Mainspring Portland

Mainspring, formerly Fish Emergency Services of Portland, has been serving our community since 1967. For many years, the organization operated in Southeast Portland near the Hawthorne District. As Portland changed, so did the needs of our community.

Mainspring later made the intentional decision to relocate to Northeast Portland at the corner of NE 82nd Avenue and Fremont Street. This area was identified as a food desert—an area where access to affordable, nutritious food and essential services is limited. We believed our mission called us to move where the need was greatest.

Since relocating, the impact has been significant. What once served thousands of neighbors annually has grown into an organization serving more than 100,000 individuals each year. Last year alone, Mainspring distributed more than one million pounds of food, along with clothing, hygiene items, household essentials, and senior food boxes throughout Portland and the surrounding region.

Today, Mainspring remains committed to providing services with dignity, choice, and respect while helping ensure that no neighbor has to face hunger or hardship alone.

Mainspring Portland

3500 NE 82nd Avenue

Portland, OR 97220

(503) 233-5533

In-person Donation Hours:

Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Resources Provided by Mainspring

  • Self-select food pantry services with dignity and choice

  • Re-Thread Clothing Services providing free clothing, shoes, and household items

  • Personal hygiene products and basic necessities

  • CSFP Senior Food Box Program serving hundreds of seniors each month

  • Mobile pantry distributions throughout East Portland and surrounding communities

  • Emergency food bags available throughout the week

  • Community resource navigation and referrals

Ongoing Volunteer Needs

  • Food pantry volunteers

  • Clothing services (Re-Thread) volunteers

  • Drivers and delivery support volunteers

  • Community ambassadors and outreach volunteers

  • Event and tabling volunteers

  • Administrative support volunteers

  • Individuals with fundraising, donor development, marketing, communications, and grant-writing experience

    Volunteer with Mainspring

Ongoing Donation Needs

Financial support is our greatest ongoing need. As a 100% community-funded nonprofit, donations help us purchase food through the Oregon Food Bank and other sources when donated inventory is not enough to meet community demand.

The need for food assistance continues to grow, and we are serving more neighbors than ever before. We are increasingly finding ourselves running low on food and essential items as demand outpaces available resources.

Despite serving more than 100,000 individuals annually, Mainspring operates with just four staff members and 37 dedicated volunteers. Financial contributions help ensure we can keep shelves stocked, maintain essential services, and continue responding to the growing needs of our community.

We are also actively seeking Sustainers of Hope—monthly donors whose ongoing support provides reliable funding and helps sustain our programs throughout the year.

Donate to Mainspring