PORTLAND, Ore. — On Wednesday, April 15, Sunshine Division celebrated the grand opening of its new warehouse near downtown Portland with a ribbon cutting ceremony and “Fill the Warehouse” community food drive.
About 100 close supporters of Sunshine Division attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Speakers included Portland Police Chief Bob Day and Rivermark Community Credit Union COO Keli Myers, who serves as Sunshine Division’s Board Chair, and Executive Director Kyle Camberg.
“This new headquarters marks a major step forward in how we serve our community,” said Camberg. “It allows us to reach more families with greater dignity, efficiency, and consistency, and we want the community to be a part of this historic moment.”
The Portland Metro Chamber issued a proclamation to celebrate and recognize Sunshine Division’s transition to the new headquarters in Portland.
“The Portland Metro Chamber is proud to celebrate the Sunshine Division for their new headquarters, including their expanded food distribution center,” said Metro Chamberg President and CEO Andrew Hoan. “We commend their over 100 year-commitment to supporting the health, dignity, and well-being of our neighbors. Helping tens of thousands of households each year to access nutritious food, the Sunshine Division brings immense value to the Portland metro area.”
Immediately after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Sunshine Division hosted a “Fill the Warehouse” food drive to help ensure Sunshine Division’s new, shopping-style Free Food Market opens fully stocked in early June.
Sunshine Division collected over 20,000 pounds of shelf-stable food from grocery partners, including Safeway, Sysco, Zupan’s Market, Bob’s Red Mill, Ventura Foods, Botsford & Goodfellow, Inc., and Fred Meyer, as well as donations from community members.
Since 1923, Sunshine Division has provided free, immediate food relief to families and individuals across the Portland metro area. For more than 50 years, the nonprofit operated out of an aging North Portland warehouse that was built in the 1920s.
In 2020, Safeway Albertsons generously provided a vacant grocery store space that allowed Sunshine Division to expand operations to meet the growing need for hunger relief in the Portland metro area.
While the new headquarters is replacing the North Portland warehouse and the vacant grocery store, Sunshine Division’s food pantry on Southeast Stark Street will remain open to continue serving families in East Portland.