Big Changes Ahead for North County Food Bank

July 21, 2025

North County Food Bank will end service at their current location on September 30. We must vacate the building so Nehalem Bay Health District can start the process of tearing it down. We understand that this is a big change after 33 years of operation at the old Wheeler Hospital. As part of this transition, the Clothing Bank will also close.

 The Food Bank is working to keep service disruption to a minimum. We are in conversation with other agencies addressing food insecurity in north Tillamook County and appreciate their support.

The Food Bank has purchased land behind the Hope Chest on Hwy 101 between Manzanita and Nehalem, and work is ongoing to clear the site and establish access from Hwy 101. We recently received assurance from Tillamook County that we can use an existing building on the site to provide food distribution.

Before we can use that building, we need to build a driveway and parking areas as well as bring electricity, water, and sewer to the site. The building is less than a quarter the size of our current location, so we are busy re-imagining how to provide service.

While we hope to eventually build on the property, the most important thing for us right now is to get back up and running quickly, and using the existing building is the quickest path forward.

We thank everyone for their patience and support as we make this transition. In 2024, the Food Bank saw nearly 2700 visits, representing about 8700 people. We know that the Food Bank is critically important to local families facing food insecurity in north Tillamook County, and we will provide more information as we have it.

North County Food Bank Starts Work on New Building

May 26, 2025

The North County Food Bank, based in Wheeler, received notice that it must vacate its current location in October. In anticipation of this change, the Food Bank searched over a year for an existing buildings that would meet our storage and distribution needs. This search proved fruitless, and the Food Bank purchased property to build a new building. The owner graciously sold the property at a below-market rate.

The property is located off Highway 101 in Nehalem, behind the Hope Chest Thrift Store. The Food Bank has obtained necessary permits from the City of Nehalem and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Crews are now working to develop an access driveway to the location and a parking area. Soon, work will begin on bringing utilities onto the site. We are actively exploring ways to make the project more affordable and quicker to complete.

Due to strong fiscal management and the knowledge that this day would come, the Food Bank has sufficient funds to begin the project. We will be seeking grants, in-kind donations, and fiscal donations as we continue to work on the site and building. After over 30 years in the community, we want to make sure we make this change in a way that ensures the Food Bank is operational for as long as necessary.

The Food Bank hopes to be able to complete the building this year. However, there could be a closure of several months. It is hoped that any closure will be short and that services are not interrupted. We are actively exploring ways to make the project more affordable and quicker to complete.

We will work with other local organizations addressing food insecurity to mitigate the increased demand that they will experience. We will communicate any changes via press releases, BBQ, social media, and signage at the Food Bank.

The Food Bank continues to see an increase in families accessing our services. With cuts planned for SNAP (food stamps) and Medicaid, the Food Bank anticipates that more and more families will be seeking help. On May 20, a record 69 families received food, pet food, diapers, hygiene items, and clothing.

We rely on support from the local community to make sure our neighbors do not go hungry. If you’d like to contribute to the Food Bank, please mail a check to PO Box 162, Wheeler, OR 97147 or visit our website at https://www.northtillamookcountyfoodbank.org.