Free Food & Clothing Assistance

Monday through Friday we provide clients with food and clothing through our front door. Depending on the client's situation they can receive food three or six times within the period of one year. Our New Food 'Shopping' Model As of August, 2011, our clients are able to 'shop' for food at our onsite food store, selecting items that fit their needs.  Each client is given a food allowance card (which varies depending on the size of the household) and a shopping cart.  Once the client has selected their food (approximately a week's worth of food), the food is weighed, bagged and the client is on their way.    THREADZ Clothing Store Our onsite clothing store "THREADZ" carries new and gently used clothing items.  Each client is allowed to browse the store and take home a grocery sized paper bag full of clothes, a coat and a pair of shoes for each member of their household. THREADZ hours of operation vary, please call 503.823.2117 for more information.

To receive regular services one must live in the city of Portland and:

have someone 18 years old and younger dependent upon them

or receive social security/ disability income

or veterans/ widowed veterans pension

or over the age of 70

If you need help with food and or clothing, please call 503-823-2102.  If you are unable to pick up a food box and or the Sunshine Division is closed, please call the Portland Police Bureau's non emergency number at 503-823-3333.

Officer & Agency Referral Cards

With an Officer or Agency Referral Card, a person or family can come to Sunshine Division and receive services NO QUESTIONS ASKED. The individual or family will receive one food box (approximately 40 lbs) of nonperishable food items along with a full grocery bag (approximately 20 lbs) of  perishable items such as fresh bread, yogurt, and other items based on our current inventory; in addition to clothing. Clients that are sent to Sunshine Division to receive services through the referral cards must only bring the card with them to receive food and clothing.

If your nonprofit agency or school is interested in participating in our agency referral card program, please contact Priscilla at 503-823-2102 or priscilla@sunshinedivision.org.

Izzy's Kids | Brand New School Clothes for Kids

Police officials identify school-age children who live within the city of Portland whose families cannot afford to outfit them with essential new school clothes and take them shopping. These kids can feel good showing up at school in new clothes and they gain a positive experience with police.

If you have a kid or know of a kid that would benefit from this program, please contact your school's Portland Police Resource Officer.

Precinct Boxes

We provide each of the five Portland police precinct stations with food boxes for distribution by police officials. By having food boxes at the precincts police officials have access to emergency food boxes 24 hours a day 7 days a week to give to those in need.

If you need emergency food assistance and the Sunshine Division is closed, please call the Portland Police Bureau's non emergency number at 503-823-3333.

Holiday Food Boxes

During the 2010 holidays Sunshine Division volunteers delivered 4,500 boxes to Portlanders in need and local nonprofit organizations. The boxes contained everything needed to make a holiday meal.

Agency Donations

We receive items that are difficult for a family utilize, for example industrial sized containers of mayonnaise or canned goods.  Furthermore, there are times we receive food with an expiration date that is quickly approaching.  To avoid wasting any food we distribute these items to other Portland metro area nonprofit agencies. If your non profit agency is would like to be in our agency network, please contact Doug at 503-823-2108.