A free grocery market at the Oregon Department of Human Services office in Hillsboro feeds about 180 people every month, and nobody has to prove they qualify.

The Hillsboro Free Food Market runs the second Tuesday of each month from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at 5300 NE Elam Young Parkway. No income check, no paperwork.

The City of Hillsboro lists the market on its official community resources page and asks visitors to bring their own bags or boxes. ODHS estimates the market reaches about 500 community members each month.

Shoppers can take home fresh fruits and vegetables, pantry staples, and donated household goods including blankets, pillows, dog food, and toys, according to ODHS.

The Oregon Food Bank provides food and organizational support, while community partners 211info, Oregon State University Extension, and the Washington County Early Learning Hub staff tables at the events.

The market also distributes diapers through PDX Diaper Bank. Across both Washington County markets (Hillsboro and a sister location in Tigard), more than 2,000 diapers go out each session, totaling roughly 48,000 per year, according to an ODHS press release published June 1.

About one in two Oregon families struggled to afford adequate diaper supplies in 2025, with costs running roughly $1,200 per child per year, ODHS reported.

ODHS staff at the market can help families determine whether they qualify for Summer EBT, which provides $120 per child in grocery benefits during summer break. Information about Double Up Food Bucks, which matches up to $20 per day spent on fresh produce at 85 farmers markets and 35 grocery stores statewide, is also available.

Dawn Dzubay, community partnership coordinator at the ODHS Tigard office, described the broader program's culture in a July 23 Beaverton Valley Times article: "We've built a real sense of community around the market. People recognize each other, and they recognize the volunteers."

For questions about the Hillsboro market, contact ODHS community partnership coordinator Aubrey Stark at [email protected].