After more than a century of providing free, immediate food relief to Portlanders in need, Sunshine Division has officially acquired a new permanent headquarters — a transformative step in its ability to meet the community’s growing demand for food assistance.

Located on Northwest Front Avenue near downtown Portland, the 30,000+-square-foot facility will feature:

A public food pantry
Expanded warehouse (140% more storage capacity)
A dedicated volunteer area
Administrative offices
Multiple loading docks for faster distribution
Central location with public transit access and parking

The building will replace Sunshine Division’s longtime North Thompson Street headquarters, originally built in 1929, which has served the organization for nearly 50 years.

The acquisition represents a major milestone in Sunshine Division’s Next Century of Service Capital Campaign, which seeks to raise $11.75 million for the purchase and renovation of the new space. The campaign is currently about 70% funded.

“This is more than a building. It’s a promise to Portland that Sunshine Division will be here for the next 100 years, providing hope and nourishment to families in crisis,” said Executive Director Kyle Camberg.

In 2024 alone, Sunshine Division provided food to local households nearly 100,000 times through its Southeast Portland pantry, weekly home-delivery program, food distribution events, and community partnerships. Sunshine Division food boxes are kept in every Portland Police Bureau precinct so officers can distribute them to families in crisis, ensuring immediate help is available when it’s needed most.

Since 2020, Safeway Albertsons has generously provided temporary, rent-free warehouse space, allowing Sunshine Division to expand operations. But because the facility was never a permanent solution, a long-term home was needed to meet the community’s growing demand.

Renovations are set to begin in November 2025, with a projected move-in by spring 2026. McKenzie Architecture is leading the remodel design, and R&H Construction will serve as the project’s general contractor.

The facility will become Sunshine Division’s primary distribution hub and flagship pantry location. The organization’s Southeast Stark Street pantry will remain open to serve residents across multiple neighborhoods.

Since 1923, Sunshine Division has responded to Portland’s most urgent needs, from the Great Depression to the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing food, dignity, and hope to neighbors facing food insecurity.

Recent milestones include:

2017: Opened Southeast Stark Street pantry
2020: Launched weekly home-delivery program
2021: Launched MLK Jr. Day Distribution Event (3,000+ households served)
2023: Expanded Holiday Meal Distribution Events (9,000+ households served)
2024: Introduced Thanksgiving Meal Delivery (2,000 food boxes home-delivered)
2025: Extended hours at Stark food pantry and expanded home-delivery program

“The partnership between the Portland Police Bureau and Sunshine Division is invaluable in our shared mission to serve and protect our community,” said Chuck Lovell, PPB Assistant Chief and Sunshine Division Board Member. “Their expanded headquarters is critical to ensuring no one in our city goes hungry.”

Source: Sunshine Division

Portland Local News