Oregon Families Get Major Relief as Donors Match State’s $6 Million Commitment to Combat Food Shortages

Coordination between the Oregon Governor’s office and philanthropic organizations has leveraged additional funds of more than $6 million to provide food to needy families statewide – from Tillamook County to Klamath County, and from La Grande to Coos Bay.

In a news statement released yesterday, Governor Tina Kotek says that, thanks to the Oregon Disaster Funders Network (ODFN), $6,471,800 has been identified to address the state’s hunger needs, matching the state’s $6 million stake in the hunger fight.

The Money Will Fund Regional Food Banks and Local Pantries

The money will be used to support regional food banks, community organizations, and local food pantries whose needs were identified by the Governor’s state of emergency order on food shortages.

She took this step when the federal government withdrew funding from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to hundreds of thousands of Oregonians.

Kotek says that despite the government’s decision to restore SNAP benefits, the fight to keep food on the table for Oregonians during the SNAP shutdown revealed critical gaps across the state.

Together, the state and its philanthropic partners have identified and directed funding to organizations in need of additional support, uplifted food needs identified by local communities, and established an avenue for nonprofit, tribal, and community-based organizations to share funding needs.

Governor Expresses Gratitude to Every Donor

“I’m grateful to every donor, volunteer, and community partner who has answered the call to feed their neighbors,” says Kotek.

Following her request to the ODFN to meet with their philanthropic partners, the organization acted as the central coordinator to identify gaps in food security. Service providers shared their funding needs, which were then made accessible to dozens of philanthropic organizations and individuals.

The president and CEO of the Ford Family Foundation, Kara Inae Carlisle, explained that the ODFN was established in 2020 after the catastrophic Labor Day fires.

This has enabled philanthropic organizations to respond swiftly and effectively to crisis situations. Carlisle assures that the Ford Family Foundation will continue to support communities, including rural areas throughout the state.

The manager of the ODNF, Kristin Kelley, says the funds will help to provide support to rural and indigenous-serving food pantries, meal delivery to seniors, and student ‘backpack’ food programs.

A philanthropy task force was facilitated by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Anyone wishing to donate to this cause can do so via the Stronger Together Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation. All donations will help to fight hunger throughout Oregon.