Northwest Children’s Outreach
Accepts new or like-new children’s and teen clothing, baby supplies, books, complete toys and games, clean stuffed animals, strollers, high chairs, baby swings, and other approved items.
View Donation GuidelinesWelcome to Mainspring.
A 100% Community-Funded Food & Clothing Pantry, Serving Portland with Compassion Since 1967.
Nonprofit Tax ID 93-0638179
Officially known as Fish Emergency Services, DBA as Mainspring. We have proudly served the Portland community since 1967. We provide equitable, low barrier access to food, clothing, hygiene items, and supportive resources for individuals and families facing hardship.
Small Pantry. Big Impact.
• Over 1,028,683 pounds of food distributed last year alone
• Over 35,286 pounds of clothing distributed
• More than 100,658 individuals served throughout our community
• Providing food, clothing, hygiene support, transit assistance, and resource navigation
More than a pantry, Mainspring is a place of compassion, dignity, and community.
Walk In With Need. Walk Out With Support.
A Quick Donation Update from Mainspring Why Mainspring is temporarily pausing certain donations
As Mainspring Community Food & Clothing Pantry prepares for our annual inventory, we are taking a close look at what we currently have on hand and where our greatest needs are.
Thanks to the generosity of our many supporters, we are currently experiencing an overabundance of baby and children’s clothing, toys, and other children’s items.
Temporary Donation Pause Important—please read before donating
Until further notice, Mainspring is temporarily unable to accept:
- Baby or children’s clothing
- Toys, games, or stuffed animals
- Baby equipment or accessories not listed below
- Other baby or children’s items
We Will Continue Accepting See the baby items Mainspring can still accept
- Strollers
- Diapers and pull-ups
- Baby wipes
- Unopened, unexpired formula
- New or gently used baby bottles
This temporary pause will give our team and volunteers time to sort, organize, inventory, and distribute the items already in our care.
It will also help us preserve our limited space for other items our neighbors currently need.
Please Do Not Leave Donations Outside Unattended donations must be discarded
Any food, clothing, or other donations left outside the building,
delivered outside established donation hours, or left without
prior arrangements with a Mainspring staff member will be discarded.
Once donations have been left unattended, we cannot confirm whether they have been exposed to moisture, pests, bodily fluids, drug residue, hazardous substances, or other forms of contamination.
For the health and safety of our clients, volunteers, and staff, unattended donations cannot be brought into the facility or distributed to the community.
Please bring donations only during established donation hours unless you have made arrangements directly with a Mainspring staff member.
Your Donations Can Still Make a Difference! View other Portland-area donation locations
During this temporary pause, please consider contacting one of these Portland-area organizations:
Mother & Child Education Center
May accept clean, new or gently used baby and toddler clothing, toys, books, strollers, valid car seats, diapers, formula, and other supplies.
Donations are limited and accepted by appointment only.
SnowCap Community Services
Currently accepts new toys, baby food and formula, diapers, books, blankets, new socks, and other approved essentials.
SnowCap does not accept used toys, car seats, strollers, or cribs.
View Current NeedsBethlehem Children’s Clothing Closet at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
Currently accepting only car seats, strollers, diapers, pull-ups, baby wipes, and children’s winter clothing in sizes 4T through 14.
Please check before donating.
Because each organization’s needs and available space can change
quickly, please call or check its website before dropping off
donations.
Final Donation Reminder Information about Mainspring’s other donation needs
Mainspring is still accepting other needed donations. Please check the Mainspring website for our most current donation needs before bringing items to the pantry.
Thank you for helping us use our limited space wisely, supporting our community partners, and continuing to stand alongside Mainspring and the neighbors we serve.
We will let the community know as soon as we are ready to accept
baby and children’s items again.
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