Nourish Those In Need was developed and began serving a daily meal to the unhoused in Seaside, Oregon.

With the help of incredible volunteers, we prepare and serve a nutritious hot meal every evening to the area set aside for the unhoused. Eating is a basic need. This need was not being met here in Seaside. The Catholic Church graciously provided Sunday Super for 30 years, but the rest of the week people were left to find their own food. The people were forced to panhandle and search for pop bottles and cans for money to eat.

Clatsop county features the highest rates of homelessness, (17.4 per 1,000), than any other county in the state. Clatsop Community Action reports more than 1,000 houseless persons. Nourish provides meals to a number of the houseless in Seaside, and is prepared to feed as many as show up each night.

Beginning in 2022, Nourish Those In Need began providing homemade nutritious hot meal daily. This includes networking with local organizations to procure foodstuffs available to smaller organizations the food bank does not recognize.

Volunteers prepare hot meals 6 nights a week in their own homes utilizing whatever tools are available. The food is then driven to the area set aside by the city of Seaside, the Mill Ponds, in small caravans of vehicles, and serve the persons residing there. Currently, the Mill Ponds parking area is “home” to 45 people, this number swells, or decreases any given week depending on weather, sickness and the ability to find transportation to the area.

We serve everyone without judgement. Nutritional and religious restrictions, preferences, or concerns are welcome and met. Volunteers walk hot meals to those who cannot leave their tents due to disability, caring for another person, or security concerns.

In addition to serving food, we care for and develop friendships with many at the camp, creating a sustained community connection and pathway for living with hope and dignity.

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Lindsey Morrison
Founder, Executive Director