FPE Holiday Food Drive is online this year -- and has transformed to a gift card drive to more easily adhere to COVID restrictions and meet the needs of our partner schools.
Hello FPE families! As many of you know, Forest Park Elementary has held an annual Holiday Food Drive for 20 years. This tradition has brought us together as a community to support other local families who are food-insecure over the holiday break; in previous years, we were able to give 150 boxes of non-perishable food to 150 Portland Public Schools families in need. Last year, we raised over $8,000 to purchase Fred Meyer, Safeway, and Winco gift cards for distribution. This support helps sustain those families whose children receive free breakfast and lunch at school during the two weeks of winter break.
We cannot gather to collect food or put together boxes at Forest Park Elementary. But our partner schools -- Whitman Elementary, Scott School, and Vestal Elementary -- have so much need. Families across Portland, including in our own community, are struggling to put food on the table and sustain themselves. We are committed to continuing our partnership by raising money and purchasing gift cards to local grocery stores, to be distributed by school counselors to fellow PPS families before winter break. If you are able, please donate to our 2021 FPE Holiday Food Drive. We will collect donations until Monday, December 13th.