proud member of the Portland Chamber of Commerce

Serving the community means being a part of the community.  

Shopping, banking, eating, and working locally supports our businesses and the people who work there. We are proud to be part of the 

Portland community!

 Copyright © 2024 Portland Pay It Forward - All Rights Reserved. 


Portland Pay It Forward does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in any of its activities or operations. 

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