Oregon Food Bank: Ending Hunger for Good

Fueled by our community’s generosity and moral leadership, Oregon Food Bank has deployed millions of dollars of public and private resources, including donations made by donors like you. Investments in our strategic priorities, and specific examples, showcase how we actualized our emergency response plan in the first phase of the public health crisis. Please see the attached report.

In addition to the 866,000 people who access our services annually, OFB is seeing an approximate 70% increase in reliance on food assistance systems across our region due to the coronavirus (July 2020). This means an additional 540,000 of our neighbors turning to local food pantries, many for the first time. We are adjusting our food distribution systems and redirecting resources to keep the flow of food steady in an evolving and complex environment. We are also pivoting toward solutions for reliable, community-based food access points that maintain the health and safety of our community amid a public health crisis.

Here's an example of one type of food pantry change we have made with your assistance. In March 2020, Oregon Food Bank expanded the once-per-month food distribution at Virginia Garcia Cornelius Wellness Center to a once-a-week distribution. This has meant more community members accessing food. A coordinator there reports what the fresh food and pantry staples mean to our neighbors: “There was a great variety of food and I could not stop feeling the joy for the community that was going to receive the produce! Thank you so much for this service during this time full of uncertainty and concerns. Folks were happy taking their bags packed with fresh produce, grains, juice, milks, soups.”

We are grateful for your partnership in the fight against hunger in Oregon and Clark County, Washington!

• Full Report (PDF)