Many Ways to Give.
With your support, we can help Portland neighbors bridge the gap between hardship and hope. Every gift helps Mainspring address economic hardship, including food insecurity, among families, seniors, and individuals throughout our community.
Help Make the Holidays Brighter for Every Family
This holiday season, Mainspring is collecting grocery store gift cards to give families more choices when preparing their holiday meals. These cards are most often used for main courses, helping families honor their cultural traditions, accommodate dietary restrictions, and select foods that are meaningful to them.
While Our Name Has Changed. Our Commitment Hasn't.
Mainspring's story began in 1967, when a coalition of Portland churches came together with a shared purpose: to provide emergency food and clothing to neighbors experiencing hardship.
Originally known as FISH Emergency Services, our organization grew from a small, volunteer-driven effort into a trusted community resource.
Our early work in Southeast Portland, including our former location on SE Hawthorne Boulevard, laid the foundation for decades of service to the people of Portland.
A New Location. A Greater Opportunity to Serve.
In 2017, we relocated to Northeast Portland along NE 82nd Avenue. This move represented much more than a change of address.
It was an intentional opportunity to establish ourselves in a neighborhood where access to affordable, nutritious food was limited. By positioning Mainspring in an area experiencing significant food-access challenges, often described as a food desert, we could help bridge the gap between Portland residents and the resources they need.
The move also created opportunities to expand our programs, improve accessibility, and strengthen our ability to serve families, seniors, and individuals experiencing economic hardship.
A New Name. A Welcome for Everyone.
Our organization's legal name remains FISH Emergency Services, and we proudly do business as Mainspring.
The FISH name reflects our beginnings and the generosity of the faith-based community that helped establish our organization. We honor that history and the many individuals whose dedication made our work possible.
As our organization grew and our community became increasingly diverse, we recognized the importance of having a public-facing name that communicated our commitment to welcoming everyone.
Although our services have never been limited by religious affiliation, we understood that a name associated with particular faith traditions could unintentionally suggest otherwise to some members of our community.
The name Mainspring helps communicate something essential: our doors are open to everyone, regardless of religious beliefs, cultural background, personal identity, or circumstances.
Like the mainspring that powers a clock, our name symbolizes the energy, resilience, and collective commitment that keep our community moving forward.
Growing Alongside Portland.
Since 1967, our organization has evolved from a small emergency assistance program into a community resource providing food, clothing, hygiene supplies, senior food boxes, and mobile food distributions.
As the needs of Portland residents have increased, Mainspring has continued adapting and growing. Our programs are designed to help reach people where they are while providing access to essential resources with dignity and respect.
Our growth would not be possible without the dedication of volunteers, donors, businesses, and neighbors who have supported our mission across generations.
FISH Emergency Services begins providing emergency food and clothing to Portland neighbors.
The Mainspring name is introduced, reflecting a growing mission and a welcoming identity for everyone.
Mainspring relocates to Northeast Portland, expanding opportunities to address local food insecurity.
Mainspring addresses economic hardship, including food insecurity, among families, seniors, and individuals.
Through every chapter of our history, one thing has remained constant: neighbors helping neighbors.
Our name may have changed. Our location may have changed. Our programs have grown. But our commitment to helping Portland residents remains as strong as ever.
Our history tells the story of where we began. Our mission explains why we continue. And with the support of our community, our future holds even greater opportunities to bridge the gap for Portland neighbors in need.
Discover Our Story