Oregon Food Bank: Ending Hunger for Good

At Oregon Food Bank, we believe hunger is not inevitable. Hunger is the result of policy choices. The mission of Oregon Food Bank is to eliminate hunger and its root causes, because no one should be hungry. We work every day to connect people with food now while building community  power to end hunger.

This past quarter, we saw that power in action. Members of our Policy Leadership Council (PLC), made up of community leaders from across Oregon, met with our Board of Directors to share their experiences. These leaders know hunger firsthand and spoke about what it takes to meet daily needs in the face of rising costs and shrinking safety nets.

PLC member Jayden Ruff met with the Board to discuss tough policy conversations and the impact of community leadership across Oregon. This exchange gave Board members the chance to hear directly from people with lived experiences of hunger. When community voices are part of the decision-making process, we move closer to solutions that work for everyone.

The Policy Leadership Council is an important part of how Oregon Food Bank is shaping the future. It is a place where lived experience informs strategy, advocacy, and action. Leaders from the PLC bring knowledge that cannot be found in data alone. Their guidance helps us protect food access today and push for policies that will end hunger for good.

We know the road ahead will not be easy. Families still face threats from harmful federal budget cuts. Immigrant and refugee communities continue to face fear and uncertainty. Yet we also know that our strength is in people. When leaders like Jayden sit at the table, we see what is possible.

Your support makes this possible. Because of you, Oregon Food Bank can lift up voices that are too often left out. Together, we can show that hunger is a policy choice. And together, we can choose a future where every person in Oregon has enough to eat.

At Oregon Food Bank, we believe that food is a basic human right. That’s why we work every day to connect people with the food they need now, while building community power to end hunger at its roots. From fighting for living wages and affordable housing to advocating for inclusive food policies, our mission is simple: to eliminate hunger and its root causes because no one should be hungry.

The House of Representatives recently passed a budget resolution that would slash critical support for food assistance programs like SNAP. If enacted, these cuts would reduce benefits for all 770,000 Oregonians who rely on SNAP by 21%, eliminate benefits entirely for nearly 3,000 immigrant Oregonians, and impose unreasonable time limits for seniors and parents. These changes would take food off the table for tens of thousands of families and force food banks like ours to try to fill a gap that we simply cannot close alone.

Pandemic-era food aid has ended. Key USDA shipments have been canceled. Inflation and proposed tariffs are driving up the cost of everything from staples to fresh produce. The sudden loss of shipments from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP CCC) has created a major gap in our emergency food supply. These deliveries were a critical source of staple foods, and without them, we are seeing growing shortages that directly impact our ability to meet rising demand.

The most effective way to support our efforts right now is through flexible, unrestricted funding. Your donations allow us to respond quickly as conditions shift—to move food, mobilize advocates, and meet community needs with urgency and care. Hunger is solvable, but not with food alone. It takes policy change, people power, and partnerships rooted in equity. We’re grateful to have you with us in this work. Thank you for rising with us, and for helping ensure every Oregonian has the food they need to thrive.