All Saints Episcopal Church in Portland has officially opened its new food pantry, marking the culmination of a project that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. As food donations piled up in the church’s sanctuary, the idea of creating a designated space for food distribution took root. Initially planned as a $20,000 project utilizing shipping containers, the initiative grew in scale to meet city permitting requirements. After much work and fundraising, the result is a standalone building that cost over $300,000.
Funding came from a variety of sources, including a Lowe’s Hometown Grant, a grant from the SE Portland Rotary Foundation, Oregon Food Bank Grants, a Regional Arts Cultural Grant, a SE Uplift Grant, a grant from the Episcopal Bishop of Oregon Foundation, and contributions from community partners such as New Seasons and On Pointe Credit Union. Parishioners at All Saints also contributed generously, as did other members of the wider community. The Rector of All Saints, Rev. Andria Skornik, reflected on the journey, saying, “What seemed impossible is now a testament to the power of what happens when people come together and offer the gifts they have to give.”
The pantry has become a vital resource for those in need, stocked entirely through donations and serving over 350 people each week. It has also attracted volunteers from outside the church community, further strengthening its role as a beacon of support in the neighborhood.
The opening ceremony was a celebration of community and compassion. The service included singing from Threshold, an international group that brings music to the bedside of the dying, offering their voices to bless the space. Bishop Diana Akiyama delivered an inspiring message, quoting from the Gospel of Mark and reminding those gathered that miracles can help fix a broken world.
The new food pantry at All Saints Episcopal Church is a powerful reminder of the impact that collective action and generosity can have on a community in need.
