In early 2023, EMO’s Northeast Emergency Food Program (NEFP) was providing groceries to about 400 families per week. Of these, the Latino share was approximately 5 percent—far less than the Latino population of Oregon (12 percent), Portland (9 percent), the Cully neighborhood where NEFP is located (24 percent), and the census tract adjacent to the pantry (52 percent).
One year later, NEFP is serving 1,000 families per week; of those families, approximately 25 percent are Latino—five times the previous number. How did these changes come about, and what does it mean to the people involved?
The change began with an idea from NEFP’s Facilities and Operations Coordinator Aracel Gonzalez Hernandez, a Cuban immigrant. Aracel recommended a new shopping opportunity focused on the Latino community. In response, NEFP launched “Latin Tuesdays” in June 2023 on a new day (Tuesday) and at a new time (late afternoon).
Outreach efforts for Latin Tuesdays emphasize that clients will not be asked for identification or documentation, creating a safe space to meet their basic needs.
Aracel also recruited many Spanish-speaking friends to volunteer, enabling the pantry to serve the Latino community in their primary language. Rene Martinez was one of the first friends Aracel recruited. A naturalized citizen, Rene came from Cuba in 2008, where he was a community organizer advocating for workers’ rights and helping with a monthly free food market.
“What I like about NEFP is the respect that they give to clients and the recognition they show to volunteers,” says Rene, who usually volunteers five hours each week. “The organization of ‘Latin Tuesdays’ is giving more opportunities to Latin volunteers and those from the Latin world in general.”
Oscar Beltran is a volunteer who first came to NEFP as a client and felt the need to help the community. “I am happy with the results of the program, which has expanded to the point that it is already known by a large part of the Hispanic community in the area,” shares Oscar. “With the help of all of us who are involved in some way, we are helping many families in our community. As a volunteer, I feel motivated and grateful to the NEFP program and to Aracel and Jon, who run this house of hope and goodwill for all in Portland.”
Daniel Brixius is a long-time volunteer who is fluent in Spanish. He stepped up to run the intake process for arriving clients on Tuesday afternoons. “I enjoy seeing people week after week,” says Daniel. “One man told me that without NEFP, he would have lost his housing. It’s gratifying to be appreciated.”
Osmany Portelles and his wife Yamiley Sosa volunteer as often as their work schedules allow. “I am very grateful and proud to belong to the NEFP volunteer group. You gave me a hand when I needed it, and I will always be grateful,” says Osmany. “The quality of the products is extremely good with a wide variety of products to distribute, and everything is well organized.”
Maria Paula, a student who has volunteered since before the Latin Tuesdays program began, shares, “I am very grateful to be in this program because it has given me the opportunity to work for the people who need it most. I have met very kind people and they have also shared a little of their personal lives with me, and that makes me happy. I am very proud that the program is growing over the years and that it provides more help to people who need it.”
Written by Jon Makler, Program Manager of Northeast Emergency Food program
