Foodfinder.US - Website to find Free Food Pantries In Your Area

 Foodfinder.US   - Website to find Free Food Pantries in Your Area

Lots of options all over the Portland area.  Just put in your zip code or share your location.

Double-check with the locations before heading out.

FREE Cultural/Discovery/Adventure Passes from Your Local Library!

There are some amazing experiences you can have for free, just by checking out a pass at the library!

All area libraries have some passes available.  Check with your local county if it isn't listed here.

Activities vary from Museums, Theater Tickets, Garden Entrances, and more.

Multnomah County

Clackamas County

Washington County

FREE Movie Night Moana & Moana 2 - 5/13 in Milwaukie

 

Free Kids Workshops At Lowe's, Earn Badges & A Tool Bag!

Both Lowe's and Home Depot do free fun workshops for kids about once per month.

The dates vary by store.  They both have little badges the kids can earn and now Lowe's has

a tool bag as well!  They make some fun little projects.

 

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Sends Free Books to Kids!

 

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library sends books to kids from Birth -5 years for FREE.

It is available in most areas, but not all.

Go to the site and click check availability, and put in your zipcode.

It seems to be available in Multnomah County but not Clackamas County.

Summer Food Free Lunches & Applying for School Free Lunch Assistance at Home

 We all know this has been the most unusual summer!  And with so much unemployment or underemployment, finding money for food can be tough.  In Oregon, anyone under the age of 18 qualifies for free lunch 5 days a week, with no registration or proof of income.  Visit www.SummerFoodOregon.org for details on how to find locations for pick up.  

This year school districts will still be providing FREE lunches for kids, even though they may not be meeting in person for class.  Many districts have increased the income limits for students who can receive FREE lunch.  Please check your school district page for more information on that.  Many districts are still employing their bus drivers by having them drive their routes and passing out lunches a couple of days per week.  (Enough food for 5 days.)  

Family Guide to Oregon Activities at Home from Travel Oregon

Travel Oregon has published the Family Guide to Oregon Activities at Home.  The guide includes videos, links to coloring books, and lots of interesting learning opportunities online for kids pre-k - High School.

Where Families Can Find Free Breakfast & Lunch While Schools Are Shut Down In The Portland Area

KGW has listed Portland area schools and locations where you can find meals for kids 1-18 during the school shutdown.  https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/food-meals-schools-portland-closed-coronavirus/283-f54b65f9-eeb8-4854-b7a9-f0fc9d61aab2

Portland School District has a list of their lunch locations here.

The Oregon Food Bank has a food finder site where you can search for local food banks and places serving meals.  Please call ahead to see if they are open on their listed dates and times.

Call 211 at any time if you need food help or any other type of social services help.


Please share and add any information you might have in the comments down below.  I will update as I get any new information.

Free Lead Testing for Children at Various Locations throughout Portland

Multnomah County is offering free Lead Testing for children.  It is known that exposure to lead can cause brain, and other, health issues now and later in life.  If your child is found to have lead in there system you can then try to find out why and where it came from to stop it from happening.  If you live in a home built before the 80's there may be lead present.  No lead level is safe.

Free lead screening clinics

You can bring your child (age 6 and under) to one of the free lead testing clinics listed below:​

• March 24, 12-2pm - Alma Education & Movement Space
• April 4, 2-5pm - East County WIC
• April 7, 1-5pm - Northeast WIC
• April 13, 10am-2pm - Southwest Community Center
• April 20, 2-5pm - Portland State University
• May 2, 2-5pm - East County WIC
• May 5, 1-5pm - Northeast WIC
• May 26, 1-5pm - Gateway WIC
• June 2, 1-5pm - Northeast WIC
• June 6, 2-5pm - East County WIC
• June 16, 2-5pm - WIC Summer Activity & Safety Fair
• June 23, 1-5pm - Gateway WIC

Contact the Leadline at 503-988-4000 to arrange for a free home assessment by a trained Lead Risk Assessor to help you identify and remove possible lead hazards.

