Frequently Asked Questions

We’re here for anyone who needs food. Every day, hundreds of our neighbors don't know where their next meal will come from, and we’re here to help them.

We source food from a variety of sources including Oregon Food Bank, grocery stores and local farmers. Generous members of our community donate food and host food drives that bring in bags (and bags) of food. We inspect all donated food to ensure it meets United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food safety standards. Additionally, we purchase some food in large quantities at wholesale prices, including fresh produce and food to support Food For All.

We’re located in Tigard at 9055 SW Locust Street. Stop by and say hello.

Absolutely! We happily accept any store-bought or homegrown fresh produce donations. Pantry guests love going home with farmers-market fresh food.

We currently provide free food to over 800 families a month, which translates to about 3,000 people, many of whom are children.

While food donations are always appreciated, monetary donations are the most helpful because we're able to stretch funds further since we can purchase food in large quantities at wholesale prices or get discounts through partner grocery stores. If you would like to donate, visit this page.

There are many ways to get involved with Bethlehem House of Bread from volunteering, attending special events and donating food and other essentials to making your voice heard about hunger issues.

Food For All provides culturally relevant food and options for pantry guests with food allergies and sensitivities, and other dietary or lifestyle preferences. Serving our pantry guests is more than putting food on the plate; we want to serve our community equitably, and provide food that is familiar, culturally relevant and they can and want to eat. Learn more about Food For All.

The food pantry is open three times a week: Sundays 1:00-3:00 pm, Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 pm and Thursdays 1:00-3:00 pm. The free Caring & Sharing store is open Sundays and Thursdays during pantry hours.

On your first visit, you’ll be given a small card with a color: bright green or bright orange. Your color determines the weeks in a month you can shop. In 2023, we started limiting the number of times in a month guests can shop at the pantry. The reduction is due to not getting the volume of food we need from our usual partners, rising food prices and not enough volunteers to adequately serve pantry guests.

See above question/answer - you can shop at the pantry one time every other week according to your “assigned color.” 

No, anyone who needs food can “shop” at Bethlehem House of Bread—however, if you’re not located in Tigard, there may be a food pantry closer to you. Oregon Food Bank has a searchable database by zip code to find free food resources.

Nothing. If it’s your first visit, we will ask you a few questions for our short intake form to get your name, date of birth, address and number of people in your family. Reusable bags or boxes are always welcome for bringing home your groceries.

Yes, you can choose the foods that are best suited for you and/or your family. If you’re shopping for a family, the number in your family may determine the number of items you can select from a particular section.

If you’ve never been inside a food pantry, the shelves at Bethlehem House of Bread don’t look much different than a typical grocery store, just on a smaller scale. Our Food For All program provides culturally relevant food and options for pantry guests with food allergies and sensitivities, and other dietary or lifestyle preferences.

Yes, we do. Our Food For All program provides culturally relevant food and options for pantry guests with food allergies and sensitivities, and other dietary or lifestyle preferences. If you have special dietary needs or have specific types of food you’d like to see on pantry shelves, let us know when you shop with us or reach out and let us know.

Unfortunately, due to limited staffing we’re not currently set up to make home deliveries. We encourage you to ask a friend, neighbor or family member to help you.

Yes, not a problem. Upon arrival, your shopper should let us know they’re shopping for you. We may ask them a few questions, such as your address, date of birth, and number of people in your family.

We’re a unique hybrid—part food pantry, part community center, and part support system for those going through challenging times. In addition to the food pantry, our Caring & Sharing store is stocked with clothing and small household essentials. The store is open Sundays and Thursdays from 1:00-3:00 pm when the pantry is open for shopping.

Oregon Food Bank has a searchable database by zip code to find free food resources. You can also call 211, a nonprofit to connect you with local resources.

Excellent—we’re always looking for new volunteers or groups of volunteers to help in the food pantry or with our other programs. There are many opportunities, and we’d love to see you at Bethlehem House of Bread. For details about volunteering, visit our special Volunteer FAQ section.

One-time donations, recurring donations, and planned giving all add up to meet our mission. There are four ways to donate:

• Make a secure donation online (through Tigard United Methodist Church)
• Send a check to Bethlehem House of Bread at 9055 SW Locust St. Tigard, Oregon 97223 (please write BHOB on the check memo)
• Text “BHOB” to 77977
• Stop by, say hello and drop off your donation 

Many companies provide a match on your donation, furthering your impact. Check with your human resources department to see if you can maximize your donation through a matching gift.

Your donation will be used to purchase priority food and other essentials for the pantry and to support our many other programs. Every dollar donated goes toward helping stabilize pantry guests’ lives and putting them on a path to self-sufficiency.

Yes, through our relationship with Tigard United Methodist Church, your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Yes, and we rely on donations throughout the year to keep our shelves stocked. We work hard to ensure the pantry is stocked with nutritious choices, so prioritize healthy and nonperishable items that are low sugar, low sodium and high fiber, as well as food for our Food For All program. Here are our most-needed items and be sure to check what we’re collecting for our Monthly Pantry Challenge.

To ensure food safety, we cannot accept the following unlabeled, damaged or dented cans, homemade items, opened or used items, or expired items. Please ask us if you have any questions about donating food.

Personal hygiene items are aways needed and appreciated. Priority items include things like toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoos, feminine products, and cleaning products. Clothing and small household goods are needed for our free onsite Caring & Sharing store.

Drop off donations anytime by leaving on the bench outside the food pantry or sending directly via Amazon or a similar service. We’re located at 9055 SW Locust Street in Tigard, Oregon 97223. For larger donations (more than several bags), you can email us or contact us at 503-639-3181 ext. 1 to arrange a drop off.

Absolutely! We work hard to ensure the pantry is stocked nutritious choices so please focus your food drive on collecting healthy items. To get started, please review our helpful tips sheet, as well as our most-needed items and our Monthly Pantry Challenge. If you have any questions about your food drive, contact us.