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.