North Pole Postmark on your letters FROM Santa

NORTH POLE, AK – Once again this year, the U.S. Postal Service is offering North Pole postmarks on holiday mail.
To receive the North Pole postmark on your holiday cards, you should:

• Purchase stamps at any post office.
• Affix the stamps to envelopes of your choice.
• Address the sealed envelopes, with the cards enclosed, to those on your mailing list.
• Mail them in a larger envelope, box, Priority Mail or Express Mail package to:

NORTH POLE HOLIDAY CANCELLATION
POSTMASTER
4141 POSTMARK DR
ANCHORAGE AK 99530-9998
Requests must be received in Anchorage by Dec. 10 in order to ensure delivery by Christmas. The Postal Service receives hundreds of thousands of requests each year for North Pole postmarks from around the world. The service is provided at no cost. Each card or letter must have the correct amount of postage and be addressed.
Many communities around the country have local programs set up to respond to letters to Santa Claus. In North Pole Alaska, requests may be sent to – 1 Santa Claus Lane, North Pole AK 99705-9901. Check with your local post office or call 1-800-ASK-USPS.


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Don't write the letter from Santa in your own handwriting.  Kids know their parents writing.  That's how I found out.

American Forest Foundation -Fun Forest Activities for Families

It's nearly fall,and still a great time to spend fun family time in the forest. The leaves will soon be changing and the Autumn beauty of the Northwest is almost irressistable.  The American Forest Foundation has lots of fun ideas to get you and the fam out and having a great time.

Summer Fun Guide 2015 - UPDATED!!!

Yes, I realize the calendar is not up to date, but the Summer Fun Guide is!!!  And just in time for school to start.  There are lots of fun activities, Free Movies, Free Swimming, Summer Reading, Oaks Park Discounts, Free Bowling, and lots more.  Go check it out!
 

Free Doughnut Day! June 5 at Krispy Kreme

June 5 is Doughnut Day and you can get any one doughnut for free on Friday!

Santa's Phone Number

Shhhh! Just between you and me, I got Santa's phone number.  Your kids can call him, but don't give it out to anyone else, okay?

My cousin sent me this phone number, not sure how he got it, but it's a sweet recording from Santa for your kids to listen to and leave their Christmas list.   951-262-3062

Free Tax Help onsite and online

Cash Oregon helps low income and working families with taxes in person or online.  I haven't used them in the past, but a close friend of mine has been happily going to them for years.

Baby's First Christmas - Babies R Us Event - $10 Gift Card for Attending

Babies R Us is having a Baby's First Christmas Event on Nov. 16, 23, and December 7.  The date you attend depends on your baby's birth month.  Get a $10 Gift Card for attending and enter to win great prizes!  Visit the website for more information!

Free Ice Cream Day at Ben & Jerry's April 9th! Noon-8pm

It's that time of year again!  Time to stand in line for a great cone, for FREE.  It just tastes better when it's FREE!!! I'm going for Cherry Garcia.  What's your fav?

Hawthorne Store
1428 S.E. 36th Avenue Portland,OR 97214

PSU Store
510 SW Mill St. Portland,OR 97201

Pearl District
301 NW 10th Street Portland,OR 97209

Uptown Center
39 NW 23rd Place Portland,OR 97210

 Ben & Jerry's Yamhil

Address: 524 SW Yamhill

City and Zip Code: Portland, OR 97204

 

Staying In on Valentine's Day?

Rent a free redbox movie with code HIGHFIVE.  February 14th only.

Foster Children FREE at Portland Aquarium

If you are kind and wonderful enough to be a foster parent, the Portland Aquarium is thanking you by allowing Foster Children into the Aquarium for FREE.

From their website:

•  Foster children are always welcome at our aquarium, free of admission cost. We know how stressful being in the foster system can be. We’d like to help brighten a foster child’s day, if even just for a few hours. The foster parent just needs to present state issued ID for their foster children at the box office.

I haven't been to the aquarium yet, but it looks amazing.  I drive by all the time and their parking lot is jam packed, so I am assuming people really enjoy it!  Their prices are quite low and a great rate for annual passes if you think your kids might want to go back a few times. They also have a lower cost for Field Trips, which includes Homeschoolers.  Fun and Sciencey, you gotta love it!

FREE Pancakes in Feb.

IHOP is celebrating National Pancake Day by giving you a FREE short stack on February 6.  This is a fund raiser for Children's Miracle Network, so they are hoping you also make a donation, but it isn't required.