Fifteen minutes before the doors open at Packed with Pride (PWP), a Tigard food pantry, over 45 people are in line waiting to be handed a randomized number. This number will indicate when they will have a turn to shop for groceries. Elder White, a 2024 bilingual graduate of Tigard High, explains to the eager shoppers how the number system works. When later asked if people are okay with waiting in line, White replies that every once in a while, “they aren’t happy with the system…” but normally, everyone is kind and excited to be here.
After White finishes his announcement, a woman in line yells out, “We are so grateful, thank you for all you do!” When asked why she chose that moment to offer gratitude, she and others overwhelmingly agreed on how big a benefit PWP is. “This is the best one!” one man says. The woman adds, through tears in her eyes, “Two weeks ago I had no food, but because of them I was able to eat.” She goes on to explain that she has dietary needs due to a health condition, and PWP is special because it allows you to shop for yourself. “I can pick fresh fruit and low-sugar items!”
Packed with Pride has had an increase in shoppers this month, sometimes up to 130 families, due to the delay in SNAP benefits. “We broke our Tuesday afternoon shopping record for attendees. It’s not a record I wanted to break. Last week, we registered sixteen new families.” Margie Yemoto Greene, the PWP executive director, said. Yemoto Greene went on to say, “Our community continues to be there for each other…two individuals donated food because of what they are reading about SNAP. Others are making financial donations. And our shoppers are so appreciative.” This month, a local art vendor donated unsold handmade Thanksgiving decorations, allowing shoppers to take home holiday cheer.
As the shoppers wait for White to call their numbers, he engages in small talk with the participants in both Spanish and English. “I get to know everyone, know their names, and I get to care about them; it’s very uplifting,” White states. Once inside, shoppers are given a cart and can pick what they need from the shelves based on family size. Each cart has a color-coded card. Shoppers can look at the signs above items and match the color of their card to the corresponding quantity. “Quantities can change based on inventory,” Yemoto Green explains, “This week, bread is unlimited.”
The store offers a wide selection, from fresh fruit to easy-to-prepare frozen meals. PWP is also mindful of religious and dietary restrictions a shopper might have. “We have Halal hand-cut chicken as well as Kosher meat,” Yemoto Greene says as she shows off a stocked freezer. Further into the store, you’ll find things such as lactose-free yogurt and organic plant-based meat substitutes. Yemoto Greene explained she orders from The Oregon Food Bank, but PWP is primarily partnered with Tigard grocery stores.
Two shoppers, Nikki and Devyn, who have recently lost their jobs, share the real impact of PWP’s shopping model.
“To have something like this is amazing,” Devyn says. Nikki adds, “It feels normal…there is dignity in it; it feels like real grocery shopping.” Nikki goes on to explain that Devyn is the chef and cooks everything from scratch, and having the ability to hand-pick items makes a big difference in not only their morale but their health. “I was able to make granola… and I just made grape jelly the other day,” because of the variety of options PWP provides, Devyn states.
When asked what they would like the community to know about PWP, Devyn explained, “We didn’t know this existed, and we want people to have exposure to the opportunities they have when they are down on their luck.” Nikki added, “When I first came here, I was embarrassed. I was in line and had my hoodie up and felt uncomfortable…but they make you feel comfortable.” Yemoto Greene agrees, “Our volunteers embrace the shoppers as family.”
Russel Dean, a long-time volunteer, explained, “As we moved… to the current shopping model, I began to get to know several of the clients. We would chat and laugh as they waited and shopped. The grandpa in me came out with the children as I would try to make them just a bit happier by passing out suckers, ice cream bars or toys.”
PWP not only serves Tigard residents who have kitchens to prepare meals in, Dean explained. “One of my favorite experiences with PWP is when someone would come in who might be homeless or living in their car. We’d realize that the normal offerings would not meet their needs as they had no way to cook or store perishable food. We would then shift gears and scour the storage area for easy-to-store and prepare food.”
In addition to food, PWP supplies shoppers with pamphlets on where to seek out support for other needs, such as housing and job searches. “I remember one client who was so excited that he got a job. We congratulated him, but also let him know to keep coming back until he felt he was on his feet again,” Dean said.
If one message could be delivered to the residents of Tigard, Nikki would like it to be for people to “look at their own community versus looking at their own needs. I would have never thought what a big impact something like this has, until I needed the help.”
If you’d like to donate to PWP, you can do so at this link: tigardlife.com/go/pwp-donate.
PWP is also looking for volunteers. If you would like to help, you can learn how here, tigardlife.com/go/pwp-info.
Shopping days at PWP are Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Church (11305 SW Bull Mountain Rd, Tigard, OR 97224). If you need grocery items, a short one-time registration form is required.
