PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Sunshine Division and the Waterfront Blues Festival are partnering up for the 2018 season. 

The Sunshine Division provides direct food and clothing assistance to low-income veterans, families with children and seniors in times of economic crisis. 

Officer Matt Tobey taking donated food from Sunshine Division to hand out during his patrol. (KOIN)

The nonprofit, which runs entirely on donations, gives the Portland Police Department the necessary supplies so that officers can hand out food every day they’re on patrol. 

“These really help us as police officers connect with our community,” officer Matt Tobey told KOIN 6 News.

Sunshine Division will bring back the food drive — long held by the Oregon Food Bank — this summer at the Blues Fest. Executive director of the nonprofit Kyle Camberg said they’ll have barrels set up and will collect food at the gates.

“Pasta, rice, beans, cereal, canned items — whatever you can bring with you,” Camberg said.

The timing of the Blues Fest works out perfectly. Nonprofits like Sunshine Division often struggle to keep up with their need for donations during the summer when kids who get free or reduced lunches at school stay at home.

Organizers of the Blues Fest said this is a great cause to get behind — and one that’s long motivated them and the entertainers who come to play.

“There’s this larger purpose that this is all serving,” Peter Dammann, the artistic director for the festival, said. “I think there’s an enormous potential here if we can get the word out. We need to get the word out.”

The Waterfront Blues Festival kicks off July 4 and runs until the 7th at Tom McCall Waterfront Park with local and international artists lined up such as Curtis Salgado, Beth Hart, Robert Randolph & the Family Band and George Thorogood and the Destroyers. 

The Blues Fest will continue their partnership with the Oregon Food Bank as well.